Upcoming conservation field days | May 20 update
Author
Published
5/20/2022
Below is a listing of upcoming field days around the state. For a complete listing of future conservation field days in Iowa, click here.
Upcoming field days
Conservation On Tap
Tuesday, May 24 (6pm – 7pm)
Backpocket Brewery, 903 Quarry Road, Coralville, IA 52241
“Our intent with this event is to help build community through encouraging farmers to talk with their neighbors and ILF about topics important within the community, what keeps them up at night, what challenges they see with conservation practices, and what they want to learn more about,” said Liz Ripley, ILF conservation and cover crop outreach specialist. “There will be no formal presentations or agenda, just a chance to talk, ask questions, listen and learn while enjoying a beverage and provided food. We are looking forward to learning alongside everyone else who attends.”
ISU hosts at the event will include Matt Helmers, Iowa Nutrient Research Center director, Catherine DeLong, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach water quality program manager, and Liz Ripley, ILF conservation and cover crop outreach specialist. Backpocket Brewery head brewer, Luke Jipp, will also join in the conversations as to why water quality matters for brewing.
This Conservation On Tap event is produced in collaboration with ISU’s Conservation Learning Group. To ensure adequate space and food, please RSVP for the Backpocket Brewery Conservation On Tap event by calling 515-294-5429 or email ilf@iastate.edu.
Conservation On Tap Wednesday, May 25 (6pm – 7pm) Kinship Brewing Company, 255 NW Sunrise Dr, Waukee, IA 50263
Iowa Learning Farms (ILF), the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach conservation and water quality education program, will host “Conservation On Tap,” Wednesday, May 25, from 6-7 p.m. at Kinship Brewing Company in Waukee, Iowa. The in-person event will provide local farmers, landowners and interested Iowans with a chance to discuss conservation practices and ask questions.
“Our intent with this event is to help build community through encouraging farmers to talk with their neighbors and ILF about topics important within the community, what keeps them up at night, what challenges they see with conservation practices, and what they want to learn more about,” said Liz Ripley, ILF conservation and cover crop outreach specialist. “There will be no formal presentations or agenda, just a chance to talk, ask questions, listen and learn while enjoying a beverage and provided food. We are looking forward to learning alongside everyone else who attends.”
ISU hosts at the event will include Mark Licht, assistant professor and extension cropping systems specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, and Liz Ripley, ILF conservation and cover crop outreach specialist. Kinship Brewing Company owner, Zach Dobeck, will also join in the conversations as to why water quality matters for brewing.
This Conservation On Tap event is produced in collaboration with ISU’s Conservation Learning Group. To ensure adequate space and food, please RSVP for the Kinship Brewing Company Conservation On Tap event by calling 515-294-5429 or email ilf@iastate.edu.
The Iowa Learning Farms (ILF) conservation webinar taking place May 25 at noon CDT will feature Iowa State University environmental research scientists Dr. Chumki Banik and Dr. Santanu Bakshi. Banik and Bakshi collaborate on research regarding the management and utilization of manure as organic fertilizer in ways that can improve soil health while limiting nutrient loss to waterways. Their work includes assessment of the impacts of biochar-manure mixtures on the physical and chemical structure of agricultural soils. In addition, their current research focuses on the use of zeolite, a highly absorbent mineral, and biochar in concentrating and recovering nutrients from swine manure for efficient recycling to cropland while reducing nutrient leakage and improving air quality within the swine production system.
In the webinar, “Using Biochar and Zeolite to Recycle Phosphorus and Nitrogen from Swine Manure: An Integrative Approach,” Banik and Bakshi will discuss the efficacy of utilizing biochar and biochar-zeolite mixtures to help recover nitrogen and phosphorus from swine manure. They will also highlight the potential environmental and economic benefits and impacts of agroecosystems which employ organic fertilizer processes such as those currently being investigated.
To participate in the live webinar, click here. For more information click here.
Iowa Learning Farms and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will host a field day Wednesday, June 1 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Brent Johnson’s farm near Manson. The free event is open to farmers and landowners and includes a complimentary meal.
A project led by Mark Licht, extension cropping systems specialist and assistant professor, Iowa State University, and funded by North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education, is working with Iowa farmers to convert marginal land areas prone to flooding to perennial vegetation to evaluate the profitability and explore the potential benefits to water quality, soil health, wildlife habitat and overall aesthetics.
Following a complimentary meal, the field day will begin with a demonstration of the Conservation Station rainfall simulator. Licht and farmer partner and host, Brent Johnson will discuss the process of redefining the field edge from site selection to seeding and management, as well as highlight the research findings to date across the demonstration sites. Weather permitting, there will be a short tour of the perennial vegetation site following the program.
The field day will be held at the Johnson Farm, 1811 Ralston Ave, Manson. From Manson, head west on IA-7 for 2 miles. Turn right to head north on Ralston Ave for 0.9 miles. The farm is located on the west side of the road and field day signs will mark the driveway to enter.
The event is free and open to farmers and landowners, though we require reservations to ensure adequate space and food. For reasonable accommodations and to RSVP please contact Liz Ripley at 515-294-5429 or ilf@iastate.edu. Attendees will be entered in a drawing for ISU Prairie Strips honey.
Want more news on this topic? Farm Bureau members may subscribe for a free email news service, featuring the farm and rural topics that interest them most!