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Cover Crop and Plant Disease Workshop to Be Held in Ames March 24

By Mitch Harting

Iowa Learning Farms will host a cover crop and plant disease workshop as part of their “Beyond the Basics: Advanced Cover Crop Series” in Ames on Tuesday, March 24, from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. The event is open to farmers and landowners at no cost and includes a complimentary meal.

“Cover crops play a critical role in keeping Iowa’s soil and water resources healthy. Thouhu cover crops have many benefits, challenges like plant pathogens and disease can negatively impact the following cash crop,” said Mitch Harting, water outreach specialist with Iowa Learning Farms. “This workshop will help farmers understand pathogen movement between cereal rye and corn, and the best management practices to reduce yield declines.”

Attendees will also get insight into how they can implement alternative cover crops on their operation.

The workshop will feature Alison Robertson, extension field crop pathologist at Iowa State University, who will share information on the disease interactions between cereal rye cover crops and the corn that follows. Robertson will also offer a hands-on demonstration, allowing attendees to see seedling disease first-hand among different cover crop treatments. The agenda will also include Mark Kenney, a local farmer who will offer insight into managing an oat cover crop as an alternative to rye. Additionally, Ethan Thies, conservation field specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach, will discuss other alternatives to cereal rye ahead of corn and best management practices to avoid disease when using cover crops.

Source : iastate.edu

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