AMES, Iowa — Iowa Learning Farms, along with Elk Run Watershed and Practical Farmers of Iowa, will host a cover crop workshop on Wednesday, Dec. 6. The 12-2 p.m. field day will be held in the Wapiti Room at the Swan Lake Conservation Education Center near Carroll. The event is free and open to the public and includes a complimentary meal.
The event will feature local cover crop farmers including Bill Frederick, Greene County, and Mark Thompson, Webster County. They will discuss how they have incorporated cover crops into their farming operations, tips for success and suggestions for overcoming challenges. Frederick will share his experiences with grazing cover crops and Thompson will provide a professional farm manager perspective to the discussion. Also speaking at the field day is Liz Juchems, Iowa Learning Farms event coordinator. She will share results from on-farm cover crop research projects and ideas for maximizing cover crop benefits. Diane Ercse will provide an update on the Elk Run Watershed project and provide ways to get involved.
The field day will be held in the Wapiti Room at Swan Lake Conservation Education Center, 22676 Swawn Lake Drive, Carroll. 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 the website: http://www.iowalearningfarms.org.
Established in 2004, Iowa Learning Farms is building a Culture of Conservation, encouraging adoption of conservation practices. Farmers, researchers and ILF team members are working together to identify and implement the best management practices that improve water quality and soil health while remaining profitable. Partners of Iowa Learning Farms are the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Iowa Natural Resources Conservation Service, Iowa Department of Natural Resources (USEPA section 319), and Conservation Districts of Iowa.
Elk Run Watershed Project is a partnership of Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Clean Water Iowa, and Agriculture’s Clean Water Alliance.
Contacts
Liz Juchems, ILF event coordinator, 515-294-5429
Diane Ercse, Elk Run Watershed coordinator, 515-334-1038