AMES, Iowa—Iowa Learning Farms (ILF) and Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI), as part of the Iowa Cover Crops Working Group, will host a cover crop workshop at the Wallace Learning Center on the Armstrong Research Farm near Lewis, from 10:30 a.m-12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 12. The event is free, open to the public, and includes a complimentary lunch.

The workshop speakers include Taylor County farmer Kelly Tobin, an ILF farmer partner and PFI member. Tobin has incorporated cereal rye into his corn-soybean rotation and is participating in an Iowa Cover Crops Working Group long-term rye study. Also speaking is Mark Hanna, Iowa State University Extension Agricultural Engineer, who will discuss different methods for seeding cover crops and tips for planting into cover crop residue the following spring. Stefan Gailans, PFI research scientist, will review their cover crop varieties trial. Tom Kaspar, plant physiologist with the USDA National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment, will share how cover crops help with the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy and answer audience questions.

After lunch, attendees may visit the Iowa Cover Crop Working Group mixtures plots at the research farm, weather permitting. RSVPs are requested for the meal: please contact Iowa Learning Farms, 515-294-8912 or email: ilf@iastate.edu, by Nov. 10.

The Wallace Learning Center is located at 53020 Hitchcock Ave, Lewis. From Atlantic, take Highway 6 west out of Atlantic for approximately 12 miles, turn south onto Contrail Ave. (525th St.) for ½ mile, turn left (east) onto Hitchcock Ave. and travel east for ¾ mile. The Armstrong Research Farm and Wallace Learning Center will be on the north side of the road.

The Iowa Cover Crop Working Group’s goal is to increase the amount of living cover on Iowa agricultural lands. The group provides a unified voice from academy, non-profit and industry sectors on the importance of cover crops and the encouragement of their use in cropping systems across the state.

(Press Release)