July 17 field day near Dayton to explore cover crops in livestock options
On-farm research has helped countless farmers see the benefits of cover crops. Kellie and A.J. Blair have steadily increased their use of cover crops after conducting research with the Iowa Soybean Association.
Kellie and A.J. are lifetime members of Practical Farmers who raise corn, soybeans, cattle and pigs near Dayton with a focus on conservation and continual improvement.
The Blairs will share their experience and research results—as well as one of their newer endeavors, raising their own cover crop seed—at a Practical Farmers of Iowa field day they are hosting on July 17, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., on their farm near Dayton at 3531 Paragon Ave., about 2 miles northwest of town.
The event—“Expanding Conservation With Cover Crops, Livestock and Small Grains”—is free to attend and will include lunch. RSVPs are requested for the meal to Debra Boekholder, [email protected] or 515-232-5661, by July 12. The field day is sponsored by Bio Till, Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance and Iowa Farmers Union.
Kellie and A.J. will share how they’ve increased their use of cover crops while also reducing tillage. They will explain how grazing cattle on their cover crops and conducting on-farm research have helped them expand their cover crop usage; and they will discuss how they have started raising their own cereal rye cover crop seed.
“If you’ve ever thought about incorporating cover crops into your livestock operation, this event will help you network with others to gain answers to questions you might have,” Kellie says.
Directions from Dayton: Take IA Hwy 175 west to the junction with U.S. 169. Turn right (north) on Paragon Avenue and go three-quarters of a mile. The farm will be on the left (west) side of the road.
Practical Farmers’ 2018 field days are supported by several sustaining and major sponsors, including: Albert Lea Seed; Applegate Natural & Organic Meats; Blue River Organic Seed; Cascadian Farms; Center for Rural Affairs; Farm Credit Services of America; Gandy Cover Crop Seeders; Grain Millers, Inc.; Green Cover Seed; Green Thumb Commodities; Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance; Iowa Beef Center; Iowa State University Department of Agronomy; Iowa Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE); ISU Extension and Outreach; La Crosse Forage and Turf Seed; MOSA Organic Certification; Natural Resources Defense Council; Organic Valley / Organic Prairie; PepsiCo; Pipeline Foods; Premier 1 Supplies; Sunrise Foods International; The DeLong Company; The Fertrell Company; The Scoular Company; Unilever; University of Iowa College of Public Health (I-CASH); USDA: Natural Resources Conservation Service; Wallace Chair for Sustainable Agriculture; and Welter Seed & Honey Co.
