TRURO — Iowa Learning Farms (ILF), as part of the Iowa Cover Crops Working Group, will host a cover crops workshop 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 25, at Truro Community Building, 100 S. Railroad St. in Truro.
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.
Cover crops also provide a great opportunity for grazing and forage to extend feed sources without converting acres to pasture and hay.
Workshop attendees will hear from host and ILF farmer partner Tim Palmer who will share his experience using cover crops with his cattle operation on his farm. Also speaking are Iowa State University Extension beef specialist Patrick Wall, and Margaret Chamas, Practical Farmers of Iowa livestock coordinator, who will discuss the benefits of cover crops and will offer points on livestock grazing of cover crops.
A complimentary lunch will be provided. To RSVP for the workshop, contact Iowa Learning Farms, 515-294-8912 or email: ilf@iastate.edu by Nov. 24 or text Tim Palmer, 641-431-0078.
Also sponsoring the event is the Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District.
The Iowa Cover Crops Working Group is working 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 encouragement of their use in cropping systems across the state.
For more information about Iowa Learning Farms, visit the website: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/ilf/.
Established in 2004, Iowa Learning Farms is building a Culture of Conservation, encouraging adoption of conservation practices. Farmers, researchers and ILF team members are working together to identify and implement the best management practices that improve water quality and soil health while remaining profitable.
Partners of Iowa Learning Farms are the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Iowa Natural Resources Conservation Service and Iowa Department of Natural Resources (USEPA section 319), Conservation Districts of Iowa, Iowa Farm Bureau, Iowa Water Center and Practical Farmers of Iowa.