There were 9 field days announced during the week of March 8. For more details about these and two more field days, visit here.

Recently Announced

March 26 | Cover Crop Field Day

Brent Larson of Sunderman Farm Management Company will review his cover crop playbook including variety selection, crop rotation and return on investment. Get an up close look at his cover crop equipment including strip till rigs, planters, drills, a zone commander and a twin row planter which will all be on display in the parking lot of the hotel.

Topics will include:

  • Variety selection
  • Seeding dates and rates,cover crop timeline
  • Equipment
  • Rotation and impact on cash crop
  • Return on investment, benefits 

 A meal will be provided. Pork loin and mashed potatoes will be catered by the Starlite Best Western hotel. Please RSVP here by March 22.  

March 26 | Cover Crop and No-Till Workshop

RSVP to 515-294-5429 or ilf@iastate.edu to register for this cover crop and no-till workshop.

March 27 | Cover Crop Field Day

The field day will start in the field where Will Cannon will show us the NRCS trial plot featuring a side by side comparison of cover crop varieties and application methods. Then it will move inside for dinner and a presentation of his keys to successfully incorporating cover crops into the rotation.

Topics will include:

  • NRCS trial plot comparing different varieties and application methods
  • Winter wheat

Dinner will be provided. Please RSVP here by March 22.

March 27 | Cover Crop and Grazing Workshop

RSVP to 515-294-5429 or ilf@iastate.edu to register for this cover crop and grazing workshop.

April 2 | Cover Crop Field Day

Get a first-hand view of the Fredericks’ ongoing cereal rye seeding rate and date trial. Wayne will also discuss his cover crop playbook, including planning preferences and termination methods. We’ll start in the field to view some cover crops before moving indoors for further discussion and a meal.

Topics will include:

  • Seeding date and rate trial

A meal will be catered by S&S Locker. Please RSVP here by March 29.

April 3 | Cover Crop Field Day

Jon will share his recipes for success when it comes to using cover crops in corn-soybean management systems. He will also share how the Kiels are starting to grow their own cover crop seed, as well as the opportunities for using diverse cover crop mixes this strategy provides. We’ll start in the field to view some cover crops before moving indoors for further discussion and a meal.  

Topics will include:

  • How to get started with cover crops
  • Cover crop species selection
  • Cover crops in diversified crop rotations

Other Speakers:

  • Colton Meyer – watershed coordinator for the West Branch of the Floyd River Water Quality Initiative demonstration project.

Supper will be provided at the Sioux County Archery Club near the end of the event. Please RSVP here by March 29.

April 4 | Cover Crop Field Day

The Smith family – including Jack and sons Nick and Ted – work with neighbor Tim Daly to custom-graze cover crops and corn stalks. Attendees will see fields of cereal rye that were drilled after chopping corn, fields where rye was broadcast into corn stalks and incorporated by grazing cattle, and fall-grazed oat and rye cover crops fields. We’ll start in the field to view some cover crops and discuss grazing before moving indoors for a water quality demonstration, continued conversation and a meal.

Topics will include:

  • Custom grazing cover crops
  • Aerial, drill and broadcast seeding methods
  • Cover crops with no-till corn on corn
  • A catered meal will be served at the reception hall in Bankston. Please RSVP here by April 1.

April 9 | Cover Crop and Water Quality Field Day

RSVP to 515-294-5429 or ilf@iastate.edu to register for this cover crop and water quality field day.

June 4 | Cover Crop Field Day

Terry plants diverse crop rotations that include cereal rye, which he harvests to use in several ways. He’ll share his experience making ryelage, rye hay and rye straw. We’ll hear from Terry’s dairy farming neighbors, Josh and Dick Blough, who feed this ryelage to their dairy cattle. We’ll start in the field to view some cover crops before moving indoors for further discussion and a meal.

Topics will include:

  • Harvesting ryelage
  • Making rye hay for feeding dairy heifers
  • Rye for bedding
  • Diverse crop rotations

Other Speakers:

  • Josh and Dick Blough – neighbors of Terry who feed Terry’s ryelage to their dairy cattle 

Please RSVP here by May 31.

Upcoming

March 12 - 13 | 2019 Iowa Water Conference

The Iowa Water Conference is the largest outreach and collaboration effort of the Iowa Water Center. It brings together multi-disciplinary organizations and institutions to discuss relevant water issues across Iowa. Through general and concurrent sessions, conference goers will explore current trends across water resource management in both urban and rural landscapes. This exploration will have a particular emphasis on the interconnected nature of our water resources. Further, it will explore the opportunities this offers for collaboration. Register before March 1, 2019 to receive the early registration discount. Registrations will be accepted at the conference at the late registration rate.

March 20 | Webinar: Are Cattle Really Wrecking the Planet?

Join speaker Mark Rasmussen, Director of Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture to find out if cattle really are wrecking the planet. Connect to the webinar here.