Government : Soil Health Event Coming to the Corridor

Click to view Flyer

Join the NRCS, Indian Creek Soil Health Partnership and the Benton Tama Nutrient Reduction Project as they present the Soil Health Benefits Your Bottom Line. This free event will explore soil health and its beneficial impact on producers' profitability.

The Event will be held on Wednesday, February 26th at the Cedar Rapids Public Library, 450 5th Ave SE Cedar Rapids, IA 52401. The event will begin at 9:45 a.m. with registration and includes a complimentary lunch. The afternoon session will conclude around 3:00 p.m. and will address the economics of cover crops and an advanced soil health session with Q&A.

Featured speaker Barry Fisher is a 32-year veteran of NRCS and a native Indianan, is the State Soil Health Specialist for NRCS. He provides agronomic training and assistance to NRCS field staff and represents NRCS in the Conservation Cropping System Initiative (CCSI) and the Midwest Cover Crop Council (MCCC). He strives to advance the technology of successfully integrating no-till, cover crops, crop rotations, adaptive nutrient management and precision farming for higher soil health and function. Barry has served as a District Conservationist, Conservation Agronomist for West-Central Indiana, Conservation Tillage Coordinator for NRCS in Indiana and most recently as State Agronomist. He and his wife Michael own and operate a small "never-till" grain and grazed livestock farm in West- Central Indiana. He has a BS degree in Agronomy.

Another presenter, Jack Boyer, is a Tama County farmer and seed corn producer from Reinbeck, Iowa. Conservation is key on Jack's Century Farm (est. 1912). Jack and his wife Marion raise corn, seed corn, soybeans and cereal rye for cover crop seeding. They have been integrating cover crops into fields for the last 6 years and are seeing the benefits. Jack takes an innovative approach to cover crops and is learning a quantifiable approach for what works best for his operation. Serving as the chair of the Tama County soil and water district and regional representative for the National Association of Conservation Districts, Jack is instrumental in driving change within the conservation community.

Also, on the agenda, Wayne Fredricks, farmer and livestock producer from Osage, IA,

Jason Gomes, independent crop consultant, from Janesville, IA, Justin Clark, Precision Ag agronomist with Linn Cooperative in Marion and Jason Russell, crop and livestock producer from Prairieburg, IA.

Free lunch will be provided for participants by Linn Coop.

An RSVP is appreciated to get a number for lunch: Call Stacie Buhr: 319-472-2161 Ext 4045 or email at Stacie.Buhr@usda.gov

Persons needing accommodations to participate in this event should contact 319-472-2161, ext. 4045, at least 48 hours prior to the event.

Benton-Tama and Indian Creek Projects operate in cooperation with the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service and the State of Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. All programs and services are offered on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, marital status, or handicap. USDA is an equal opportunity employer, provider, and lender. USDA programs are available to all without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, or disability