While many Dodge County farmers practice cover cropping, many more should also consider adding cover crops to their farming operations. Cover crops also provide benefits to the farmer by increasing soil organic matter, providing natural weed suppression and improved soil moisture management. JUNEAU Planting cover crops on the exposed soil of harvested cropland is one example of a simple yet very effective conservation practice. In spring, the over-winter cover crop residue is either tilled...

Some help is on the way for farmers and livestock producers. As those costs have risen, action at livestock auction barns has increased as farmers fighting for their livelihoods have been forced to sell their livestock. The drought has hurt crop farmers, lowered lake levels and hurt water supplies in some communities. The program may provide payments to crop farmers and to cattle farmers who have had pasture losses, the officials said. It has forced them to buy feed and to sell cattle to...

mad cow case confirmed Tests have confirmed mad cow disease in a U. WASHINGTON - The government said Thursday it will permanently ban the slaughter of cattle for human food if they cannot stand or walk, a possible sign of mad cow disease, but is exempting some animals in that condition. The department put interim rules in place less than three weeks after the detection of mad cow disease, known Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, in an imported cow in December 2003. Allowing such animals to...

And the expensive campaign over the nation's sugar program is far from over as the Senate prepares to debate the farm bill. WASHINGTON Millions have been spent on lobbying fees and campaign contributions in a fight over half a penny per pound of sugar. The sugar growers' win was especially sweet since a powerful array of groups ranging from candymakers like Hershey to the U. When the House approved its version of the bill this summer, sugar growers won a half-cent increase in the U. Under...

Nationally, 84 percent of funds go to 20 percent of farmers enrolled in subsidy programs, while the majority of farmers receive little or no benefits. Hilgedicks family farm is growing 1,600 acres of corn, soybeans and wheat as their primary crops, and is one of the many farms in Boone County receiving crop subsidies. Cook said people have generally visited the database to see where their state ranks on the national list and identify the top-ranked farmers in their area. Under the current...

Hearing generates Farm Bill proposals SIOUX CENTER, Iowa -- It wasn't all grain and livestock Monday -- although those were major topics -- as farmers and other ag professionals testified at a public hearing held by 5th District Congressman Steve King and U. Hearing generates Farm Bill proposals SIOUX CENTER, Iowa -- It wasn't all grain and livestock Monday -- although those were major topics -- as farmers and other ag professionals testified at a public hearing held by 5th District...