Farming for Bushels, Bees and Birds
Farming for Bushels, Bees and Birds: Profitably Integrating Cropland and Habitat
Tuesday, Aug. 19
9 a.m.-Noon
Location
3216 510th Ave.
Cylinder, IA 50528
Hosts
Ritch & Cynthia Berkland
Ritch and Cynthia Berkland’s farm in Palo Alto County, Iowa, is a blend of conventional row crops and restored wildlife habitat. Over the decades, the couple has collaborated with nonprofits and agencies to strategically make conservation changes that improve their operation. One way they’ve done this is by integrating habitat where crop yields were consistently low. Boosting farm profitability has been one goal. The Berklands also have a passion for upland hunting and water quality.
Join Ritch and Cynthia, along with Pheasants Forever, as they share how you can identify and transform marginal acres to boost farm profitability while also improving soil, water and wildlife. You’ll get to see established conservation practices and learn from professionals who can help convert lower-yielding cropland into profitable native habitat.
Meal
Lunch will follow the field day.
See & Discuss
- Various precision conservation methods
- Using yield and satellite data to implement a conservation plan
- Remaining profitable when removing acres from production
- Improving the quality of water leaving the farm
Speaker
- Stennie Nelson – Pheasants Forever