Iowa Learning Farms and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will host a cover crop field day on Tuesday, Nov. 16 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Iowa State University's Northern Research and Demonstration Farm near Kanawha.
Cover crops continue to grow in popularity in Iowa due to their many benefits – reduced soil erosion, potential weed suppression, improved infiltration, reduced nutrient losses, increased soil organic matter, and more. This field day will focus on new research examining the potential for early interseeded cover crops like cowpeas and cereal rye, as well as mixtures in a corn system to reduce runoff, enhance soil organic matter and reduce nitrogen leaching.
The field day will begin with lunch at the Northern Research and Demonstration Farm main building. The program will kick off at the research plots with researchers Mark Licht, assistant professor in agronomy and cropping systems specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach, Mike Witt, field agronomist with ISU Extension and Outreach, and Nate Huntley, Wright County farmer.
The field day will begin at the Iowa State Northern Research Farm, 310 S Main St., Kanawha. The workshop is free and open to the whole family, but reservations are suggested to ensure adequate space and a meal. For reasonable accommodations and to RSVP, contact Liz Ripley, conservation and cover crop outreach specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach, at 515-294-5429 or ilf@iastate.edu.
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.