AMES, Iowa–Iowa Learning Farms, Marshall County Soil and Water Conservation District, USDA-Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and Iowa Land Improvement Contractors Association (LICA), will host a cover crop and soil health field day Thursday, August 25 from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the LICA Farm near Melbourne. The free event is open to farmers and landowners and includes a complimentary meal.

Cover crops continue to gain popularity in Iowa due to their many benefits including reduced soil erosion, weed suppression potential, reduced nitrogen and phosphorus loads entering water bodies, and increased organic matter in the soil. When paired with no-tillage additional benefits include increased water infiltration and reduced erosion during heavy rain events. This field day aims to equip attendees with best management practices for establishing cover crops and maintaining yields during the transition to a higher residue system of no-tillage and cover crops.

Fayette County Farmer Loran Steinlage has been experimenting with different cover crop species on his farm over the past few years utilizing the longer establishment window provided by harvesting winter cereal rye for seed. He also has experience with companion/relay no-till cropping and currently produces corn, soybeans, cereal rye, winter wheat, malt barley and buckwheat. Attendees will be able to hear from Loran about what he found works and what doesn’t and ask questions. Marshall County NRCS will offer some hands-on soil health demonstrations that farmers can utilize in their own fields. Liz Ripley, Iowa Learning Farms conservation and cover crop outreach specialist, will share results from on-farm cover crop demonstration trials and best practices for establishing and managing your cover crops.

The field day be held at the LICA Farm located at 1723 290th St, Melbourne, IA 50162 and will be held rain or shine. The farm is located on the north side of the road and field day signs will mark the driveway to enter.

The event is free and open to farmers and landowners, though we require reservations to ensure adequate space and food. For reasonable accommodations and to RSVP please contact Liz Ripley at 515-294-5429 or ilf@iastate.edu. Attendees will be entered in 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.

About Iowa Learning Farms

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, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Iowa Department of Natural Resources, EPA Section 319 Grant Program and GROWMARK, Inc.