ISU Extension Office keeps educating

MT. PLEASANT — Henry County Iowa State University Extension Office continues to serve local farmers through the colder months as they host opportunities to educate and equip those working in agriculture in the county.

“Agriculture education is very important to Iowa farmers,” Henry County ISU Extension Office 4H County Youth Coordinator Erin Heaton said. “We grow crops and raise livestock to feed our nation and beyond.”

The ISU Extension Office will begin their fall/winter season with a Farm Owners and Operators Meeting Thursday, Nov. 30 at the office located just off the Mt. Pleasant square.

“Much of Iowa’s economy thrives on rich agriculture heritage and Extension plays an important role in providing research-based information and resources to educate Iowa’s farmers, producers, and agribusinesses,” Heaton said. “Programs like the Owners and Operators meeting help farmers, producers, and agribusinesses to make decisions on their farming and livestock operations.”

This meeting will include information on livestock prices and profitability from ISU Associate Professor & Extension Livestock Economist Lee Schulz.

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According to ISU Extension, Schulz holds his bachelors in agricultural business from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, a masters in agricultural economic from Michigan State University, and a PhD in agricultural economics from Kansas State University.

“He has published in professional journals, Extension publications, and the farm press and has spoken at numerous professional and agricultural conferences,” ISU describes Schulz.

Most recently, Schulz received the Dean Lee R. Kolmer Award for Excellence in Applied Research this past year.

Another topic addressed in the meeting will come from ISU Professor & Extension Economist and Crop Markets Specialist Chad Hart as he shares information on the supply and demand of the commodity markets and the expected direction of commodity prices.

Hart brings to the table experience growing up in southwest Missouri where his parents raised cattle and operated a small meat locker.

“I received a B.S. in economics with minors in mathematics, history, and astronomy from Southwest Missouri State University in 1991,” Hart describes himself in his ISU profile. “I then moved to Iowa in the summer of 1991 to pursue graduate education. I received a Ph.D. in economics and statistics in 1999 from Iowa State University.”

Through his time as the U.S. Policy and Insurance Analyst with Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI), Hart directed econometric and modeling efforts for the crop insurance part of FAPRI’s modeling system.

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Hart states, “My research has examined the interaction between the agricultural commitments within the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the agricultural policies and programs of WTO members, crop insurance, international trade, biofuel policy, federal agricultural policy, and crop marketing.”

Adding to the education at the meeting, ISU Staff Attorney Jennifer Harrington will give updates on farm tax for retired farmers and changes in the Iowa Inheritance taxes.

As a staff attorney for ISU’s Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation, Harrington focuses on transition planning, specifically in the areas of business entity transitions and estate planning in her day-to-day job duties.

Harrington received her bachelor’s degree in global studies with an economic development minor from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and her Juris Doctor degree from Drake University while completing a certificate in Food and Agricultural Law.

The final speaker for the Farm Owners and Operators Meeting, ISU Extension & Outreach Farm Management Specialist Charles Brown, will provide an update on crop production costs and profitability analysis.

According to his ISU profiled, with a bachelor's degree in animal science from ISU, Brown’s interests and areas of expertise include: USDA commodity program, crop economics, FINPACK, farm organizational structures, agricultural law and income tax management, grain marketing, livestock marketing, crop and livestock insurance, livestock economics, farmland and building leasing, land valuation, farm and ag labor management, estate planning and intergenerational transfer, beginning farmer programs, strategic planning, business planning, women in agriculture, on-farm experience using cover crops and no-till.

Henry County ISU Extension Office will offer other opportunities for those in agriculture to learn throughout the cold months as they continue their Henry County Extension Council and Leading Communities sessions through December.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com