Location
Hepp Farms
2195 250th St
Rockwell City, IA 50579
RSVP: 515-294-5429 or ilf@iastate.edu
Iowa Learning Farms will host a cover crop, soil health and water quality field day Wednesday, July 2 from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Hepp Farms near Rockwell City. The no cost event is open to farmers and landowners and includes a complimentary meal.
Cover crops offer many benefits to farmers and landowners like improved soil health, reduced soil erosion, weed suppression potential, reduced nitrogen and phosphorus loads entering water bodies, and increased organic matter in the soil. When paired with strip-tillage, additional benefits include increased water infiltration and reduced erosion during heavy rain events.
The field day will begin with first generation farmer and host James Hepp. As a Rockwell City native, Hepp aspired to farm, but with no direct ties to land, that dream seemed out of reach. Hepp attended Northwest Missouri State University, where he earned a degree in agricultural business and started his career as a crop insurance adjuster after graduation. In 2019, the opportunity to work with a high school friend’s father, who was nearing retirement, led to a crop-share arrangement and opened the door for Hepp to farm full time. At the same time, Hepp started up his own crop insurance agency. Hepp now manages about 1,400 acres of corn, soybeans, and small grains as a first-generation farmer. With support from his landlord, Hepp incorporates a wide range of conservation and soil-health building practices on his acres, including cover crops, buffer strips, no-till, strip-till, split-applied nitrogen, variable rate seeding, and much more.
“The type of farming we're talking about at this field day is a systems-approach,” said James Hepp. “There’s not one silver bullet. The results are worth it, though. With this type of regenerative ag, 2 + 2 = 6.”
The field day will also feature Ted Corrigan, CEO and General Manager of Des Moines Water Works, discussing the importance of water quality partnerships upstream and downstream to improve statewide access to cleaner water. Iowa Learning Farms will also provide a demonstration of edge of field practices that help improve water quality with the Conservation Station On The Edge trailer. Complimentary lunch will conclude the program. Attendees will be invited to stick around and continue the conversation with James Hepp and Kelly Garret and Mike Evans of Xtreme Ag following the lunch.
"Farming in a sustainable, regenerative way can offer a solid return on investment and so much more," said Darcy Maulsby, whose family farms near Lake City. "It's about creating opportunities to help the next generation be able to farm if they want to. We want to show that you can succeed long-term with conservation-minded farming practices.”
The field day be held at Hepp Farms, 2195 250th St, Rockwell City, IA 50579. The driveway to enter the site is located on just north of the Langley Ave and 250th Street intersection and will be marked with field day signs.
The event is offered at no cost and open to farmers and landowners, though we require reservations to ensure adequate space and food. For reasonable accommodations and to RSVP by June 25 please contact Liz Ripley at 515-294-5429 or ilf@iastate.edu by June 5. Attendees will be entered in a drawing for ISU Prairie Strips honey.
This field day is held in partnership with Des Moines Water Works and 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.