(Spirit Lake)– A demonstration event at a local farm will illustrate the importance of cover crops and nutrient management. Emily Boettcher will be hosting a field day Wednesday, August 26th, at her family’s farm located at 1200 215th Avenue northwest of Spirit Lake…
“My dad implemented it over 20 years go, strip till, no till, and we’ve been doing cover crops for probably 10, 15 of that, so. Really been focusing on our conservation practices at our farm.”
Boettcher says the event will also feature a demonstration with the soil health simulator…
“It will be fun for people to get to actually see that in action, to see how water flows through all different types of soils.”
She says the event is being put on by the Northwest Iowa Ag Stewardship Alliance…
“It was founded, or formed by, seven farmers in four different counties. We all have been doing different conservation practices and saw it as an opportunity to show others the way to implement these practices to help support water quality and soil health.”
Boettcher says the alliance offers some incentives for farmers who sign up for the practices…
“Our cost share program is strip till, no till, for $15 an acre up to 160 acres and then we’re also doing cover crop cost share, $28 an acre for previous users and $30 an acre for new users up to 160 acres. The deadline for that ends September 1st.”
The field day Wednesday, August 26th will be held from 5:00 until 7:00 pm. Again that will be taking place at the Boettcher farm located at 1200 215th Avenue, northwest of Spirit Lake.
