By Angie Rieck-Hinz and Gentry Sorenson et.al
Check out the upcoming field days being offered around the state this August. These field days will feature a variety of topics ranging from strip-till and conservation to forage production and corn rootworm management.
August 1, 2023 | Corn Rootworm Field Day (Northern Research and Demonstration Farm south farm located at 1040 James Ave, Kanawha, IA)
ISU Extension and Outreach Entomologists Erin Hodgson and Ashley Dean will provide education on corn rootworm using a corn-on-corn demonstration plot with rootworm traits. Traits will have comparisons with and without insecticides. Additionally, corn roots will be evaluated and rated by treatment to see how different management tactics work at helping to manage against corn rootworm. This field day will begin at 5:30 pm and wrap-up around 7 pm, and Certified Crop Advisors can earn 1.5 pest management credit.
A free supper will be provided thanks to the Iowa Corn Growers Association – District 2. To help with a headcount for supper, please email ISU Extension and Outreach field agronomist Gentry Sorenson at gentrys@iastate.edu by July 25 to RSVP.
Click here for additional details.
August 3, 2023 | Conservation Field Day (Ag Engineering Farm, 1308 U Ave. Boone, IA)
ISU Extension and Outreach is partnering with Cargill to hold this half-day event, which starts at 8:30 am with registration and check in and will conclude around 1:30 pm. The event will feature the following topics/speakers:
- Overview of Iowa State’s research farms by Kendall Lamkey who oversees the farm operations as an associate dean with Iowa State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
- Successfully seeding cover crops in Iowa by Mark Licht, ISU Extension and Outreach cropping systems specialist
- The “why” behind conservation practices and holding soil place by Jeremy Hollingsworth, soil conservation technician with the NRCS
- How to be successful with strip-till by Ben Covington, agricultural and biosystems engineering program specialist
The event will include demonstrations of seeding cover crops, strip-till, and a rainfall simulator. The event will end with a panel of farmers engaged in conservation sharing how they got started and some lessons they’ve learned along the way.
If you plan to attend, please register online here by July 27 to help with event planning and a head count for lunch. Click here for additional details.
August 10, 2023 | Strip-Till Field Day (4 miles east of Renwick on C26/150th St)
The goal of this field day is to increase awareness of strip-tillage as a conservation practice to help reduce soil erosion, improve soil health, and complement cover cropping systems. The field day will provide attendees with the opportunity to visit with several strip-till equipment representatives and see several strip-till bars run on cornstalk (sweet corn) residue).
Check in for this field day starts at 9 am with some morning refreshments. The field day will kick off at 9:30 am with field agronomists Angie Rieck-Hinz and Gentry Sorenson providing a welcome and introductions before the field demonstrations begin. The field day will conclude at 12 pm.
While this field day is free thanks to support from sponsors and Iowa SARE, please pre-register for this field day prior to midnight on August 8 by going here. The field day will include 2.5 Soil and Water CCA continuing education units for participants if needed.
For more information on this field day, click here.
August 23, 2023 | ISU McNay Research Farm Fall Field Day (45249 170th Ave., Chariton, IA)
The ISU McNay Research Farm Fall Field Day will feature the following mix of cattle and crops-related topics: ISU Beef Center update, swath grazing, Smart Feeder research results, fall crop and forage updates, and interseeding cover crops into 60-inch row corn. Additionally, the Rathbun Watershed Program will be present and will share more on programs and funding opportunities available within the Rathbun Watershed.
The field day will being at 4 PM and last until 6:30 pm, and does include a ribeye steak sandwich meal that will be provided and served by the Lucas County Cattlemen. There is no cost to attend and while pre-registration is not required it is highly encouraged to help with a head count for the meal. To pre-register, please contact ISU Extension and Outreach field agronomist Clarabell Probasco at 641-208-5435 or caknapp@iastate.edu.
Source : iastate.edu