Cover Crop Field Day
July 23 (10:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.)
Jim and Sharon Greif’s Farm
5409 Prairieburg Road
Prairieburg, IA 52219
Event details: Practical ways to make soil health, cover crops, and waterways work for corn and soybean growers will be discussed on July 23 at the farm of Iowa Corn Growers Association Vice President Jim Greif and Sharon Greif north of Prairieburg. Five farmers will share their experiences and answer questions about no-till, strip-till, cover crops, and grass waterways.
This event is free and sponsored by Iowa Corn and the Oregon Ryegrass Growers Seed Commission. Complimentary lunch provided by BASF. Please RSVP to 515-294-5429 or bgleason@iowacorn.org. Walk-ins are welcome.
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Cover Crop Field Day
July 24 (10 a.m. – 12 p.m.)
LICA Farm
1741 290th St.
Melbourne, IA 50162
Event details: Practical ways to make soil health, cover crops, and waterways work for corn and soybean growers will be discussed on July 24 from 10:00 am to noon at the Iowa Land Improvement Contractors Association farm, 1741 290th St, Melbourne. After lunch, attendees are welcome to tour the farm and experience equipment demonstrations. This event is free and sponsored by Iowa Corn and the Oregon Ryegrass Growers Seed Commission. Please RSVP to 515-225-9242 or bgleason@iowacorn.org. Walk-ins are welcome.
Event details: Practical ways to make soil health, cover crops, and waterways work for corn and soybean growers will be discussed on July 25 from 10:00 am to noon at the Dordt University Ag Stewardship Center, 3648 US 75 Avenue, about three miles north of Sioux Center. Lunch will be provided by Iowa Corn. This event is free and sponsored by Iowa Corn and the Oregon Ryegrass Growers Seed Commission. Please RSVP to 515-225-9242 or bgleason@iowacorn.org. Walk-ins are welcome.
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July 25 (10 a.m. – 12 p.m.)
Dordt University Ag Stewardship Center
3648 US 75 Ave
Sioux Center, IA 51250
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Bioreactor Field Day
July 31 (5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.)
Bob Floss Farm
7378 N 66th Ave W
Baxter, IA 50028
Event details: Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with Iowa Corn and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, will host a bioreactor field day on Wednesday, July 31st from 5:30-7:30pm at Bob Floss’ farm, rural Baxter. The event is free and open to the whole family and includes a complimentary meal.
Edge of field practices like bioreactors, wetlands and saturated buffers are key to reducing nitrate loss from agricultural land in Iowa. Through a natural biological process microorganisms living in the systems use the incoming nitrate for respiration and reduce the nitrate levels from incoming tile drainage. Together with in-field practices like cover crops and no-tillage, these practices will help reach the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy goals.
Field day attendees will have the opportunity to view and learn about the two new bioreactors on installed on the Floss farm in the spring of 2018. Following the meal, the agenda will feature Carrie Dodds, District 5 Field Manager with Iowa Corn and a demonstration by the Iowa Learning Farms Conservation Station On The Edge trailer, highlighting what is happening beneath the surface in bioreactors and saturated buffers. Weather permitting, the program will continue at the bioreactor site with Bob Floss and Chris Herbold discussing the design, installation and performance of the bioreactors.
The field day will be held at Bob Floss’ farm 7378 N 66th Ave W, Baxter. From Baxter, head west on Hwy F17W for one mile. Turn south on Hwy S-52 for about 3 miles and turn left to head east on N 66th Avenue West. The site will be on the north side of the road and will be marked with a field day sign. The field day is free and open to the whole family, but reservations are suggested to ensure adequate space and food. To RSVP please contact Carrie Dodds at 515-326-5914 or cdodds@iowacorn.gov.
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Soil Health Smorgasbord for Farmers + Family Learning Event
August 6 (2 p.m. – 7 p.m.)
2943 County Road D65
Buckingham, IA 50612
Event details: This hands-on field day will occur in two phases. From 2-5 p.m., farmers and producers will learn about soil health principles, including strip-tillage, grazing cover crops and interseeding in 60-inch rows. The community is invited to join in for a meal at 5 p.m. Afterwards, children and parents can visit various stations on the farm to learn about steps local farmers are taking to protect water quality and soil health.
A meal will be served at 5 p.m. Learn more and RSVP for the event
here.
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Cover Crop Field Day
August 6 (5 p.m. – 7 p.m.)
