Event Overview
Central Iowa farmers Caleb Akin and Noah Wendt began farming together through their partnership, A & W Farms, in 2006. They began transitioning acres to organic in 2015, drawn by the higher prices of organic crops. As they have continued to transition more of their acres, Caleb and Noah have come to appreciate opportunities to grow niche crops and decrease reliance on external inputs.
As markets have become available, Noah and Caleb have been able to grow crops beyond corn and soybeans, such as oats, sunflowers and Kernza. They also use cover crops and limit tillage whenever possible. Come to their field day to see their Kernza, a perennial grain crop, in its second season of growth. You’ll also see sunflowers growing for oil production and food-grade oats nearing or at harvest stage.
Meal
A light meal will follow the field day.
See & Discuss
- Kernza as a means of reducing tillage in organic fields
- Baling straw to make the most of a grain crop
- Challenges with marketing diverse crops
- Fitting sunflowers into a crop rotation
- The benefits of a 24-row camera-guided cultivator, and how to time its use
Sponsors
- Albert Lea Seed House
- Continuum Ag
- Farming for Public Health
- Farm Nutrients
- Forever Green Initiative
- Iowa Organic Association
- Iowa State Agronomy
- Iowa State University Organic Agriculture Program
- Mad Capital
- OCIA
- Chapter 1 of Iowa
- Rodale Institute
