AMES, Iowa — Iowa Learning Farms will host an emerging farmer soil health and grazing workshop on Thursday, March 15 from 6-8 p.m. at the Pizza Ranch in Creston. The event is free and includes a complimentary meal.
The workshop provides timely and scientific information about no-tillage, soil conservation and water quality for emerging farmers as they develop sustainable business plans. To kick off the workshop, facilitators will pose five-seven questions for groups of participants to focus on. Identifying what participants already know about the topics helps facilitators avoid presenting information that is already familiar, and thus helps educators better address the group’s needs.
For the remainder of the workshop, Seth Watkins, Page County farmer; Mark Licht, assistant professor of agronomy; and Jamie Benning, ISU Extension and Outreach water quality program manager, will review the common answers to each question, identify misconceptions, answer questions and provide further information on the topics. They will be prepared to discuss impacts of no-till on crop yields and soil health, as well as herbicide recommendations for termination and establishment of cover crops, planter settings to handle higher amounts of biomass and cover crop seed selection.
Emerging farmers are those who recently started farming or would like to farm, or have a voice in the management of their family’s farm. Those new to farming or interested in farming are invited to attend.
The workshop will be held in the Corner Corral at Pizza Ranch, 520 Livingston, Creston. The workshop is free and open to the whole family, but reservations are suggested to ensure adequate space and food. Please RSVP to Liz Juchems at 515-294-5429 or ilf@iastate.edu.