Iowa Learning Farms to host cover crops, bioreactor field day in Washington County

Iowa Learning Farms, as part of the Iowa Cover Crops Working Group, will host a field day on cover crops and bioreactors on Thursday, Nov. 20, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the Rob Stout farm in rural Washington.

Cover crops are growing in popularity in Iowa. As part of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy, cover crops added to a corn-soybean rotation can help reduce nitrogen and phosphorus loads, increase soil organic matter and reduce soil erosion. These crops, used in combination with other best management practices ? such as bioreactors ? will reduce point and nonpoint source pollution in Iowa waters and downstream.

Field day attendees will hear from several presenters including:

Host and ILF farmer partner Rob Stout will discuss the installation of a bioreactor on his farm and share his experience as part of the long-term rye cover crop study.

Matt Helmers, Iowa State University Extension water quality engineer, will share the benefits of bioreactors and cover crops to nutrient load reductions into streams and subsurface drainage waters.

Mark Hanna, Iowa State University Extension agricultural engineer, will present different methods for seeding cover crops and will also offer no-till pointers and tips for planting into spring cover crop residue.

The Iowa Soybean Association?s model bioreactor will be on display.

A complimentary lunch will be provided with the Washington County Pork Producers at the grill. To RSVP for the field day, contact Iowa Learning Farms, 515-294-8912 or email: ilf@iastate.edu by Nov. 14.

The Stout farm is located at 2449 Hemlock Ave., Washington. From Washington, go west on County Road G-38 (250th St.) for five miles. Turn north onto Hemlock Avenue and go one-half mile. The farmstead is on the west side of the road.