AMES, Iowa — Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with Prairie Rivers of Iowa, will host a cover crop and soil health field day Tuesday, June 13th. The 5:00-7:00 p.m. field day will be held at Larry Haren’s farm, rural Webster City. The field day is free and open to the public and includes a complimentary meal.
Hamilton County farmer, Larry Haren, has implemented a wide variety of conservation practices over the past 15 years including no-till, oxbows, a bioreactor, grassed waterways and cover crops. Since 2012, Haren has been using cover crops to promote soil biology and is also harvesting winter cereal rye for cover crop seed. Haren will share his experiences and challenges of growing cover crops and keeping the soil, nitrates and phosphorus on his land.
Also speaking at the field day is Rick Cruse, professor of agronomy at Iowa State University. He will share updates from the Iowa Daily Erosion Project and discuss the importance of soil health. Liz Juchems, events coordinator for Iowa Learning Farms, will lead a discussion on cover crop species selection, seeding techniques and termination considerations. A discussion on oxbow restoration will be led by Karen Wilke, Boone River Watershed Project Coordinator and Kayla Hasper, watershed coordinator for Prairie Rivers of Iowa, will provide information on the watershed project and opportunities to get involved.
The field day will be held at the Haren Farm, 1387 Kendall Young Rd., Webster City. Webster City, head east on 2nd St (County Road D25). Turn north on Kantor Avenue for 0.8 miles. Turn left to head west on Kendall Young Rd for 0.4 miles. The farm is on the north 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.
For more information about Iowa Learning Farms, visit the website: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/ilf/.
Established in 2004, Iowa Learning Farms is building a Culture of Conservation, 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 are the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Iowa Natural Resources Conservation Service and Iowa Department of Natural Resources (USEPA section 319), Conservation Districts of Iowa, Iowa Farm Bureau, Iowa Water Center and Practical Farmers of Iowa.
Prairie Rivers of Iowa is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to strengthening Iowa’s communities through the responsible stewardship of our natural resources. Prairie Rivers of Iowa’s programs help Iowans conserve our state’s natural and historical resources to enrich the lives of current and future generations.
— Iowa Learning Farms
For more news from Iowa, click here.