Aug. 28, 2011
(Updated Sept. 7 with new viewing sites)
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As waters recede from farmland that has been covered for several months by Missouri River flooding, Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) Extension are jointly hosting a program to address agriculture issues farmland managers are facing.
Viewing Sites
Program: 9:30 a.m. – noon Monday, Sept. 12 Nebraska
Iowa
South Dakota
Missouri
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The Flood Recovery for Cropland program will be conducted via webinar at several viewing sites in both states from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Monday, Sept. 12. Extension staff will host the workshop sites and facilitate questions to the panel of speakers.
This program is intended for growers, consultants, land owners (including absentee), bankers, and other agribusiness professionals affected by the Missouri River flooding. Topics and extension presenters will include:
- Sedimentation and debris removal, Shawn Shouse, ISU extension ag engineer;
- Managing post flooding soils: flooded soil syndrome, Mahdi Al-Kaisi, ISU extension soil specialist;
- Cover crops for soil health, Paul Jasa, UNL extension engineer; and
- Leases and crop insurance on flooded land, William Edwards, ISU extension farm management specialist.
Rick Koelsch, UNL associate dean of extension, will moderate the panel.
“It is important for us to share information with those tasked with caring for farmland post flooding, but it is also important for Extension to hear the concerns and specific issues these folks have on their land,” said Shawn Shouse, ISU extension ag engineer and planning committee member. “There is science that we can apply to this situation, but there is much that comes from farmer experience.”
“Using webinar technology helps us reach the most people on both sides of the river without having them travel great distances,” said John Wilson, UNL Extension educator and event co-chair. “It also allows for informal discussion at each site among those who have been most affected by the flood and with extension staff.”
Physical damage to farm ground may include obvious things like erosion and sand deposition. But some effects are invisible, having to do with the loss of soil microbes and soil structure. Land managers need to start planning and acting as the waters recede so that the soil can be productive again for next year.
The Extension agriculture educator hosting the workshop at each location will be available after the webinar for additional questions and concerns if needed.
Further information on the Flood Recovery for Cropland Program will be available on the ISU and UNL extension websites: www.extension.iastate.edu/topic/recovering-disasters and flood.unl.edu.
