Location:
Cheryl Niewoehner Farm
22183 X Ave
Sumner, IA 50674
RSVP: ilf@iastate.edu or 515-294-8912

Iowa Learning Farms will host a cover crop and soil health field day as part of their “Beyond the Basics: Advanced Cover Crop Series” in rural Sumner on Wednesday, June 10, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The event is open to farmers and landowners at no cost and includes a complimentary meal.

 “Cover crops not only reduce potential impacts of erosion but also play a critical role in maintaining healthy and productive soils. Understanding the effect that cover crops can have on soil health can be challenging, and results take time,” said Mitch Harting, water outreach specialist with Iowa Learning Farms. “This field day will help farmers better understand the benefits that cover crops can have on soil, which can help ensure productive land long into the future.”

 The field day will feature Peter O’Brien, research agronomist, and Sabrina Ruis, research soil scientist, with USDA-ARS National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment, who will offer insights into the impact that cover crops have on protecting and building healthy soils. The agenda will also include a field tour with Jeff Pleggenkuhle, a local farmer who will share his experiences and management choices when using cover crops on his farm. Additionally, there will be a demonstration of Iowa Learning Farms’ Conservation Station trailer, which will show soil movement across different land management scenarios.

 The field day will be held at the Cheryl Niewoehner Farm, located at 22183 X Avenue, Sumner, IA 50674. 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 Harting at 515-294-8912 or ilf@iastate.edu by June 3. Attendees will be entered in a drawing for ISU Prairie Strips honey.