Iowa NRCS state conservationist Richard Sims notes a lot tiling work going on in Iowa fields this fall.

“We have had a fantastic fall—and it’s just unbelievable the amount of tiling machines that are out there,” Sims says.

But as producers make those improvements to their operations, Sims says they need to be cognizant of federal wetland provisions. He says any activity that alters natural wetlands could cause a loss of eligibility for USDA programs.

“It’s the pothole areas—it’s the area where you have a draw or swale that has not had tile in there before,” Sims says, “or you may have an area that has partially been tiled and there are still some remnants of a wetland in there—and those areas should be taken into consideration also.”

Sims says producers should check with their local USDA Service Center for a wetland determination before working in wet portions of their farms.

And Sims says there’s another farming practice that concerns him—the early fall application of anhydrous ammonia. “Anytime you put anhydrous in the ground when the soil temperature at four inches is above 50 degrees, you’re taking a huge risk of having that nitrogen leaving the farm and not being there for the crops next year,” he says.

Historically– according to Iowa State University Extension—soil temperatures at a 4-inch depth cool below 50 degrees in the northern third of Iowa during the first week of November. In central and southern Iowa, soil temperatures cool below 50 degrees during the second week and third weeks of November.

AUDIO: Richard Sims (3:47 MP3)

Link to Iowa NRCS news release