Published May 27, 2022

Field day will explore cover crops and roller-crimping – June 11, near Holland
By Tamsyn Jones

Contacts:

Tamsyn Jones | Editor & Outreach Coordinator | Practical Farmers of Iowa | (515) 32-5661 | tamsyn@practicalfarmers.org

Holland, Iowa (May 27, 2022) — Fred and Vicki Abels, of K & A Acres, will host a Practical Farmers of Iowa field day exploring cover crops and roller-crimping on Saturday, June 11, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., on their farm near Holland, Iowa (20902 J Ave.).

The event – “The Rookie Season of Roller-Crimping” – is free to attend and will include a meal from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. RSVPs are appreciated for the meal by June 6. Sign up online, or contact Debra Boekholder at debra@practicalfarmers.org or (515) 232-5661.

PFI2022 BiosecureEvent IconPlease note: Due to the presence of livestock on the farm, this field day is a biosecure event. Attendees must wear clean shoes or boots, as well as clean clothes, that have not been worn on other farms with livestock or livestock buildings, or around a dense population of wild birds. Read the full guidelines for attending PFI’s biosecure events on our website.

The field day is sponsored by Albert Lea Seed, Conservation Districts of Iowa, Grundy Soil & Water Conservation District, Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance and Iowa Farmers Union.

Fred is a seasoned cover cropper who farms corn, soybeans and cover crops for seed, and employs a range of conservation practices. Among them, he uses buffer and filter strips to protect water quality, and participates in local watershed projects, reserve programs and more.

During the field day, he will discuss roller-crimping following corn and soybeans. He’ll also share his cover crop practices and lessons learned, including termination with a roller-crimper following both corn and soybeans, and how this impacts his use of herbicides.

Other topics he’ll cover include:

  • planting corn into living cover using skip-rows
  • spring and fall Haney soil tests
  • planting corn following fall legumes and spring oat cover crops

Fred will have his roller-crimper and no-till drill on display during the field day, alongside crimped covers among growing field crops.

Other speakers will include Léa Vereecke of Rodale Institute and Alisha Sedlmayr of the Fayette County Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Full event details are available at practicalfarmers.org/ the-rookie-season-of-roller-crimping.

This event is part of PFI’s 2022 field day season, which includes 41 events hosted by farmers located across the state, and beyond, on topics spanning the agricultural spectrum. Attendees can expect a welcoming atmosphere, a spirit of curiosity, a culture of mutual respect and farmers openly sharing their knowledge and experience.

The full roster of events – along with additional information about PFI field day policies and logistics – is available at practicalfarmers.org/field-days. For questions, contact the PFI office at info@practicalfarmers.org or (515) 232-5661.

Practical Farmers’ 2022 field days are supported by Level A sponsors Albert Lea Seed; BioTill Cover Crops; Grain Millers Inc.; Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance; Iowa State University Department of Agronomy; Iowa State University Extension and Outreach; MOSA Certified Organic; Nori Carbon Removal; P&K Midwest; Sinclair Tractor; Sunderman Farm Management; and Van Wall Equipment.

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About Practical Farmers: 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.