Small Grains, Cover Crops + Livestock

Small Grains, Diverse Cover Crops + Livestock at Whiterock Conservancy

Wednesday, Sept. 3
9-11:30 a.m.

Location

1436 Iowa Route 141
Coon Rapids, IA 50058

Host

Tyler Bruck, Whiterock Conservancy

Tyler Bruck is the land stewardship director at Whiterock Conservancy, a 5,500-acre nonprofit land trust in Coon Rapids, Iowa, that offers outdoor recreation while working to conserve land and showcase sustainable agriculture. During this field day, Tyler will highlight different soil health practices used at Whiterock. The conservancy has been no-tilling and using cover crops for 20-plus years. Recently, they started growing more rye and oats, keeping some seed to plant the next year. The rest is sold to area producers.

The conservancy also bales and sells the straw, then plants a diverse cover crop mix grazed by cattle or sheep in the fall. Past mixes included cowpeas, buckwheat, sunflower, rye, oats, tillage radish and clover. Come visit this Iowa gem while learning about the cost benefits of cover crops and small grains.

Meal

Snacks and water will be provided at this field day.

See & Discuss

Why Whiterock has increased its small-grain production
Growing a diverse cover crop mix for fall grazing
What Whiterock has found so far about the benefits of adopting small grains, diverse cover crops and livestock for soil health
Harvesting and marketing straw for added profits

Location Notes

We will start at the Whiterock Conservancy visitor center, located at 1436 Iowa Route 141, in Coon Rapids. From there, we will go to 1564 125th St., and we’ll end up at a parking lot at the intersection of Fig Avenue and 125th Street.

Farm Info

Website