Free workshop on cover crops, soil health at Grundy County Fair on July 18

Contacts:

Fred Abels | (319) 640-2002 | farmerfred1981@hotmail.com | grundyiaswcd.com

Tamsyn Jones | Outreach & Publications Coordinator | Practical Farmers of Iowa | (515) 232-5661 | tamsyn@practicalfarmers.org

GRUNDY CENTER, Iowa — Practical Farmers of Iowa – in partnership with Grundy County Extension and Grundy County Soil and Water Conservation District – will host a free cover crop workshop on Wednesday, July 18, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the Grundy County Fairgrounds (1308 4^th St.) in Grundy Center.

The event – “Cover Crops and Soil Health at the Grundy County Fair” – will take place in the Alumni Building at the fairgrounds, near the cattle barns. PT Grillers from Morrison will serve roasted meat and side dishes.

RSVPs are requested for the meal to Denise Freeseman, with the Natural Resources and Conservation District (NRCS) field office in Grundy County, at  denise.freeseman@ia.nacdnet.net or (319) 824-3634, ext. 3, by Wednesday, July 11. Admission is free to both the fair and the workshop.

Grundy County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) has organized an event during the Grundy County Fair for several years to help farmers and landowners learn more about ways to improve their soil health.

During the workshop, farmers and landowners will learn more about ways to make soil health improvements on their farms for better corn, soybean and cattle production, and to make their farms more sustainable. Topics covered will include:

• cover crops
• managed intensive grazing
• edge-of-field practices
• no-till and soil health testing, including the Haney Soil Test
• soil health and prairie potholes
• reducing herbicide usage while maintaining yield
• rotational grazing systems
• wildlife and pollinator habitat
• wetlands and buffer strips
• landowner-tenant collaboration to improve soil health through no-till, cover crops and diverse rotations

The workshop will also feature several farmer speakers, including Doug Adams, a farmer and soil conservation technician from Humboldt County; Chris Henning, a landowner from Jefferson; Mitchell Hora, soil health entrepreneur; and Seth Watkins, a farmer from Clarinda.

Directions: From the intersection of IA Hwy 14 and IA Hwy 175 in Grundy Center (near Rouse Motor), go south 5.5  blocks on 4th Street; the fairgrounds will be on the left. The event will be held in the Alumni Building near the cattle barns.

Please note: There will be areas roped off, so follow the gravel road to the north of the fairgrounds over to the parking area.

Practical Farmers’ 2018 field days are supported by several sustaining and major sponsors, including: Albert Lea Seed; Applegate Natural & Organic Meats; Blue River Organic Seed; Cascadian Farms; Center for Rural Affairs; Farm Credit Services of America; Gandy Cover Crop Seeders; Grain Millers, Inc.; Green Cover Seed; Green Thumb Commodities; Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance; Iowa Beef Center; Iowa State University Department of Agronomy; Iowa Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE); ISU Extension and Outreach; La Crosse Forage and Turf Seed; MOSA Organic Certification; Natural Resources Defense Council; Organic Valley / Organic Prairie; PepsiCo; Pipeline Foods; Premier 1 Supplies; Sunrise Foods International; The DeLong Company; The Fertrell Company; The Scoular Company; Unilever; University of Iowa College of Public Health (I-CASH); USDA: Natural Resources Conservation Service; Wallace Chair for Sustainable Agriculture; and Welter Seed & Honey Co.

Practical Farmers of Iowa works to equip farmers to build resilient farms and communities. Our values include: welcoming everyone; farmers leading the exchange of experience and knowledge; curiosity, creativity, collaboration and community; resilient farms now and for future generations; and stewardship of land and resources. To learn more, visit http://practicalfarmers.org.