Will be at the Marie Ketelsen Learning Center near Delmar
Winter rye aerially seeded into soybeans. (Photo: Iowa Learning Farms)
AMES, Iowa – Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with the Clinton County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, is hosting a field day on cover cropping from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 5, at the Marie Ketelsen Learning Center near Delmar. The free event is open to farmers and landowners and includes a free meal.
The goal of this field day is to teach participants best management practices for establishing and managing cover crops. Cover crops provide many benefits to farmers and landowners, including reduced soil erosion, weed control, reduced nitrogen and phosphorus pollution of water bodies, and increased soil organic matter. When combined with no-till, additional benefits include better water infiltration and reduced erosion during heavy rains.
The field day will feature the Iowa Learning Farms rain simulator and Brian Kilburg, a Clinton County producer, will demonstrate how to use a drone to plant cover crops. Jason Steele, NRCS soil scientist, and JD Hollingsworth, NRCS soil conservation technician, will lead a soil health demonstration and talk about how they have successfully incorporated cover crops into their farms.
The field day will take place at the Marie Ketelsen Learning Center, located at the corner of 150th St (E55) and 200th Ave, Delmar, IA 52037. From Delmar, go west on IS-136 N for 4.7 miles. Turn left and go south on 200.th 2.9 miles long. The learning center is on the east side of the road and the entrance is marked with sports festival signs.
The event is free and open to farmers and landowners, but reservations are required to ensure adequate space and food. For appropriate accommodations and to confirm your attendance, please contact Liz Ripley at 515-294-5429 or [email protected] by August 29. Attendees will be entered into a drawing for ISU Prairie Strips honey.
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.
–Liz Ripley, Iowa Learning Farms
