AMES, Iowa — Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with Union Count Natural Resources Conservation Service, will host a cover crop field day Wednesday, March 29th. The 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. field day at Nick and Andrea Lacina’s farm, rural Afton. The field day is free and open to the public and includes a complimentary lunch.
Union County farmers Nick and Andrea Lacina, who farm with their sons Cain and Cole, added cover crops to their operation in 2014. Reducing soil erosion is one of the motivating factors that led to the addition of winter cereal rye, oats and wheat cover crops. As cattle producers, they are grazing their cover crops to help maximize the return value through a supplemental feed source. Weather permitting, attendees will visit the nearby cover crop fields.
Also speaking at the field day is Joe Sellers, beef specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach. He will share information and recommendations to maximize the feed value of cover crops. Liz Juchems, Iowa Learning Farms events coordinator will lead a discussion on spring management considerations for both grazing and row crop production and share on-farm cover crop research updates and recommendations.
The field day will be held at the Lacina Farm on Pheasant Avenue, Afton. From Creston, head east on US-34 for nine miles. Turn left to go north on Pheasant Avenue. The farm is located on the east side of the road across from Green Lawn Cemetery. Lunch will be served inside the shop and weather permitting, the program will take place in the nearby cover crop field.
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 has become a trusted source of conservation information and research while helping to build 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 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, Iowa Department of Natural Resources (USEPA section 319), Conservation Districts of Iowa, Iowa Farm Bureau, Iowa Water Center and Practical Farmers of Iowa.
— Iowa Learning Farms
For more news from Iowa, click here.