March 17, 2015 • Page 14 shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com March 15 - 21, 2015 Drainage Calculators Now Available USDA Seeks Nominees For Soybean Board BROOKINGS — SDSU Extension recently released webbased drainage calculators for tile drainage and subirrigation WASHINGTON — The U.S. regions, the Board adminisdesign. Contractors and farmers can access these calculators Department of Agriculture ters a research and promoat www.iGrowDrainage.org. The calculators are compat(USDA) is seeking nomination program authorized ible with a variety of devices allowing for in-field use.   tions for positions on the by the Soybean Promotion, “For years farmers and contractors have asked our team United Soybean Board. Research, and Consumer to develop calculators they could use in the field because Vacancies for producer Information Act. The Secreseveral calculations are needed when designing drainage member positions will occur tary of Agriculture selects systems on agricultural land,” explained Chris Hay, SDSU in Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, appointees from producers Extension Water Management Engineer. Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, nominated by Qualified State To meet this demand, Hay and his team took researchLouisiana, Minnesota, MisSoybean Boards. based calculations and designed several easy-to-use souri, North Carolina, North Research and promotion calculators which address common drainage design Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, programs are industry-fund- calculations to provide farmers and contractors with in-field Pennsylvania, South Dakota, ed, were authorized by Con- data they need. and Virginia. There are algress and date back to 1966. “These are equations that we as engineers like to ternate vacancies in Georgia Since then, Congress has play around with but aren’t always the easiest to use. and in the Western Region. authorized the establishment The calculators are designed to make it easy to get quick Any soybean producer of 22 research and promoanswers so they can get the job done right,” Hay said.  The within the United States tion boards. They empower PHOTOS COURTESY OF IGROW.ORG calculations Hay references provide research-based guidance that owns or shares the agricultural industries by to boost productivity and minimize downstream impacts ownership and risk of loss of establishing a framework for on everything from drain spacing and pipe sizing, to explained Nathan Utt, Agricultural Engineer with Ecosystem soybeans can be considered them to pool resources and Services Exchange. “There is an increase in drainage subirrigation and lift station design. for nomination. All eligible combine efforts to develop installation and a growing number of people who are doing “When tiling, the calculations need to be correct in producers are invited to seek new markets, strengthen the installation. Not only contractors, but farmers and other order for the drainage system to meet the farmer’s goals nomination by April 24, 2015. existing markets, and landowners who are installing their own drain tile,” said and function properly. Once you put the pipe in the ground, A soybean producer must conduct important research the goal is that it will last 50 to 100 years or more without Utt who has been working with agricultural drainage since be nominated by a Qualiand promotion activities. 2007 and as an engineering consultant in the field for three issues,” Hay said. fied State Soybean Board The Agricultural Marketyears.  “These calculators are helpful because they provide Tiling is designed to drain excess moisture off fields that and submit a completed ing Service (AMS) provides have reached their holding capacity. “Many soils in the Upper accurate numbers for factors like optimum drainage spacing, application. oversight, helping to ensure Midwest do not drain well because of glacial influence,” Hay which is critical to system performance as well as minimizing USDA encourages board fiscal responsibility, program explained. “Many fields sit on top of layers of glacial till or system cost,” Utt said. membership that reflects efficiency and fair treatment other restrictive layers that can limit natural drainage.” The calculators were developed in cooperation with the diversity of the individuof participating stakeholders. Demand for tile drainage is up in portions of South Dakota University of Minnesota Extension. To learn more and access als served by its industry. For more information, the calculators, visit www.iGrowdrainage.org. where excess field moisture can delay or prevent planting, Diversity includes gender, contact James Brow, Agriculn SDSU iGROW race, disability, length of tural Marketing Specialist, service, and size and type of Research and Promotion operation. Division, Livestock, Poultry, For a copy of the nominaand Seed Program, AMS, tion form and the contact USDA, STOP 0251, Room Planting cover crops is a hot we can easily express in dollars,” of the big economic questions will information of the Qualified 2610-S, 1400 Independence trend but farmers who haven’t tried Dozier adds. help more Illinois farmers give this State Soybean Board in your Avenue, SW, Washington, DC it yet have one question: “What’s it Benefits & Costs To Measure conservation option a try,” says Dozier. state or region, visit: www. 20250-0251; tel. (202) 720going to cost me?” USDA’s Natural Direct nutrient credits According to NRCS and other research, ams.usda.gov/SoybeanPage. 