Below is a listing of upcoming conservation field days around the state. For a complete listing of future conservation field days, click here.


Upcoming Field Days

Profitability With Cover Crops Field Day

Friday, June 9 (4pm-6pm)

Hepp Farms- 2195 250th St. Rockwell City, Iowa, 50579

First-generation farmer James Hepp and his family farm near Rockwell City, Iowa, where they grow 1,400 acres of corn, soybeans, and cereal rye. They began with cover crops in 2020 and are now making their cover crop practice into a new business enterprise through custom seeding and raising rye for cover crop seed.

At this field day, James will explore how cover crops make sense financially. He’ll also share benefits he sees from his rye cover crop along with practical advice for getting started with cover crops. Guests will see corn and soybeans growing that were planted into cover crops, and James’ relay crop plot that he aims to harvest so he can sell the rye for seed. Dinner will follow the field day.

For more information click here.


No-Till Organic Relay Cropping Field Day

Tuesday, June 13 (10am-12pm)

A&W Farms - 29640 600th Ave, Cambridge, Iowa, 50046

Caleb Akin and Noah Wendt started A&W Farms near Cambridge, Iowa, in 2006. As a farm team, they feed cattle, produce conventional corn and soybeans, and grow a variety of organic grain on 1,500 acres.

The farm is no-till, and Caleb and Noah have planted cover crops since 2015 on all of their acres. At this field day, they will discuss how they relay-crop rye and soybeans in their organic no-till system. Attendees will see the organic cultivation equipment Caleb and Noah use, and the custom-built roller-crimper and planter that Caleb uses to crimp rye and plant soybeans.

Lunch will follow the field day.

For more information click here.


Bioreactor and Cover Crop Field Day

Tuesday, June 13 (5:30 pm – 7:30 pm)

Whiterock Conservancy Burr Oak Visitor Center - 1436 Iowa 141, Coon Rapids, Iowa, 50058

Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, will host a cover crop field day on Tuesday, June 13, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Whiterock Conservancy Burr Oak Visitor Center near Coon Rapids. The free event is open to farmers and landowners and includes a complimentary meal.

The field day will feature Crawford County farmer Doug Gronau, who farms with his son near Vail. For nearly 20 years, they have been planting no-till corn and soybeans to help reduce soil erosion, improve soil health, and manage soil moisture. The Gronau’s have also been using cover crops since 2014 to further address soil erosion and help improve water quality. Dr. Mark Licht, associate professor and extension cropping systems specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, will highlight best practices for establishing and managing cover crops to meet farm goals, and Meaghan Anderson, Iowa State University Extension field agronomist, will discuss the herbicide considerations for successfully establishing cover crops. The field day will also include a Conservation Station rainfall simulator demonstration.

For more information and to RSVP, click here.


Iowa Learning Farms Conservation Webinar

Wednesday, June 14 (12pm)

Live Webinar

The Iowa Learning Farms will be hosting a live webinar featuring Shane Wulf with Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. The topic of water quality in the Iowa wetlands will be covered.

For more information, click here.


Creating a Soil Health System with No-Till, Cover Crops and Livestock

Saturday, June 17 (4:30pm-6:30pm)

Kurash Family Farm - 3172 140th St., Fort Atkinson, Iowa, 52144

Kurash Family Farm is located near Fort Atkinson, Iowa, where the family raises corn, soybeans, rye, hay and beef cattle. They no-till and plant green for both corn and soybeans, drill hybrid rye in the fall and drill a cover crop mix following rye in the summer. At this field day, Ross will discuss how he has made cover crops and no-till work on his farm. Guests will also see how Ross is working towards his soil health goals.

Dinner will follow the field day.

For more information and to RSVP, click here.


Iowa Learning Farms Conservation Webinar

Wednesday, June 21 (12pm)

The Iowa Learning Farms will be hosting a live webinar featuring Jenn Ripp with Savanna Institute. She will be speaking on the topic of incorporating Trees to your farm with Agroforestry.  

For more information, click here.