- Kathleen Delate and Sabrina Ruis discuss the organic corn crop this year, which is showing great promise, despite excessive rains in May, delaying planting and weed management.
The ISU Neely-Kinyon Farm Organic Field Day was held on a gorgeous summer evening (a rare occasion in the history of this field day--last year, there was a 105-degree heat index warning) with 40 participants, ranging from transitioning organic farmers to students and industry reps. Everyone enjoyed the farm tour and supper afterwards, featuring local, organic food from Bridgewater Farm and organic apple crisp from the H.A. Wallace Country Life Center in Orient.
Attendees viewed the Long-Tem Agroecological Research (LTAR) experiment which was started in 1998 to conduct a long-term comparison of organic and conventional grain crops. To date, the organic corn and soybean crops have yielded equally to the conventional crops, and in some years (i.e., 2023), organic corn in the 4-year rotation with hybrid rye and red cover outyielded its conventional counterpart, at 187 bushels per acre. Economic returns have been greater with the organic crops due to reduced inputs and premium organic prices. Dr. Sabrina Ruis, soil scientist, USDA-ARS, Ames, Iowa, spoke on the greater soil quality in the organic rotations, while Dr. Shelby Gruss, the new Iowa State agronomy forage specialist, highlighted the red clover fields, which represent the soil-building year of the certified organic rotation.
The N-K Farm continues to support relevant research conducted by ISU Agronomy and Extension faculty, providing a realistic setting that western Iowa farmers face, including the extreme weather challenges of 2024. The support and interactions of the Adair County Extension and Outreach office and local farmers is what drives the innovation and success of the farm.
Supporters for the LTAR research at the Neely-Kinyon Farm over the years have included the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture.