As input costs continue to climb and because there are highly erodible soils in the fields of southwest Iowa it makes sense to engage in more no-till farming practices.
The Western Iowa No-Tiller’s (WIN) are a group of farmers who, along with conservation and production experts are interested in the promotion of no-till as a practical option. The WIN planning committee has organized a demonstration field day to be held on Tuesday, June 17, 2008 at Minden, Iowa.
WIN demonstration day presentations will address several issues that face no-till practitioners. Cropping rotations, fertilizer placement, seed to soil contact, moisture conservation and fuel savings will all be addressed by a host of experts.
A particular emphasis of the day will be corn on corn acres. Management of residue cover and planting populations and seed depths will also be emphasized. A display of no-till planters will be on-site.
The program will feature presentations from six specialists representing crop physiology, pest and soil management and water quality. Local farmers will also share their experiences and perspectives on no-till.
WIN Demonstration Field Day will be held Tuesday, June 17, 2008 at a field located adjacent to I-80 at the Minden, Iowa Exit 29. Registration opens at 8:30 with presentations beginning at 9 a.m. Pre-registration is required for the noon meal. Pre-registration cut-off is June 11th.
Keynote speakers will be Iowa’s Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey and ISU Climatologist Elwynn Taylor. Both Northey and Taylor will give presentations at the Minden Community Building following the field tour portion of the day. Taylor will give a crop weather outlook for the 2008 growing season. To conclude the program a panel of local farmers who are engaged in no-till farming will comment and respond to questions from the audience. The day will conclude at 3:00 p.m.
There is no charge for the day. Registration can be completed by e-mailing csgorham@iastate.edu . Registrations may also be faxed to 712-644-2100 or be mailed to: ISU Extension Harrison County, 304 East 7th St., Logan, IA 51546. For more information contact the Harrison County Extension Office at 888-644-2105 (see the registration form below).
This demonstration day is sponsored by NRCS, ISU Extension and the Soil and Water Conservations Districts in Harrison, Pottawattamie and Shelby Counties.
USDA is an equal opportunity employer and provider. USDA, SWCD and Extension programs are available to all without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, or disability. Persons with disabilities who require accommodations to attend or participate in meetings/events/functions should contact Angela Biggs at (712) 755-2417 (Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339), or Angela.Biggs@ia.usda.gov by June 12.
WIN No-Till Field Day Brochure with schedule and registration information. (pdf)