Events and Activities : Iowa Learning Farms Field Day set for June 18 in Rowley

Iowa Learning Farms, along with the STRIPS project and the Iowa Cover Crop Working Group, will host a field day on Thursday, June 18, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Dick and Diana Sloan farm, rural Rowley.

The STRIPS project, Science-based Trials of Rowcrops Integrated with Prairie Strips, is at Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge, Prairie City. The project focuses on planting a small percentage of a field into strips of perennial prairie plants to reduce soil erosion, water runoff, and to create habitat for pollinators. Iowa farmers are now applying this conservation practice on their own fields for the benefits that the research results have shown.

Speaking at the field day is host farmer Dick Sloan, who will share his experience using cereal rye cover crop as well as the installation of perennial prairie strips within his corn-soybean fields. Also speaking is Mary Harris, who is a member of the STRIPS project team. She will discuss the importance of pollinators and how the prairie strips are an important part of the ecosystem. Tim Youngquist, STRIPS project farmer liaison, will discuss details of installing prairie strips as well as the benefits that this conservation practice offers. Following the speakers, attendees can enjoy a complimentary supper, with the Buchanan County Cattlemen at the grill.

The field day will be at the Dick and Diana Sloan farm: 3046 Harrison Ave., Rowley. From Independence, go south on Highway 150 for 5 miles, turn west (right) onto D47 (290th St.), and go 2.75 miles. Turn south (left) onto Harrison Ave. and go 1.5 miles. The farmstead will be on the left.

The field day is free and open to the public, but an RSVP is requested. Contact Iowa Learning Farms to reserve a place for the meal: phone 515-294-8912, or email: ilf@iastate.edu.