Iowa Learning Farms, along with the Miller Creek Water Quality Improvement Project will host a cover crop field day on Thursday, Nov. 5, from 4-6 p.m. on the Louis and Pat Beck farm, rural Buckingham in northern Tama County. The event is free and open to the public and includes a complementary meal.

Speaking at the field day is host farmer Louis Beck. Beck and his wife Pat, care for a Century Farm where they raise meat goats, mange an apple orchard and no-till 400 acres of corn and soybeans.

Beck is in his second year of using cover crops and will discuss his motivations for adding cover crops to his conservation farming plan. The highboy seeder used to overseed Beck’s cover crops will be on display, courtesy of Blake Hollis and Lanehaven Farms.

Also speaking at the field day are ISU Extension and Outreach Water Quality Program Manager, Jamie Benning ILF event coordinator, Liz Juchems. Shane Wulf, project coordinator and Steve Hershner, Cedar Rapids Utilities Director, will also provide an update on the update on Miller Creek and Middle Cedar Partnership with Cedar Rapids.

The field day site is located at 14124 Beck Rd, rural Buckingham. From Hudson, take Highway 63 south for approximately 6 miles. Turn left (east) onto W. Tama Rd and go 3 miles. Turn right (south) on Beck Rd. The field day site is the first place on the left (west) side of the road.

The workshop is free and open to the public, but reservations are suggested to ensure adequate space and food. Contact Liz Juchems at 515-294-5429 or email ilf@iastate.edu.