Iowa Learning Farms and partnering agencies will host cover crop field days Nov. 17 at the Vaske Farm near Masonville and Nov. 22 at the Lagos Acres Golf & Country Club near Keota. The free events are open to farmers and landowners and include a complimentary meal; however, registration is required.
Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and Delaware County NRCS, will host a cover crop and strip-till field day Nov. 17 from noon to 2 p.m. at the Vaske Farm, 2567 110th Ave, Masonville. It will be held rain or shine. This field day aims to equip attendees with best management practices for establishing and managing cover crops to maintain yields during the transition to a higher residue system of strip-tillage and cover crops.
Farmer partner Tom Vaske began farming corn and soybeans after college with his father in Delaware County and in 2001 began farming on his own with his wife, Jen, and three sons. Vaske has been an innovator on his farm, conducting test plots on his own and with guidance from the Iowa Soybean Association.
"Conservation tillage can work if you want it to work. Yields are just as good, if not better, than conventional tillage, with less labor," said Vaske. "I love adopting conservation practices. It is fun, interesting and engaging. They cost less money and require less labor. Now technology is catching up so there aren't any good reasons not to do it."
Brian Dougherty, field agricultural engineer with ISU Extension and Outreach, will discuss tips for successful spring cover crop management and planter adjustments for a higher residue system. Iowa NRCS staff Alisha Sedlmayr, northeast area soil health specialist, and Angie Lemke, Manchester soil conservationist, will lead attendees through soil health demonstration and discussion opportunities for technical and financial assistance.
Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, will host a wetland and cover crop field day Nov. 22 from noon to 2 p.m. at the Lagos Acres Golf & Country Club, 2010 Keokuk Washington Road, Keota, and it will be held rain or shine. Weather permitting, the field day will include a site tour of the wetland.
Field day attendees will have the opportunity to hear from Keokuk County farmer Denny Lyle about how he has incorporated cover crops into his system, alongside no-till soybeans and corn, and how he manages the water quality enhancement wetland constructed on his farm. Shane Wulf and Matt McDonald with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship will share how to get involved with the Water Quality Initiative and details about the water quality enhancement wetland program. Liz Ripley, Iowa Learning Farms conservation and cover crop outreach specialist, will share results from on-farm cover crop demonstration trials and resources available to help farmers and landowners make a successful transition to a cover crop and no-till system.
Both field days are free and open to farmers and landowners, though reservations are required to ensure adequate space and food. For reasonable accommodations and to RSVP, contact Liz Ripley at 515-294-5429 or ilf@iastate.edu. Attendees will be entered in a drawing for Iowa State University Prairie Strips honey.
Iowa Learning Farms field days and workshops are supported by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. For more information about Iowa Learning Farms, visit https://www.iowalearningfarms.org/.
Categories: Iowa, Crops