Iowa Learning Farms will host a cover crop and grazing field day near Osage on Thursday, Nov. 13, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Green County Farms. The event is open to farmers and landowners at no cost and includes a complimentary meal.

“This field day aims to equip attendees with best management practices for establishing and managing cover crops. Cover crops offer many benefits to farmers and landowners, including reduced soil erosion, weed suppression potential, reduced nitrogen and phosphorus loads entering water bodies and increased organic matter in the soil,” said Liz Ripley, conservation and cover crop outreach specialist with Iowa Learning Farms. “Cover crops can also provide quality grazing and forage opportunities for livestock producers and provide additional grazing acres without expanding pastureland.”

Alec Amundson and Adam Norby run Green Country Farms, where they no-till corn, soybeans and small grains. In 2012, they started experimenting with cover crops, and since then, they have found new rotation options that work for them and have made adjustments to their field practices to benefit soil and water quality. The production of small grains opened a window to seed a cover crop mixture following rye harvest that is providing additional livestock feed as their cattle graze.

Additionally, the field day will feature Russ Euken, beef and swine field specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, sharing best management practices for grazing cover crops, as well as sharing recent research on grazing summer and annual forages. Weather permitting, the field day will also feature a field tour of nearby cover crops.

The field day will be held at the Green County Farms located at 3386 Hickory Ave, Osage. The event is open to farmers and landowners, though reservations are required to ensure adequate space and food. For reasonable accommodations and to RSVP, please contact Liz Ripley at 515-294-5429 or ilf@iastate.edu by Nov. 6.  Attendees will be entered in a drawing for ISU Prairie Strips honey.

Iowa Learning Farms field days and workshops are supported by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. For more information about Iowa Learning Farms, visit the Iowa Learning Farms website.

About Iowa Learning Farms

Established in 2004, Iowa Learning Farms is building a Culture of Conservation by encouraging adoption of conservation practices. Farmers, researchers and ILF team members are working together to identify and implement the best management practices that improve water quality and soil health while remaining profitable. Partners of Iowa Learning Farms include the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Iowa Department of Natural Resources, EPA Section 319 Grant Program, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture and GROWMARK Inc.