Northeast lowa Demonstration Project
1995 Farm Practices Survey October 1996

During winter 1995-96 Northeast Iowa Demonstration Project (NEIDP) conducted a telephone survey with a random sample of farm operators in the project. The area includes parts of Clayton, Allamakee, Fayette and Winneshiek counties. The purpose of the survey was to evaluate the impact of water quality protection initiatives in the area since 1991.

The primary goal of the NEIDP is to provide information and education to help producers adopt economically sound farm management practices that protect ground and surface water quality and soil resources. Producer responses to the survey help document the adoption of practices, and also help the NEIDP focus its programming and demonstrations to meet local needs.

Sixty-seven producers were surveyed about farming practices used during crop year 1995. These results are compared to a 1991 baseline survey of all farm operators in the NEIDP area. The 1991 survey had 276 respondents (60 percent response rate). Due to the small sample size in the later survey, caution must be exercised in drawing definitive conclusions.

Sixty-five of the 67 survey respondents grew corn in 1995. Their average corn yield goal was 147 bushels per acre. The range was 100 to 185 bushels per acre. The actual average corn yield reported for 1995 was 129 bushels per acre, with a range of 75 to 190 bushels per acre.

One-fourth of the corn growers say they have changed their yield goal in the last four years. Most have increased their yield goals mainly due to planting improved hybrids. Those who lowered yield goals cited economic reasons, mainly higher fertilizer prices.

Nitrogen Management

The survey contained several questions on fertilizer rates and overall crop nutrient management. The project promotes minimizing excess fertilizer use as a profitable strategy that also directly reduces potential water pollution. Table 1 compares results for nitrogen use rates between 1991 and 1995.

Table 1. Producers' reported nitrogen use on corn

While there does not appear to be much change in N use, it is encouraging that many producers reported increasing their yield goals but not their N rates. The project's emphasis on giving full credits for increased N availability after alfalfa may also have had an effect.

Evidence of expanding soybean acreage in the area is that in 1991 only 16 percent of producers reported fertilizer use on corn after soybeans, while the rest did not have this rotation. In 1995, 27 percent had grown corn after soybeans.

Average farm size in the area was 339 A. with 174 A. of corn in 1991. In 1995 farm size averaged 412 A. with 215 A. of corn.

Manure Management

Ninety-four percent of those surveyed had livestock on their farm, compared to 87 percent in the 1991 survey. Since livestock operations are not increasing in the area, livestock producers may have been selected by a daytime telephone survey. The original mail survey could have reached more of those who work off farm. Improved manure management has been a major focus of project demonstration and education activities. Table 2 shows that more producers with livestock are using improved manure management practices in each of the categories queried.

Table 2. Livestock producers' reported manure management practices

Forty-one percent of respondents with livestock also reported manure management changes on their farms in the last four years. Changes named included more manure incorporation during application, newer spreaders that have a more uniform spread pattern, and decision to haul manure a greater distance to fields with lower soil tests because of perceived financial benefit.

Herbicide Management

All corn acres were treated with a herbicide in 1995. Eighteen percent of the respondents say they have reduced herbicide rates in the last four years. Some reduced rates may reflect a switch new products, but others who reduced rates commented that corn herbicides used at 3/4 rate gave satisfactory results when applied early in the season. State atrazine use regulations and better cultivation equipment were other reasons for reducing herbicide rates.

Insecticide Management

The proportion of corn growers who applied insecticide to control rootworm was between 80-90 percent in both surveys. During the project years the area has not had other major insect problems requiring widespread control measures.

Thirty-seven percent of the respondents say they have reduced insecticide rates on corn acres, ranging from a small reduction to no insecticide used. The most common reduction was to three-fourths rate. Soybeans and alfalfa in the crop rotation and experimentation on fields receiving manure accounted for the no insecticide acres. Reasons given for reducing rates were that product cost of full-rate treatments was not justified by improved insect control.

Most producers (92 percent) reported doing some field scouting themselves in 1995. Many producers in the project area have received scouting services through the project and through the associated Water Quality Incentive Project. Scouting information has also been widely distributed through project newsletters and field days. Table 3 shows that these project activities appear to have had an impact on leading more producers to scout and more often. The increased number (50 percent compared to 13 percent in 1991) who now report calling on their dealer for pest scouting observations is significant.

Table 3. Producers who "...walk fields specifically to check for the presence of insects, disease or other problems..."

For overall crop management services and information, the local fertilizer/ chemical dealer has remained the principal outside source, as in 1991. However, there appears to be either more demand for crop management services, or a greater awareness of services received, both of which relate to the project's emphasis on providing management assistance. Along with scouting cited above, the percentage of respondents who say they receive soil testing services from their dealer increased from 24 percent to 64 percent, and fertility recommendations as a dealer service from 26 percent to 76 percent.

Eighty percent of producers surveyed say they also participate in fertilizer use decisions, 89 percent are involved in selecting crop varieties, and 96 percent make their own primary tillage and cultural practice decisions. Crop consultants, extension, NRCS and other sources of management assistance continue to be used infrequently, as in 1991. Use of private consultants for soil testing service has increased, from 2 percent of responses in 1991 to 14 percent in 1995.

Sixty-six of the 67 respondents were aware of the Demonstration Project. Ninety-two percent of the respondents were aware of the project's Water Watch newsletter and 68 percent recognized the project through newspaper articles. Other contacts with the project included 41 percent through demonstrations/field days, 42 percent through other cooperators, and 62 percent from ISU Extension or NRCS staff.

Thirty-nine percent of the surveyed respondents had been project cooperators.

Of the 61 respondents that read Water Watch, 41 percent read the entire issue while 59 percent read the portions that are of immediate interest. The results from nitrogen and manure field demonstrations were cited most often as the most useful information in Water Watch.

"The Nutrient and Pest Management program is the first soil testing done on the farm and test interpretations helped identify fields with high fertility."

"I learned we are wasting N, P and K from manure and I am trying to use less insecticide and herbicide on my farm."

"(The Northeast Iowa Demonstration Project) is doing interesting and informative work."

"(The demonstration project) has been a good idea for water quality management."

Survey developed by Steven Padgitt, extension sociology; layout by Charles Wittman, extension infommation specialist. The Northeast lowa River Basins Water Quality Demonstration Project and the Sny Magill Creek Cold Water Stream Water Quality Improvement Project are funded through agencies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture as part of the President's Water Quality Initiative and by the lowa Department of Natural Resource through a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the Federal Nonpoint Source Management Program (Section 319 of the Clean Water Act) and lowa State University Extension. The projects are conducted in cooperation with the Allamakee, Clayton, Fayette and Winneshiek Soil and Water Conservation Districts, County Extension Councils and FSA County Committees. This publication is funded, in part, by USDA Extension Service contracts 95- EWCD-1-9531, 95-EHUA-10124, and lowa State University Extension. Any conclusions, findings, or recommendations expressed herein are those of the authors.