Extension Communications
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
8/18/00
Contacts:
Kathy Rohrig or Deb Hall, Adair County Extension, (515)
743-8412, xadair@iastate.edu
Clark BreDahl, Union County Extension, (641) 782-8426,
clarkb@iastate.edu
Sustainable Ag, Organics Featured at Neely-Kinyon Field Day Aug. 24
GREENFIELD, Iowa -- Sustainable and organic crop and forage production will be highlighted at the seventh annual Neely-Kinyon Research Farm field day near Greenfield Thursday, Aug. 24.
Iowa State University researcher Kathleen Delate, one of the featured speakers at the field day tour, says organic production is one of the fastest growing segments of American agriculture. She is in charge of long-term studies comparing three different organic crop rotations with a conventional corn-soybeans system.
"Since the mid-90s, organics have increased by about 20 percent annually," Delate said. "It's a trend fueled by growing numbers of consumers willing to pay more for organically grown food."
Other wagon tour highlights include sustainable forage production, grazing cows in standing corn and a new look at open pollinated corn. There also will be displays of locally grown products, a weed identification plot, fruit and vegetable quiz, plus other exhibits.
Adair County beef, pork and lamb producers and local banks will sponsor a free barbecue at 6 p.m. Breakout sessions follow, focusing on sustainable row crop weed management and low-cost pasture and forage combinations. A slide show "Sustainable Agriculture Across America," rounds out the evening's activities.
The Neely-Kinyon Farm is located two miles south of Greenfield on Iowa Highway 25, one-half mile east on 260th Street and one-half mile north on Norfolk Avenue. The event will be held rain or shine with registration beginning at 3:30 p.m. Wagon tours leave continuously from 4 to 5 p.m. and breakout sessions run from 7 to 8 p.m. The entire program is free.
Sponsors include the Wallace Foundation for Rural Research and Development, ISU Extension and Practical Farmers of Iowa. For more information, call Adair County Extension at (800) 478-3399 or (641) 743-8412.
Extension programs are available to all without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability.