Season-Long Water and Manure Management to be Featured at Aug. 2 Field Day

Jul 04, 2024

By Kapil Arora and Daniel Andersen et.al

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will host the “In-Season Manure Application with Irrigation Field Day” on Aug. 2 at Brent Renner’s Farm, near Klemme.

The day will feature innovative and climate-smart strategies aimed at helping solve nutrient water quality issues originating from agriculture.

“Yield improvement from consistent and timely watering, the ability to introduce manure or critical nutrients throughout the growing season past V4 corn growth stage, and lowering off-season manure application costs are all key aspects of a recently introduced system, 360 RAIN from 360 Yield Center,” said Kapil Arora, field agricultural engineer with ISU Extension and Outreach.

The field day will demonstrate this autonomous machine, which applies irrigation water or diluted manure to the base of a growing crop season-long. Learn about the details of the USDA Conservation Innovation Grant Project using 360 RAIN at this field day. A summary of the first year’s research will also be shared.

Iowa State researchers are teaming up with Ohio State University, and with industry partners, for developing and demonstrating in-season manure and nutrient management strategy, including projects like 360 RAIN.

Based on first year’s data, information will be shared on the topics of in-season manure application and irrigation strategy, corn plant nutrient needs and supply, economics of in-season manure application and what this all means for overall on-farm manure management. Field demonstrations will be held after the presentations and will conclude by 3 p.m.

The field day flyer explains the activities for the day. The program will begin at 11:30 a.m. with a free lunch for registered participants.

Commercial and confinement manure applicators, agency staff involved in manure management, manure planners and consultants, watershed coordinators and other interested stakeholders are encouraged to attend. The field day is a collaborative effort of the Iowa Pork Producers Association, 360 RAIN and ISU Extension and Outreach.

Registration is required. Register by July 29 to ensure a free meal. Call the ISU Extension and Outreach Hancock County office at 641-923-2856 or email kristyb@iastate.edu

Interested participants can also register online by visiting https://go.iastate.edu/OIANSK.

The Renner Farm is located at 2455 180th St., Klemme, Iowa.

Source : iastate.edu

Video: Why Invest in Canada’s Seed Future? | On The Brink: Episode 3

Darcy Unger just invested millions to build a brand-new seed plant on his farm in Stonewall, Manitoba so when it’s time for his sons to take over, they have the tools they need to succeed.

Right now, 95% of the genetics they’ll be growing come from Canadian plant breeders.

That number matters.

When fusarium hit Western Canada in the late 90s, it was Canadian breeders who responded, because they understood Canadian conditions. That ability to react quickly to what’s happening on Canadian farms is exactly what’s at risk when breeding programs lose funding.

For farmers like Darcy, who have made generational investments based on the assumption that better genetics will keep coming, the stakes are direct and personal.

We’re on the brink of decisions that will shape our agricultural future for not only our generation, but also the ones to come.

What direction will we choose?

On The Brink is a year-long video series traveling across Canada to meet the researchers, breeders, farmers, seed companies, and policymakers shaping the future of Canadian plant breeding. Each week, a new story. Each story, a piece of the bigger picture.

Episode 3 is above. Follow Seed World Canada to catch every episode, and tell us: Do you think the next generation will have the tools they need to success when they takeover? How is the future going to look?