From Field to Wetland

From Field to Wetland: Protecting Soil, Water and Wildlife

Fred and Vicki AbelsThursday, June 26
Noon-3 p.m.

Location

20902 J Ave.
Holland, IA 50642

Hosts

Fred & Vicki Abels

RSVP

Fred Abels and his wife, Vicki, own and operate K&A Acres Inc., a 400-acre farm in Grundy County, Iowa, specializing in corn and soybeans. Since the 1970s, when Fred inherited the farm from his uncle, he has emphasized sustainable farming practices such as no-till, strip-till and cover crops. In 2020, Fred established a 5-acre wetland on his farm to protect the farm’s soil and water quality, and to provide critical habitat for Iowa’s wildlife.

Join Fred and Vicki – along with Shane Wulf of IDALS and Mary Beth Stevenson, manager of the City of Cedar Rapids’ Watersheds & Source Water Program. Together, they’ll discuss the process and multiple benefits of re-establishing wetlands on working farms.

Meal

The field day will start with a light lunch.

See & Discuss

  • Surveying and preparing a site to establish wetlands
  • The effects of naturally filtered water from farm fields on towns and cities downstream
  • The benefits of saturated buffers along farm waterways
  • How wetlands support Iowa’s wildlife, such as migratory birds

Speakers

  • Shane Wulf – Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship
  • Mary Beth Stevenson – City of Cedar Rapids Watersheds & Source Water Program

Sponsor

  • Center for Rural Affairs