Business : Virtual Field Day to Explore Prairie Establishment and Management with Carl Kurt

Iowa Learning Farms virtual field day is scheduled for Feb. 12 at 1 p.m. CST

Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with C-CHANGE: Grass2Gas, will host a virtual field day on Thursday, Feb. 12, at 1 p.m. CST. The event, which is available at no cost, will feature a live discussion with Carl Kurtz, a professional writer, teacher, naturalist and photographer with over 50 years of prairie establishment and management experience.

This field day aims to assist farmers, landowners and conservation professionals with establishing and maintaining prairie perennial vegetation. These areas provide numerous benefits, such as creating pollinator habitats, reducing soil erosion in sensitive locations, improving soil health, enhancing wildlife presence, increasing landscape beauty and serving as biomass feedstock for renewable natural gas production.

“About 50 years ago, I was introduced to the prairie by Roger Landers, who was a botanist at Iowa State University, and with my background in wildlife biology, I began to see that this is probably some of the very best wildlife habitat there is,” noted Kurtz.

Any person interested in establishing and managing a prairie is welcome to attend the virtual field day. Participants are also encouraged to bring any questions they would like to ask.

“You’ve got to remember you're going to be in it for the long haul. It's not something you plant for one year, and then you plow it up 10 years,” explained Kurtz when asked what advice he would share with those looking to establish a prairie. “In 10 years, it's just getting started doing what it will do best, and the diversity will start to get really good.”

To participate in the live virtual field day, visit Iowa Learning Farms Field Days - Exploring Prairie Establishment and Management With Carl Kurtz, or join from a dial-in phone line (dial 646-876-9923 or 646-931-3860, with meeting ID 914 1198 4892). The field day will be recorded and archived on the ILF Virtual Field Day Archive for future viewing.

Participants may be eligible for a Certified Crop Adviser board-approved continuing education unit. Information about how to apply for and receive the CEU will be provided at the end of the event.

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.