Published Mar 21, 2011

PFI is co-hosting two cover crops field days this month! Check out this press release for details.

By Ann Seuferer

PRESS RELEASE FROM
PRACTICAL FARMERS OF IOWA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 18, 2011

Contact:
Ann Seuferer | Practical Farmers of Iowa | 515.232.5661 | ann@practicalfarmers.org
Sarah Carlson | Practical Farmers of Iowa | 515.232.5661 | sarah@practicalfarmers.org

Two Cover Crop Events to be Held in March

AMES, Iowa — Practical Farmers of Iowa will be joining forces with three other organizations to bring you two Cover Crop Events in March.

March 24 | Cover Crops Workshop | Rock Valley
First Practical Farmers of Iowa and Iowa Learning Farms (ILF) will host a workshop focusing on cover crops in Rock Valley on Thursday, March 24, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with lunch following the workshop. The workshop and lunch are free and will be held at the Pizza Ranch, 1513 14th St., in downtown Rock Valley. The public is invited to attend.

The workshop offers information on several aspects of cover crops including: corn and soybean yield response following fall-seeded rye and other cereal grains, fall seeding and spring-kill or grazing timing, planter setup tips for planting into a cover crop, soil quality improvement with cover crop usage and the variety of cover crops that can be utilized.

Speakers include Jeremy Singer, cover crop research agronomist with the National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment, Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) cover crops expert Sarah Carlson and Cherokee-area farmer and PFI member Nathan Anderson. Local NRCS personnel will provide information about cost-share programs for cover crop usage. Farmers who have tried fall-seeded cereal rye or other cover crops on their farms are encouraged to attend and share their experiences with other attendees.

Contact: John Lundvall, Iowa Learning Farms, 515.294.5429, jlundval@iastate.edu

March 28 | Cover Crops Field Day | Woolstock, IA

The Nature Conservancy, Practical Farmers of Iowa and the Natural Resources Conservation Service will also host a cover crops meeting and field day on Monday, March 28 from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the NEW Cooperative in Woolstock, IA (200 W Neville St.) Area farmers, landowners and the general public are invited to attend.

The meeting will provide information pertaining to all aspects of cover crops including what variety is best suited for your field, where to purchase seed, methods of application, benefits on soil and water quality, and potential effects on corn and soybean yields following cover crops. Speakers will discuss all aspects of cover crop implementation including NRCS programs available to assist with getting started. Producers with cover crop experience are encouraged to attend to ask questions and share their successes and concerns.

Following the indoor discussion portion of the meeting, weather permitting, field visits will be made to local fields with standing cover crops. These producers will be available to discuss details of implementation and how cover crops fit into their operation.

For more information contact: Eileen Bader, The Nature Conservancy, Webster City, 515.897.9953 or Bruce Voigts, Soil & Water Conservation District, Clarion, 515.532.2165

Practical Farmers of Iowa includes a diverse group of farmers and friends of farmers. Corn, soybeans, beef cattle and hay are the top enterprises for PFI farmers, although many have a variety of other operations, including fruits and vegetables. PFI’s programming stresses farmer-to-farmer networking through research and demonstration, field days, conferences and more. For more information, call 515.232.5661 or visit practicalfarmers.org.

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Cover crops field days