Iowa Learning Farms and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will host a cover crop and no-till field day on Tuesday, March 26, from 12 to 2 pm at the Greene County Extension Office. The event is free, open to the whole family and includes a complimentary meal.
The fall of 2018 was a challenge for most farmers, as it started raining in early September as the corn and soybeans were maturing and continued to stay wet through harvest. With a priority on getting the crop in the field, there was limited time to complete fall tillage.
However, this presents an opportunity to save money on input costs by implementing no-till this spring and to protect the soil from erosion and improve weed control by adding a cover crop this fall.
The workshop agenda will include James Holz, Greene County farmer and co-owner of Iowa Cover Crop, sharing his experiences with cover crops and tips for successfully adding them to your operation.
Chris Henning, Greene County landowner, will discuss how working together with her tenant to implement cover crops and no-till has improved the soil health of her land.
Mark Licht, ISU Extension and Outreach cropping specialist, will provide timely advice for preparing your planter and other considerations for no-tilling corn and soybeans this spring.
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.
The field day will be held at the Greene County Extension Office, 104 West Washington St., Jefferson. The event is free and open to the whole family, but reservations are suggested to ensure adequate space and food. Please RSVP to Juchems at 515-294-5429 or ilf@iastate.edu.
Iowa Learning Farms field days and workshops are supported by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. For more information about Iowa Learning Farms, visit www.iowalearningfarms.org.
Established in 2004, Iowa Learning Farms is building a Culture of Conservation by encouraging adoption of conservation practices. Farmers, researchers and ILF team members are working together to identify and implement the best management practices that improve water quality and soil health while remaining profitable. Partners of Iowa Learning Farms include the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Iowa Natural Resources Conservation Service, Iowa Department of Natural Resources (USEPA section 319) and GROWMARK Inc.
