PFI announces "cover crops" field day April 27

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Ames, IA--Practical Farmers of Iowa and Iowa Cover Crops Working Group will hold an on site seminar about managing and increasing soil fertility by planting cover crops. PFI's Cover Crops Field Day takes place on Tuesday, April 27. Coffee and registration begins at 9:00 AM at the ISU Agronomy Farm in Boone. At 9:30 AM, everyone will car pool to the Boyd Farm, then to the Sorenson Farm, and finish up the day back at the Agronomy Farm. Lunch will be served at 12:30 PM featuring locally grown foods.

A cover crop is planted following a cash crop to decrease erosion, improve soil quality and cover the soil during the winter and spring. By using cover crops, farmers improve their ecological footprint.

Locations and descriptions are as follows:

9:00 AM Registration: ISU Agronomy Farm, 1308 U Avenue in Boone

Directions: Head west from Ames on highway 30. Travel approximately 5 miles to the corner of U Avenue. The Agronomy Farm is on the south side of highway 30 directly across from the United School. Look for signs to the main building.

9:30 AM Location 1: Boyd Farm, 240th Street in Boone
Manure and cover crops
Cereal-Legume and Nitrogen Dynamics
Living mulches in a corn-soybean-forage rotation
Corn silage and cover crops
Variety trial of various species

11:30 AM* Location 2: Sorenson Farm, 240th & West Avenue in Boone
Living mulches in corn for bio fuel production

12:00 PM* Location 3: Agronomy building
Look at Machinery
Cover Crop Decision Making Tool presentation
Lunch at 12:30 PM

*These times are estimated.

Thank you to the following Field Day sponsors: National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Iowa State University Agronomy Department, Iowa State University Agronomy Farm and Green Land Blue Waters, and Natural Resources Conservation Service.

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The Leopold Center was established by the 1987 Iowa Groundwater Protection Act as a research and education center at Iowa State University to develop sustainable agricultural practices that are both profitable and conserve natural resources. Iowa State does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Vietnam Era Veteran. Any persons having inquiries concerning this may contact the Director of Affirmative Action, 3210 Beardshear Hall, (515) 294-7612.

This page was found at http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/news/04-16-2010/pfi-announces-cover-crops-field-day-april-27 on 01/21/2013