Morris Park
10938 Timber Rd
Stockport, IA 52651
Event details: The Lower Skunk River Water Quality Initiative is hosting a cover crop field day on August 6 from 5-7 pm at Morris Park near Baxter. Jason Steele, soil scientist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Patrick Wall, grazing specialist with ISU Extension, will discuss the economic advantages of using cover crops in your farming operation and how soil health affects your bottom line. Supper is provided by Iowa Corn. To RSVP please contact Miranda Haes at 319-385-2824 or miranda.haes@ia.nacdnet.net. Click here for more information.
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Bioreactor, Saturated Buffer and Oxbow Field Day
August 8 (6 p.m. – 8 p.m.)
Iowa State University Uthe Farm
2122 290th St,
Madrid, IA 50156
Event details: Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, and Iowa State University Research and Demonstration Farms, will host a conservation practice showcase field day on Thursday, August 8th from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Iowa State University Uthe Farm near Madrid. The event is free, open to the whole family and includes a complimentary meal.
Edge of field practices like bioreactors, wetlands, oxbows and saturated buffers are key to reducing nitrate loss from tile drained agricultural land in Iowa. Through a natural biological process, microorganisms living in the systems use nitrate for respiration and reduce the nitrate levels in tile drainage water. Together with land use changes and in-field practices like cover crops, these practices will help reach the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy goals.
The field day will begin with the meal and an opportunity to visit the Iowa Learning Farms Conservation Station On The Edge trailer. Following the meal, attendees will have the opportunity to tour four conservation practices installed at the farm. The stops will include a saturated buffer with Tom Isenhart, ISU Natural Resource Ecology and Management Professor, bioreactor with Michelle Soupir, ISU Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Associate Professor, and Natasha Hoover, ISU Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Research Associate, oxbow wetland with Adam Janke, ISU Natural Resource Ecology and Management Assistant Professor and Extension Wildlife Specialist, and Sean McCoy, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Environmental Specialist, and a pollinator habitat demonstration with Seth Appelgate, ISU Monarch Research Team.
The field day will be held at ISU Uthe Farm, 2122 290th Street, Madrid. From Madrid, head north on IA-17 for 4 miles. Turn right onto 290th St. for 3.2 miles and the field location will be on the south 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.
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Grazing Covers Crops and Building Community 101
August 22 (1 p.m. – 4 p.m.)
6795 Illinois Route 100
Frederick, IL 62639
Event details: Learn how Greg Rebman and Luke Jones worked together to combine knowledge and skill sets, overcome challenges and develop a profitable contract grazing partnership. We will see a field of wheat underseeded with clover that is a part of PFI’s small-grains cost-share program. Greg will also talk about the importance of supporting young farmers and cultivating healthy landowner-tenant relationships.
No meal will be served, but soft drinks and water will be available. Learn more and RSVP for the event
here.
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Establishing Pollinator Habitat at Scattergood Friends School Farm
September 17 (4 p.m. – 7 p.m.)
258 290
th St
West Branch, IA 52358
Event details: Come learn from Scattergood staff and students, as well as Xerces Society biologist Sarah Foltz Jordan, about the why, when, where and how of pollinator habitat design and installation. Mark and Sarah will address farmer concerns about weed control using organic methods. They will also discuss plugs versus seeds and habitat management. Sarah Nizzi, the Natural Resources Conservation Service partner biologist for Xerces Society, will join to offer insights about cost-share opportunities available through farm bill programs.
SPEAKERS: From Xerces Society – Sarah Foltz Jordan & Sarah Nizzi, Farm Bill Pollinator Conservation Planner and NRCS Partner Biologist in Iowa
Scattergood Friends Farm is part of Scattergood Friends School, a small Quaker boarding school about 15 miles east of Iowa City. The farm includes 8 acres of organic gardens and orchards certified organic by Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and about 30 acres of pasture used to grass-finish beef and lamb. Scattergood also raises a few heritage-breed Guinea hogs, a small flock of turkeys and occasional broiler and laying chicken flocks.
Scattergood primarily grows food for the school, but has in the past produced for farmers markets, New Pioneer Co-op and a small CSA. The school has been an example of an extreme farm-to-school program since 1890, but more recently since 2003, when a decision was made to raise much of the food consumed at Scattergood. Field day host Mark Quee has been the farm manager at Scattergood for 16 years.
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Dinner will be served following the field day in the Scattergood Friends School cafeteria. Please RSVP
here.