Event Details: New to cover cropping? Join us for a brief introduction about the benefits and challenges of cover cropping, as well as information about crop insurance incentives that are available to cover-cropping farmers in Iowa. This event is made possible by the Iowa Farmers Union, Practical Farmers of Iowa, the Soil Health Partnership, the Iowa Seed Association, the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Clean Water Initiative, Iowa Corn, Iowa Learning Farms, Iowa Soybean Association and the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance.
Schedule:
12:00 pm Lunch served at the Huxley Learning Center
12:30 pm "Why I use cover crops" Mike Helland, host farmer
12:45 pm Field Visit Mike Helland Farm
1:45 pm Presentation Huxley Learning Center
Crop Insurance Program Update
Water Quality and Cover Crops
Earth Worms and Cover Crops, Iowa Learning Farm
Farmer Panel: Cover Crop Management
Event Details: Iowa Learning Farms, along with Cedar Creek Partnership Project and Wapello County Soil and Water Conservation District, will host a cover crops and grazing cover crops field day on Tuesday, November 20th from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Swanson Farm, rural Ottumwa. The event is free, open to the whole family and includes a complimentary meal.
Wapello County farmers Don and Bill Swanson have been farming their family’s Heritage Farm for over 30 years. Since the 1970’s they have used no-tillage to raise corn soybeans on nearly 1,800 acres. They also raise hay and manage pasture for their cow-calf herd and cattle feedlot operation. For the last four years, they have added cereal rye to a portion of their acres to reduce soil loss, improve soil health and reduce fall feed costs by grazing the cereal rye. Following the program Don will provide a tour of their cover crops, weather permitting.
The agenda will continue with Patrick Wall, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Beef Specialist, sharing best management practices for and benefits of grazing cover crops. Liz Juchems, Iowa Learning Farms conservation outreach specialist, will share results from cover crop projects examining species selection, water quality implications, and soil health indicators such as earthworms. Benjamin Cottrell, Wapello and Davis County NRCS District Conservationist, and Lanessa Baker, Cedar Creek Partnership Project Coordinator, will provide project updates and discuss opportunities to get involved.
The field day will be held at the Swanson Farm, 6077 100th St, Ottumwa. From Hwy 34 north of Agency, head north on Agency Hedrick Rd/V37 for 2.3 miles. Turn right on 100th to head east for 1 mile. The destination will be on the north side of the road. The event is free and open to the whole family, but reservations are suggested to ensure adequate space and food. Please RSVP to Liz Juchems at 515-294-5429 or ilf@iastate.edu.
For more information about Iowa Learning Farms, visit www.iowalearningfarms.org.
Cover Crop Field Day
November 27 (12 – 2 p.m.)
Kossuth County Museum
800 East Fair Street
Algona, IA 50511
Event Details: Iowa Learning Farms, along with Iowa Seed Corn Cover Crop Initiative, Iowa Corn, and USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, will host a cover crop and conservation tillage field day on Tuesday, November 27th from 12:00-2:00 p.m. at the Kossuth County Museum in Algona. The event is free, open to the whole family and includes a complimentary meal.
Farmers across Iowa are implementing cover crops to reduce soil erosion, improve soil health, limit nitrogen losses, and to provide a source of forage for grazing. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from local farmers about the benefits of cover crops, choosing seed varieties, innovative application methods, best management practices and opportunities for cost share.
The field day will include Kossuth County farmers Matt and Nancy Bormann sharing how they have incorporated cover crops, strip-tillage and vertical tillage into their farming operation and provide some tips for success on your farm. Doug Adams, Humboldt County farmer and NRCS Soil Conservation Technician will discuss how cover crops and no-tillage have benefited his farm through weed suppression, soil erosion reduction and more.
Liz Juchems, Iowa Learning Farms conservation outreach specialist, will share results from cover crop projects examining species selection, water quality implications, and soil health indicators. Iowa Seed Corn Cover Crop Initiative coordinator, Shannon Moeller will provide an update on the project and discuss opportunities to get involved. Weather permitting, there will be a demonstration of the NRCS rainfall simulator comparing different land management practices and a tour of a Bormann Farm cover crop field nearby where they have used conservation tillage.
The field day will be held at the Kossuth County Museum. The event is free and open to the whole family, but reservations are suggested to ensure adequate space and food. Please RSVP to Liz Juchems at 515-294-5429 or ilf@iastate.edu.
For more information about Iowa Learning Farms, visit www.iowalearningfarms.org.
Cover Crops and Edge of Field Practice Field Day
November 28 (12 – 2 p.m.)
