No Till and Soil Health Field Day Supports Sustainable Farming Practices

By Andi Anderson

A no-till and soil health field day will be held on November 25, 2025, from noon to 2:00 p.m. at the Badger Community Center in Badger, Iowa.

Hosted by Iowa Learning Farms and supported by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, the event is open at no cost to farmers and landowners and will include a complimentary meal. Reservations are required to ensure space and food for all attendees.

Field day host Mark Thompson farms in the Des Moines Lobe, an area known for its rich, dark soils. He has used no-till practices on all soybean acres since 2002 and has transitioned to no-till corn in recent years.

During the event, Thompson will share his experiences adjusting machinery to handle increased residue in a no-till system and explain how timing of field operations supports successful implementation.

Reflecting on his journey, Thompson said, “At first, it was an economics thing, then I found out that conservation, nutrient management and erosion control came along with it.” He added advice for beginners: “If you have never tried no-till, try some no-till beans. You will be shocked how well it works and how easy it is – just hesitate to do any tillage in the fall and plant right into the corn stalks.”

In addition to Thompson’s insights, the field day will feature presentations by Angie Rieck-Hinz, ISU Extension and Outreach Field Agronomist, who will discuss residue management in a no-till system.

Humboldt County farmer Doug Adams will also speak about his experiences using cover crops, no-till, and strip-till to build soil health. Weather permitting, a field tour will follow the presentations.

The event will take place at the Badger Community Center, 211 1st Ave SE, Badger, IA. Those interested in attending must RSVP by November 18 by contacting Liz Ripley at 515-294-5429 or ilf@iastate.edu. Attendees will also be entered into a drawing for ISU Prairie Strips honey.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-sasiistock