Cover Crop and Soil Health Field Day June 13 near Webster City


May 22, 2017, 11:58 am | Elizabeth Ripley

AMES, Iowa — Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with Prairie Rivers of Iowa, will host a cover crop and soil health field day Tuesday, June 13. The 5-7 p.m. field day will be held at the Larry Haren farm, rural Webster City. The field day is free, open to the public and includes a complimentary meal.

Hamilton County farmer Larry Haren has implemented a wide variety of conservation practices over the past 15 years including no-till, oxbows, a bioreactor, grassed waterways and cover crops. Since 2012, Haren has been using cover crops to promote soil biology and also is harvesting winter cereal rye for cover crop seed. Haren will share his experiences and challenges of growing cover crops and keeping the soil, nitrates and phosphorus on his land.

Also speaking at the field day is Rick Cruse, professor of agronomy at Iowa State University. He will share updates from the Iowa Daily Erosion Project and discuss the importance of soil health. Liz Juchems, events coordinator for Iowa Learning Farms, will lead a discussion on cover crop species selection, seeding techniques and termination considerations. Karen Wilke, Boone River Watershed Project Coordinator, will lead a discussion on oxbow restoration and Kayla Hasper, watershed coordinator for Prairie Rivers of Iowa, will provide information on the watershed project and opportunities to get involved.  

The field day will be held at the Haren Farm, 1387 Kendall Young Rd., Webster City. From Webster City, go east on 2nd Street (County Road D25). Turn north on Kantor Avenue for 0.8 miles. Turn left, go west on Kendall Young Rd for 0.4 miles. The farm is on the north side of the road.

The workshop is free and open to the public, but reservations are suggested to ensure adequate space and food. Contact Liz Juchems at 515-294-5429 or email ilf@iastate.edu.

For more information about Iowa Learning Farms, visit https://www.extension.iastate.edu/ilf/.

Prairie Rivers of Iowa is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to strengthening Iowa's communities through the responsible stewardship of our natural resources.   Prairie Rivers of Iowa’s programs help Iowans conserve our state’s natural and historical resources to enrich the lives of current and future generations. 

Category: 
About the Authors: