By Elizabeth Ripley
Iowa Learning Farms will host a woodland management field day on Thursday, Nov. 7 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Jody and Jim Kerns’ farm near Edgewood. The free event is open to farmers and landowners and includes a complimentary meal.
Iowa's 2.1 million acres of forests are among the most productive and valuable hardwoods in the United States. Iowa soils, especially those in Northeast Iowa, are capable of producing some of the best oak and walnut in the world. Much of Iowa's forested land is not managed for optimum production of fine hardwoods or environmental benefits. The management of woodland areas can offer water quality and wildlife habitat improvements, in addition to financial returns from tree sales.
The field day will feature Iowa Learning Farms farmer partners Jody and Jim Kerns sharing their experiences with both woodland establishment and management from the past 30 years. They will also discuss their efforts to restore a degraded woodland area where the field day will be held. Weather permitting, the field day will continue with a woodland tour with new Iowa State University Extension and Outreach forestry field specialist Emma Kerns. She will highlight the importance of woodland management, tips for where to start and the forestry management plan that was developed for the property. Dave Asche, Iowa Department of Natural Resources district forester, will conclude the program with a conversation on managing forestry under the Conservation Stewardship Program.
The field day will be held at the Kerns Farm, 1463 200th Ave., Manchester. From Manchester, head north on Honey Creek Road for 1 mile. Continue straight onto 180th Ave. for 3.9 miles. Turn right to head east on 150th St for 2 miles. Turn left to head north on 200th Ave. for 0.4 miles. The farm is on the west side of the road with a large red barn.
The event is free and open to farmers and landowners, though reservations are required by Nov. 1 to ensure adequate space and food. For reasonable accommodations and to RSVP please contact Liz Ripley at 515-294-5429 or ilf@iastate.edu. Attendees will be entered in a drawing for ISU Prairie Strips honey.
Iowa Learning Farms field days and workshops are supported by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. For more information about Iowa Learning Farms, visit www.iowalearningfarms.org.
Source : iastate.edu