June 9, 2023

First-generation farmer James Hepp and his family farm near Rockwell City, Iowa, where they grow 1,400 acres of corn, soybeans and cereal rye. They began with cover crops in 2020 and are now making their cover crop practice into a new business enterprise through custom seeding and raising rye for cover crop seed. At this field day, James will explore how cover crops make sense financially. He’ll also share benefits he sees from his rye cover crop along with practical advice for getting started with cover crops. Guests will see corn and soybeans growing that were planted into cover crops, and James’ relay crop plot that he aims to harvest so he can sell the rye for seed. Dinner will follow the field day.