Location
Carpenter Community Center
508 William St
Carpenter, IA 50426
RSVP by March 26: 515-294-5429 or ilf@iastate.edu
Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with Rock Creek Watershed and Mitchell County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), will host a cover crop and CRP field day in Carpenter on Thursday, Apr. 2, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Carpenter Community Center. 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 as an in-field conservation practice. 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. “When paired with no-till, additional benefits include increased water infiltration and reduced erosion during heavy rain events.”
“In our watershed, there are also opportunities for producers to participate in the Conservation Reserve Program to establish perennial vegetation, like prairie, to protect the soil from erosion and improve local water quality,” noted Leo Kruse, Rock Creek Watershed coordinator. “This field day will include a visit to the Mitchell County SWCD Farm donated by Ralph and Celia Ramsay that demonstrates these practices for area farmers.”
Following the complimentary meal, the field day will begin with Milt Owen, Mitchell County SWCD assistant commissioner, highlighting the Ramsay family and their contributions to improving soil health and water quality in the area. The agenda will also include Will Marrow, Mitchell County farmer, sharing his experience with cover crops and best recommendations for success. Additionally, Brittany Brandau, Mitchell County Farm Service Agency program technician, will discuss CRP sign up and expected timelines, and Mike Webb, Mitchell County Natural Resources Conservation Service 780 technician, will discuss the benefits of CRP and best practices for successful establishment and management.
The field day will be held at Carpenter Community Center, 508 William St, Carpenter, IA 50426. 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 Mar. 26. 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 www.iowalearningfarms.org.