Webinar: Digging into Cover Crops
May 28 (10 a.m.)
Event details: Tune into this webinar on cover crops by registering here.
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Cover Crop Field Day
June 4 (4 p.m. – 7 p.m.)
First location: 14233 Kline Road
La Porte City, IA 50651
Second location: La Porte City Senior Nutrition
300 1
st St
La Porte City, IA 50651
Event Details: Terry plants diverse crop rotations that include cereal rye, which he harvests to use in several ways. He’ll share his experience making ryelage, rye hay and rye straw. We’ll hear from Terry’s dairy farming neighbors, Josh and Dick Blough, who feed this ryelage to their dairy cattle. We’ll start in the field to view some cover crops before moving indoors for further discussion and a meal.
Topics will include:
Other Speakers:
Event details: Come learn how cover crops can positively impact water quality from a diverse mix of perspectives. You’ll hear from a farmer, a soil health expert and an ag retailer’s perspective, and you’ll get to view a rainfall simulator demonstration. The farmer, Brian, will share his playbook for managing soybeans following a cereal rye cover crop, as well as some of the on-farm research projects he’s involved in.
Please RSVP here by May 31.
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Impact of Cover Crops on Water Quality and Soil Health
June 6 (4 p.m. – 7 p.m.)
405 West South St.
Kewanee, IL 61443
A meal will be provided. Learn more and RSVP for the event here.
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On-Farm Habitat Management for Wildlife and Water Quality
June 18 (5 p.m. – 8 p.m.)
53998 Juniper Road
Lewis, IA 51544
Event details: Join Bob Zimmerman and biologists from Pheasants Forever as they discuss habitat restoration and management activities at the South Place farm. Topics will include: prairie restoration; habitat management using prescribed fire and other techniques; landowner-tenant relations and conservation; and the dual benefits of habitat for wildlife and water quality. Information on cost-share programs for conservation will also be available.
A meal will be served at 8 p.m. following the field day. Learn more and RSVP for the event here.
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Northern Research and Demonstration Farm field day
June 20 (9 a.m.)
Northern Research Farm
310 S. Main Street
Kanawha, IA 50447
Event details: Daniel J. Robison, holder of the Endowed Dean’s Chair in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University, will welcome farmers and agribusinesses to the Northern Research and Demonstration Farm field day June 20.
Robison began his role as dean in January and will speak to field day participants following opening remarks by Matt Schnabel, Northern Research and Demonstration Farm superintendent, at 9:30 a.m. Registration begins at 9 a.m.
Throughout the day, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach experts will discuss weeds, herbicides, cover crops and soybean gall midge.
John Sawyer, professor and extension specialist in soil fertility and nutrient management at Iowa State, will discuss the winter cereal rye nitrogen response and fertilization requirement study. The topic will be rye seed production response to nitrogen application, and determination of optimal fertilizer nitrogen application rate when following soybeans.
Sawyer will be joined by Camilla Martins, research graduate assistant in agronomy, and John Lundvall, agronomy research associate, at Iowa State.
Prashant Jha, associate professor and extension weed specialist at Iowa State, will talk about current issues in weed management. Jha will discuss the benefits of pre-emergent herbicides in soybeans, effective use of new herbicide technology in soybeans and integrated herbicide resistance management.
Erin Hodgson, associate professor and extension specialist in entomology at Iowa State, will talk about current issues in corn and soybean insects. Hodgson will also discuss current and future research on the soybean gall midge.
The field day will be held at the farm’s north location. The event address is 310 S. Main St. Kanawha, immediately south of town.
The field day is free and open to the public. Lunch will be served at noon and the day concludes at 1 p.m. Learn more on the Northern Research and Demonstration Farm webpage or by contacting Paul Kassel at 712-262-2264, or kassel@iastate.edu.
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Diversified Crop Rotations and Cover Crops
June 20 (5 p.m. – 8 p.m.)
1320 IA Hwy 92
Keota, IA 52248
Directions: Do not use Google Maps; it takes you to an address in Winterset.
From West Chester: The farm is 3 miles west of town on IA Hwy 92. The farm is on the north side of the road.
From the junction of IA Hwy 77 and IA Hwy 92 south of Keota: Go east on IA Hwy 92 for 4 miles. The farm is on the north side of the road.
Event details: This event will showcase a diversified farm with crop rotations, cover crops and livestock. Tim will speak about his crop rotation consisting of corn, soybeans and rye or wheat. Learn how this rotation presents opportunities for diverse cover crops (namely, legumes) and how Tim incorporates a small cattle herd and hog manure. We’ll also view a couple of on-farm research trials investigating cereal rye cover crops for improving weed control in soybeans.
A meal provided by the Washington County Cattleman’s Association as the beginning of the field day. Learn more and RSVP for the event here.
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30 Years of Small Grains and No-Till on an Ohio Farm
June 26 (6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.)
2765 N County Road 39
Fostoria, OH 44830
Event details: Join Practical Farmers in beautiful Seneca County, Ohio, to hear from David Cramer, who has been no-tilling small grains on his family farm for over 30 years. We will cover agronomic advice and variety selection, and learn about incorporating cover crops into a small-grains operation.
Learn more and RSVP for the event here.
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Cover Crops With Purpose: Weed Suppression, Soil Health and Unexpected Benefits
July 2 (10 a.m. – 1 p.m.)
1673 Market Ave.
Galva, IA 51020
Event details: Learn about the benefits and challenges of diversifying your farm with cover crops, small grains and extended rotations. Sam and Danielle will share their experience using cover crops as part of their weed control system. They will also discuss growing small grains, soil health and navigating crop insurance and Natural Resources Conservation Service programs. Guests will have a chance to see cereal rye and oats just before harvest, and evaluate the weed-suppressing benefits of cover crops before soybeans.
Lunch will be served, provided by Ida County Pork Producers. Learn more and RSVP for the event here.
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Farmland Owner Legacy Award + On-Farm Conservation Event
July 10 (5 p.m. – 8 p.m.)
300 NW 158th Ave.
Slater, IA 50244
Event details: Lee Tesdell is Practical Farmers’ 2019 Farmland Owner Legacy Award recipient. This award is granted annually to landowners who help the next generation get started, advance land stewardship and promote long-term sustainability of farm businesses, environmental quality and rural communities. Lee and guest speakers will discuss conservation and solar energy generation, and Lee will receive the Farmland Owner Legacy Award at this field day.
The event will start with supper, featuring tacos from Victor’s Mexican Restaurant in Huxley. Learn more and register for the event here.
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Soil Health and Water Quality Workshop
July 17 (9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.)
Grundy County Fairgrounds
1308 4th St.
Grundy Center, IA 50638
Event details: Farmers, landowners and city dwellers can all learn something about how to incorporate conservation practices onto their land from a panel of experts. Learn about building soil health practices into farm leases, edge-of-field practices, prairie strips and how townspeople can play a role in conservation efforts. The event will also feature a hands-on soil health discussion.
Lunch will be provided. RSVP to Denise Freeseman, Grundy County SWCD, at denise.freeseman@ia.nacdnet.net or (319) 824-3634, ext 3, by Wednesday, July 10. Learn more about the event here.
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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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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.