0633, e-mail James.Brow@ Resources Conservation Service Input reductions long-term results in renewed soil health Composed of 70 members ams.usda.gov; or fax (202) (NRCS) developed a simple digital tool Yield increases & decreases offer huge returns in crop yields, water representing 31 states and 720-1125. to answer that question. It’s called the Seed & establishment costs quality and infiltration improvements, n United States Department of Agriculture Cover Crop Economic Decision Support Erosion reductions weed and pest control and more. Tool. It helps farmers, landowners and Grazing opportunities “Cover crops are a good trend and one others make informed decisions when Overall soil fertility levels that can actually pay off,” Dozier adds. M I S S O U R I VA L L E Y considering adding cover crops to their Water storage & infiltration This NRCS tool, which is being production system. And it’s free. improvements used nationwide, was developed by “The tool offers a partial budget The tool’s analysis depends on data Agricultural Economists in Missouri analysis,” explains Ivan Dozier, Illinois users enter. Users can run “what if” and Illinois. Farmers can download the NRCS State Conservationist. “It focuses scenarios if they want to evaluate a spreadsheet and run it at http://tinyurl. only on operational changes farmers range of values. The tool offers results com/ms5badt or visit the Illinois make—actual costs and benefits in both dollars and graphs, showing website and find a factsheet about the farmers see when they add in cover short- and long-term benefits. tool and download the tool there. crops. We focus on benefits and costs “Our hope is that answers to some n Natural Resources Conservation Service Cover Crop Cost$? There’s An App For That! MV Shopper CLASSIFIEDS IN PRINT & ONLINE To place your ad call... 605.665.5884 Growing Grapevines In The Upper Midwest ROSHOLT (AP) — A winery in Rosholt doubles as a family home for a couple who recently moved back to South Dakota to start their grape-growing and winemaking business. According to the Watertown Public Opinion, Jeremiah and Lisa Klein were inspired by a news article about growing grapevines in the Upper Midwest to bring With the Wind Vineyard & Winery to fruition in the far northeast corner of South Dakota. “We had been looking at an abandoned farm property just to live on, and my husband wondered if the soil there would be the right type to grow grapevines, which we thought would be a fun hobby,” Lisa Klein said. Tests of the soil done by Jeremiah Klein, who worked in the agriculture industry, found it was good for grapes. The couple purchased the property about three years ago and built a winery in the same building where they live. The wine-making facility and tasting room are on the first floor, while the Kleins, including their three children, live on the second floor. They grow four varieties of grapes: Brianna, Frontenac, Frontenac Gris and King of the North. Their stainless steel fermentation tanks come from Italy. Jeremiah Klein learned how to produce wine by taking science courses through South Dakota State University and completing an online winemaking program through the University of Jeanne & Travis Devine 909 Broadway, Tripp Park Plaza, Yankton, SD 1-605-665-2389 Johnson Electric, LLP Rick Merkel • Ben Merkel Chris Merkel • Rural • Residential • Commercial • Electrical & Telephone Wiring • We Trench H20 Lines, Footing & Electric Lines • Our Bucket Truck Reaches 80’ PLUS • We Set Poles FAST COURTEOUS SERVICE 500 W. 12th St. YANKTON 665-5686 California, Davis. Lisa Klein said she helps with tasting and business decisions. So far, the couple has 900 vines on 1.5 acres just south of Rosholt, about seven miles east of Interstate 29. “We have 10 acres available for growing grapes,” Lisa Klein told the Capital Journal. Their entire farm is 20 acres. Last June, the first “commercial batch” of their wine was available, 2013 vintage, she said. “The 2014 vintage will come later this spring into early summer.” The winery opened to the public in June. Besides raising grapes and making wine, the family holds regular tastings and sells the wine in nearby stores. “They served our wine at the inaugural ball in Pierre in January,” Lisa Klein said.