By Mitch Harting
Iowa Learning Farms will host a cover crop and manure management field day as part of their “Beyond the Basics: Advanced Cover Crop Series” in Le Mars on Tuesday, Nov. 3, from noon to 2 p.m. The event is open to farmers and landowners at no cost and includes a complimentary meal.
“Cover crops play a key role in ensuring healthy land and water resources in our state. Although livestock manure can add another moving piece, it also offers an opportunity to diversify nutrient sources needed for crop production,” said Mitch Harting, water outreach specialist with Iowa Learning Farms. “This field day will offer more insights into how cover crops and manure can be used together to maximize their benefits.”
The field day will feature Leah Ten Napel, field agronomist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, who will share the important role cover crops play on the landscape and how they can be integrated into a corn-soybean system. Daniel Andersen, associate professor and extension manure management specialist with Iowa State, will discuss how manure can be integrated into systems with living cover. The field day will also feature Tony Schroeder, local farmer and Plymouth County Soil and Water Conservation District commissioner, who will share about his experiences using cover crops and manure on his farm.
The field day will begin at the upper level of the Le Mars Convention Center, located at 275 12th St SE, Le Mars. It will continue at the Tony Schroeder Farm, located on the corner of K64 and 230th St.
The event is open to farmers and landowners, though reservations are required to ensure adequate space and food. For reasonable accommodations and to RSVP, please contact Harting at 515-294-8912 or ilf@iastate.edu by Oct. 27. Attendees will be entered in a drawing for Iowa State Prairie Strips honey.
Iowa Learning Farms field days and workshops are supported by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. For more information, visit Iowa Learning Farms.
Source : iastate.edu