Hillsboro Community Center
105 E. Commercial St
Hillsboro, IA 52630
Event Details: Iowa Learning Farms, along with the Lower Skunk Water Quality and Soil Health Initiative and Henry County Soil and Water Conservation District, will host a cover crops and saturated buffer field day on Wednesday, November 28th from 12:00-2:00 p.m. at the Hillsboro Community Center. The event is free, open to the whole family and includes a complimentary meal.
Van Buren and Henry County farmer Clark Whitaker, alongside his brothers and son, raises row crops, cattle and hogs on his family’s Heritage Farm. Together they have implemented a variety of conservation practices to help improve water quality and soil health. Recent water quality practices include a saturated buffer and wetland to help reduce nitrate loss from their property. Clark has no-tilled his corn and soybeans for the past 35 years and in 2014 began using cereal rye, oats and radish cover crops to increase soil health, reduce the soil from erosion and protect the farms productivity for the future.
“My family has always thought of the farm as an asset to be used. As an asset it needs to be cared for and maintained. Part of that care is trying to keep the soil on the farm instead of road ditches and waterways. We have been working to raise organic matter and are realizing the benefits of organic matter. Part of the reason for looking at cover crops on our farm is to see the benefits and how incorporation into our operation will improve the soil and our operation in the future,” stated Whitaker.
The agenda will continue with Ann Staudt, Iowa Learning Farms manager and content specialist, discussing edge of field practices like saturated buffers, bioreactors and denitrifying wetlands. Liz Juchems, Iowa Learning Farms conservation outreach specialist, will share results from cover crop projects examining species selection, water quality implications, and soil health indicators such as earthworms. Miranda Haes, Lower Skunk Water Quality and Soil Health Initiative coordinator, will provide project updates and discuss opportunities to get involved. Following the program Clark will provide a tour of his nearby cover crops, weather permitting.
The field day will be held at the Hillsboro Community Center, 105 E. Commercial Street. The event is free and open to the whole family, but reservations are suggested to ensure adequate space and food. Please RSVP to Liz Juchems at 515-294-5429 or ilf@iastate.edu.
For reasonable accommodations please contact Miranda Haes at 319-385-2824 Ext. 3 or Miranda.Haes@ia.nacdnet.net.
For more information about Iowa Learning Farms, visit www.iowalearningfarms.org.
Cover Crop Field Day
November 29 (10 a.m. – 12 p.m.)
Luana Savings Bank
100 Harvest Dr
Luana, IA 52156
Event Details: Iowa Learning Farms, along with the Clayton County Soil and Water Conservation District, will host a cover crop field day on Thursday, November 29th from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at the Luana Savings Bank. The event is free, open to the whole family and includes a complimentary meal.
Farmers across Iowa are implementing cover crops to reduce soil erosion, improve soil health, limit nitrogen losses, and to provide a source of forage for grazing. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from local farmers about the benefits of cover crops, choosing seed varieties, innovative application methods, best management practices and opportunities for cost share.
The field day will begin with a panel discussion featuring Clayton County farmers Brian Keehner, Dan Keehner and Mark Glawe. Liz Juchems, Iowa Learning Farms conservation outreach specialist, will then share results from cover crop projects examining species selection, water quality implications, and soil health indicators. NRCS Area Agronomist Neil Sass will review methods to evaluate cover crop stands and discuss how cover crops impact soil health. Project Coordinator Eric Palas will discuss cost share opportunities for cover crops in Clayton County. Weather permitting, there will be a short tour to compare cover crop seeding methods following the program.
The field day will be held at the Luana Savings Bank, 100 Harvest Drive. The event is free and open to the whole family, but reservations are suggested to ensure adequate space and food. Please RSVP to Liz Juchems at 515-294-5429 or ilf@iastate.edu.
For more information about Iowa Learning Farms, visit www.iowalearningfarms.org.
Event Details: Brought to you by the Soil Health Partnership, a project to make agriculture more productive and sustainable through soil health.
Hosted by: Deerfield Farms, Soil Health Partnership Farmer
Agenda:
Soil Health Partnership Overview: John Stewart, SHP
Interseeding Cover Crops: Ryan Haden, ATI
Soil Cation Balancing: Steve Culman, OSU Extension
Lunch immediately following presentations
Lunch provided for registrants. So please register to help plan for the meal.
To register call Lynn at (330) 235-6806 or email lvogel@portageswcd.org
December 12 (12 p.m.)
Event Details: Speaker Mark Licht, ISU assistant professor of Agronomy and Extension cropping systems specialist, will be presenting on the topic of #NoTillb4Beans and #CoverYourBeans: Highlighting field performance improvements and nutrient reduction strategy gains
Connect to the webinar here.