Cover Crop and No-Till Field Day to be held in Rippey on Nov. 18
AMES, IOWA—Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with Boone and Greene County Soil and Water Conservation Districts, will host a cover crop and no-till field day field day in Rippey on Wednesday, Nov. 18 from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. at the Rippey Community Room. The no-cost event is open to farmers and landowners and includes a complimentary meal.
“This field day aims to equip attendees with best management practices for establishing and managing cover crops. Cover crops offer many benefits to farmers and landowners, including reduced soil erosion, weed suppression potential, reduced nitrogen and phosphorus loads entering water bodies, and increased organic matter in the soil,” said Liz Ripley, conservation and cover crop outreach specialist. with Iowa Learning Farms. “When paired with no-till, additional benefits include increased water infiltration and reduced erosion during heavy rain events.”
The field day will feature Greene County farmer David Weaver discussing how he have incorporated cover crops into his operation, his recent transition to no-till and lessons learned to successfully utilize both practices. Gentry Sorensen, ISU Extension and Outreach field agronomist, will share best management practices for nutrient management this fall during Super El Nino conditions and tips on cover crop management recommendations for spring. Jeff Reichter, NRCS Area Soil Health Specialist, will highlight the soil health impacts and tips for transitioning to no-till and utilizing cover crops. Weather permitting, a tour of a nearby cover crop field will conclude the field day.
The field day will be held at Rippey Community Room, 220 W Main St, Rippey, IA 50235. The no-cost event and open to farmers and landowners, though we require reservations to ensure adequate space and food. For reasonable accommodations and to RSVP, please contact Liz Ripley at 515-294-5429 or ilf@iastate.edu by Nov. 11. Attendees will be entered in a drawing for ISU Prairie Strips honey and custom roasted coffee.
Iowa Learning Farms field days and workshops are supported by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. For more information about Iowa Learning Farms, visit http://www.iowalearningfarms.org.
About Iowa Learning Farms
Established in 2004, Iowa Learning Farms is building a Culture of Conservation by encouraging adoption of conservation practices. Farmers, researchers and ILF team members are working together to identify and implement the best management practices that improve water quality and soil health while remaining profitable. Partners of Iowa Learning Farms include the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, EPA Section 319 Grant Program, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture and GROWMARK, Inc.