Cover Crop, Soil Health and Water Quality Field Day to be held near Gilmore City

Thursday, November 16, 2023 – 12:00PM-2:00PM at the Faith United Methodist Church, Gilmore City

AMES, Iowa—Iowa Learning Farms, Iowa Nutrient Research Center, and Iowa Corn will host a cover crop, soil health and water quality field day near Gilmore City on November 16 from 12:00-2:00 p.m. at the Faith United Methodist Church. The free 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 to improve soil health and reduce nutrient losses. 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.

The field day will begin with a complimentary meal at the Faith United Methodist Church in Gilmore City. Following the meal, Dr. Matt Helmers, ISU professor Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (ABE) and Iowa Nutrient Research Center director, will share information on the water quality results from over 30 years at the drainage water quality research facility. Gentry Sorenson, ISU Extension and Outreach field agronomist, will discuss phosphorus and potassium recommendations along with soil sampling information and information on deficiency symptoms.

The field day will conclude with a tour with Carl Pederson, agricultural specialist with Iowa State University, of the ISU Drainage Research and Demonstration Project, owned by the Pocahontas Soil and Water Conservation District, 31325 510th St, Gilmore City, IA 50541.

The field day will begin at the Faith United Methodist Church, 111 SE 2nd St, Gilmore City, IA 50541. The event is free 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 November 10.  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.

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, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Iowa Department of Natural Resources, EPA Section 319 Grant Program and GROWMARK, Inc.
Related Links: https://www.iowalearningfarms.org/page/events