Perennial Vegetation Workshops March 8 and 15

Wednesday, February 23, 2022

Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with the Consortium for Cultivating Human and Naturally Regenerative Enterprises, will host workshops on March 8 and 15 from 10 a.m. to noon regarding the opportunities and challenges of incorporating perennial vegetation on farms. Farmers and landowners are welcome to attend the free event, which includes a complimentary meal.

Iowa Learning Farms is part of Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Prairie strips.

Native perennials can generate profit as material for livestock feed and bedding, as well as anaerobic digestion. Targeted plantings on marginal land can also increase overall farm profitability, while providing numerous benefits for wildlife and pollinators, as well as improving soil and water quality. Workshop attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about these opportunities, ask questions and share their experiences.

March 8 from 10 a.m. to noon -- Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge, 9981 Pacific Street, Prairie City.
March 15 from 10 a.m. to noon -- Northeast Iowa Community College, Wilder Business Center -- Room 104, 1625 Highway 150 S., Calmar.

The event is free and open to farmers and landowners, though organizers require reservations to ensure adequate space and food. Masks will be provided for the March 8 event in compliance with current federal regulations. For reasonable accommodations and to RSVP, contact Liz Ripley, conservation and cover crop outreach specialist with Iowa Learning Farms, 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 and this project is supported by USDA NIFA.

Established in 2004, Iowa Learning Farms is building a culture of conservation by encouraging adoption of conservation practices. Farmers, researchers and learning farm 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 include the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Iowa Department of Natural Resources (USEPA section 319) and GROWMARK Inc.