OTHO, Iowa -- Conservation practices that are critical to the improvement and protection of Iowa’s surface water will be on display at a field day near Otho, Iowa on June 27. Attendees will learn how using terraces, grass waterways, contour buffer strips, filter strips and no-till planting methods can build strong and healthy soil which leads to improved water quality.
The Ann Smeltzer Charitable Trust and Iowa Learning Farm are hosting this field day to illustrate how to implement conservation practices and demonstrate the resulting impacts. Farmers, agribusiness professionals and the public are invited to the field day beginning at 6:30 p.m. The farm is located one mile south of Otho, Iowa on county road P59. A meal will be served at 5:30 p.m.
“The Smeltzer demonstration farm is unique because it has a number of features that are ideal to showcase a variety of conservation and environmental practices,” said Jim Patton, Webster County Extension education director. “These practices will have the ability to reduce sediment and nutrients in surface water which ultimately improve water quality.”
The demonstration farm has a landscape suitable to show conservation practices for both flat and rolling ground. In addition, there is a stream running through the farm providing a unique opportunity to illustrate various streambank stabilization and buffer strip techniques.
“Riparian buffers, streambank stabilization and oxbows have proven to reduce sediment, improve water quality, and create wildlife habitat,” said Matt Cosgrove, Webster County Conservation.
According to Mahdi Al-Kaisi, ISU Extension soil management specialist, conservation practices such as no-tillage provide good residue cover on the soil surface, which can reduce soil erosion and improve soil and water quality.
“The use of conservation practices to reduce deterioration of natural resources needs to be considered a ‘systems approach’ to conservation management,” Al-Kaisi said. “Utilizing a wide range of conservation practices can greatly increase environmental benefits.”
Co-sponsors are NEW Cooperative, Webster County Pork Producers, Webster County Pheasants Forever, Webster County Farm Bureau, Webster County Soil and Water Conservation District, and Des Moines River Valley Antique Tractor Club.
If you have questions about the field day call Jim Patton at (515) 576-2119 or Mark Licht, ISU Extension program specialist, at (515) 294-8039.
The Ann Smeltzer Charitable Trust is a private non-profit organization that works to highlight conservation and environmental practices best suited to north central Iowa. Partners of the Ann Smeltzer Charitable Trust include Webster County Extension, Fort Dodge Natural Resources Conservation Service Center, Webster County Conservation, and Iowa State University Extension.
The Iowa Learning Farm seeks to help Iowa farmers identify and use conservation systems to improve soil and water quality on their land. The Iowa Learning Farm is a partnership between Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Division of Soil Conservation; Iowa State University Extension; Iowa Natural Resources Conservation Service; and Iowa Department of Natural Resources; in cooperation with Conservation Districts of Iowa and Iowa Farm Bureau.
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