ILF & PFI co-host June 1 Field Day

Submitted by ILF on Thu, 05/19/2011 - 00:00

Ames, Iowa--Iowa Learning Farms and Practical Farmers of Iowa will co-sponsor a Cover Crop field day at the Rob Stout farm in Washington County on Wednesday, June 1, beginning at 5:30 p.m. The field day will begin with a complimentary evening meal, followed by a cover crop management discussion. The event is free and the public is invited to attend. Families are encouraged to attend and see the Iowa Learning Farms Conservation Station mobile learning lab.

The cover crop management discussion will include yield response of corn and soybeans following fall-seeded rye and other cereal grains, planter set-up for planting into cover crop residue, and soil quality improvements related to cover crop use. Attendees will be able to discuss cover crop issues with USDA, PFI and ISU experts along with Stout and area farmers George Schaefer and Steve Berger who are using cover crops in their farm management.

Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) and Iowa Learning Farms (ILF) have formed a cover crop management working group with 10 farmer cooperators across the state, demonstrating various cover crops and growing techniques. Stout and Schaefer are participating in the working group.

Stout's farm is located at 2449 Hemlock Ave; 2.5 miles south on W-38 (Hemlock Ave) from Highway 92 at West Chester in Washington County.

Iowa Learning Farms are building a Culture of Conservation, encouraging adoption of residue management and conservation practices. Farmers, researchers and ILF staff are working together to identify and implement the best in-field management practices that increase water and soil quality while remaining profitable. Iowa Learning Farms is a partnership between the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa State University Extension, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Iowa Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Iowa Department of Natural Resources and USEPA (section 319); in cooperation with Conservation Districts of Iowa and the Iowa Farm Bureau.

Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) includes a diverse group of farmers and non-farmers. Corn, soybeans, beef cattle, and hay are the top enterprises for PFI farmers, although many other PFI farmers focus on fruits and vegetables. PFI programming stresses farmer-to-farmer networking through research and demonstration, field days, conferences, and more.

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