-Photo courtesy of bmargaret/stock.adobe.com. Soybeans are shown growing in a no-till field. Last fall’s weather allowed for a limited tillage. A field day next month will help growers learn how to plant no-till this spring and learn more about cover crops.

AMES (ISU E) – Iowa Learning Farms and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will host a cover crop and no-till field day on Wednesday, April 10 from 12-2 p.m. at Steier Ag Aviation near Whittemore. The event is free, open to the whole family and includes a complimentary meal.

Last fall rain created challenges for most farmers, with rain that started in early September as the corn and soybeans were maturing and continued through harvest. With a priority on getting the crop out of the field, there was limited time to complete fall tillage. The good news is this presents an opportunity to save money on inputs by implementing no-till this spring, protect the soil from erosion and improve weed control by adding a cover crop this fall.

The workshop will feature Nate Voss, Kossuth County farmer, sharing his experiences with cover crops and tips for successfully adding them to a farm operation. Tony Meyer, Steier Ag Aviation, will discuss aerial application of cover crops as a way to capture more growth in the fall. Paul Kassel, field agronomist with ISU Extension and Outreach, will provide timely advice for planter preparation and other considerations for no-tilling corn and soybeans this spring. Liz Juchems, Iowa Learning Farms conservation outreach specialist, will share results from cover crop projects examining species selection, water quality implications and soil health indicators such as earthworms.

The field day will be held at Steier Ag Aviation, 202 190th Street, Whittemore. The event is free and open to the whole family, but reservations are suggested to ensure adequate space and food. Please RSVP to Liz Juchems at 515-294-5429 or ilf@iastate.edu.