Field Days & Events
Iowa Learning Farms Conservation Webinar
Wednesday, May 31 (12pm)Online Webinar
The Iowa Learning Farms will be hosting a live webinar featuring Rabin Bhattarai with Illinois University. Bhattarai will be the addressing the question , “Can cover crops still provide targeted nutrient loss benefits in the future?”.
For more information click here.
Relay Intercropping Field Day
Thursday, June 1 (10:30am-12:30pm)Bormann Farm - 234 Prairie Main Rd. Monticello, IA 52310
Iowa Learning Farms will host a relay intercropping field day on Thursday, June 1 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Jason Russell’s Farm near Monticello. The free event is open to farmers and landowners and includes a complimentary meal.
The field day aims to equip attendees with best management practices for establishing and managing a relay intercropping system designed to improve soil health and reduce nutrient losses while increasing productivity and profitability. The relay intercropping system begins following corn with the seeding of winter wheat or rye. The soybean crop is planted into the winter wheat/rye the next spring and the winter wheat/rye is harvested for grain in June. Following soybean, oats are planted as a cover crop ahead of corn.
The field day will feature a field visit with farmer host, Jason Russell, to take a closer look at his relay intercropping system and discuss best management practices for the system. Dr. Mark Licht, associate professor and extension cropping systems specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, will discuss how relay intercropping systems can be integrated into existing rotations and highlight how to successfully manage the system based on current research. Ross Evelsizer, Northeast Iowa RC&D natural resource projects director, will share results from local relay intercropping cereal rye and soybeans trials. Erin Erickson, Maquoketa River Watershed Management Authority watershed coordinator, will share opportunities to get involved and staff from Center for Rural Affairs will provide resources and updates related to crop insurance and relay intercropping.
For more information and to RSVP, click here.
TopSoil Summit – The Peak of Soil Health
Monday, June 5 (8am-8pm)Riverside Casino & Golf Resort - 3184 IA-22, Riverside, IA 52327
The TopSoil Summit brings you firsthand knowledge from soil health professionals and experienced regenerative farmers. Registration is $25 per person, this includes two meals and a lifetime of knowledge.
For more information click here.
Bioreactor and Cover Crop Field Day
Tuesday, June 6 (10:30am-12:30pm)Vos Farm - 2677 450th St. Ireton, IA 51027 Iowa Learning Farms is hosting a bioreactor and cover crop field day on Tuesday, June 6 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Ron Vos’ farm near Ireton. The free event is open to farmers and landowners and includes a complimentary meal.
Join us to learn more about how bioreactors work through the demonstration of the Conservation On The Edge trailer and a site visit to Ron’s bioreactor installed in 2022. Ron will share his experience with the bioreactor, as well as how he has been able to incorporate cover crops into his system. Ryan Johnson, Iowa Soybean Association conservation agronomist, will share best management practices for the northwest region of Iowa, and Colton Meyer, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship environmental specialist, will share program opportunities for cost-share related to bioreactors and cover crops.
For more information click here.
Iowa Learning Farms Conservation Webinar
Wednesday, June 7 (12pm)Live Webinar
The Iowa Learning Farms will be hosting a live webinar featuring Craig Dury with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
For more information click here.
Paving the Way in Relay Cropping and Water Quality
Wednesday, June 7 (10am-2pm)Textile TapHaus - 76 Main Ave. Atkins, IA 52206
Join us to hear from Alex Schaffer, ISA Agronomist, Loren Steinlage, Northeast Iowa Farmer, and Multi-Cropping Iowa about on-farm conservation efforts. Lunch will be provided.
For more information click here.
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
For more information and to RSVP, 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.
Pollinators of the Iowa Prairie: Conservation 70 Years in the Making
Wednesday, July 19 (9:30am-12pm)1562 Binford Ave., St. Anthony, IA, 50239
Carl Kurtz operates a 180-acre farm near St. Anthony, Iowa, where he grows corn and soybeans on 75 acres. The remaining farm Carl has transitioned to native prairie and wetland, from which he harvests seed for his prairie seed business. At this field day, you’ll enjoy a walking tour of the sprawling prairie.
Carl will share his knowledge of prairie seeds and establishing prairie, and he’ll discuss what landowners can do to promote insect and pollinator health and diversity.
Note: Attendees should be prepared to walk extensively through tall grass during the field day; motorized vehicles will not be available.
Bring your blankets and lunch baskets! A bring-your-own picnic among the wildflowers will follow the field day.
For more information and to RSVP, click here.
Relay Cropping, Permanent Clover, and Irrigation Systems in Northwest Iowa
Wednesday, July 19 (10am-12pm)Patrick White and his father, Chuck White, farm corn, soy, and cereal rye on 1,200 acres just west of Spencer, Iowa. They have practiced no-till since 2004 and used cover crops since 2013. Through their farm management business, Agriland, they help landowners get more involved in conservation in their area. At this field day, learn from Patrick and Chuck about the soil health benefits of cover crops and what incentives are available to landowners to help implement cover crops and conservation practices.
Lunch will follow the field day.
For more information and to RSVP, click here.