Ames Workshop to Help Farmers Manage Cover Crops and Plant Diseases

By Andi Anderson

Iowa Learning Farms will host a cover crop and plant disease workshop on Tuesday, March 24, as part of its “Beyond the Basics: Advanced Cover Crop Series.” Held from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. in Ames, the workshop is free for farmers and landowners and includes a complimentary meal.

The event aims to help participants understand how cover crops influence soil health, plant diseases, and long‑term crop performance.

Mitch Harting, water outreach specialist with Iowa Learning Farms, emphasized the importance of understanding both the benefits and challenges of cover crops. He explained, “Cover crops play a critical role in keeping Iowa’s soil and water resources healthy. Though cover crops have many benefits, challenges like plant pathogens and disease can negatively impact the following cash crop. This workshop will help farmers understand pathogen movement between cereal rye and corn, and the best management practices to reduce yield declines.”

The workshop will also guide farmers on how to incorporate alternative cover crops into their farming systems. One of the key speakers will be Alison Robertson, extension field crop pathologist at Iowa State University.

She will discuss disease interactions between cereal rye and the corn that follows. Her session includes a hands‑on demonstration to help attendees observe seedling disease among different cover crop treatments.

The event will also feature Mark Kenney, a local farmer who will share his experiences managing an oat cover crop as an alternative to rye.

Ethan Thies, conservation field specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach, will explain other cover crop options and outline best practices to reduce disease risks when planting ahead of corn.

The workshop will take place at the Alliant Energy Agriculture Innovation Lab, located at 3800 University Boulevard in Ames. Reservations are required to manage space and meals. To RSVP or request accommodations, attendees should contact Harting at 515-294-8912 or ilf@iastate.edu by March 17. All participants will be entered into a drawing for ISU Prairie Strips honey.

The workshop is supported by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. More details can be found on the Iowa Learning Farms website.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-mvburling