AMES, Iowa — Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with Iowa Land Improvement Contractors Association (LICA), Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance (IAWA), Natural Resources Conservation Service, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) and Iowa Corn, will host a bioreactor installation field day on Tuesday, June 11 from 5:30-7:30pm at Olie Leimer’s farm, rural Albert City. The event is free and open to the whole family and includes a complimentary meal.
Edge of field practices like bioreactors, wetlands and saturated buffers are key to reducing nitrate loss from agricultural land in Iowa. Through a natural biological process microorganisms living in the systems use the incoming nitrate for respiration and reduce the nitrate levels from incoming tile drainage. Together with in-field practices like cover crops and no-tillage, these practices will help reach the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy goals.
Field day attendees will have the opportunity to view and learn about the installation of a new bioreactor on Leimer’s farm. Following the meal, the agenda will feature Lee Gravel, environmental specialist with IDALS, and Olie Leimer, Buena Vista County farmer and landowner discussing how they worked together through the planning process and opportunities for financial assistance. A demonstration by the Iowa Learning Farms Conservation Station On The Edge trailer will highlight what is happening beneath the surface in bioreactors and saturated buffers to set the stage for Brian Heinsohn, LICA member and owner of Heinsohn Digging and Tiling, to lead attendees to the installation site to view the bioreactor mid-construction. Jim Jordahl, director of programs and operations with IAWA, will discuss how IAWA, LICA and their partners in the Conservation Infrastructure initiative are helping contractors create new business lines around these practices in order to create jobs and increase revenue while improving Iowa’s water quality.
The field day will be held at Olie Leimer’s farm 1598 Highway 3, Albert City. From Albert City, head south on 230th Street for 2 miles. Turn right to go west on Highway 3 for 7 miles. The site will be on the south side of the road and will be marked with a field day sign. The field day is free and open to the whole family, but reservations are suggested to ensure adequate space and food. To RSVP please contact Lee Gravel at 712-732-3096 or lee.gravel@iowaagriculture.gov.
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.
— Iowa Learning Farms
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