Location
Carl Varley Farm
1175 Sheldon Ave
Stuart, IA 50250
RSVP: 515-294-5429 or ilf@iastate.edu
AMES, Iowa—Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with Science-Based-Trials-of-Rowcrops-Integrated-with-Prairie-Strips (STRIPS), will host a cover crop field day on Tuesday, September 10, from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Carl Varley’s farm near Stuart. The free event is open to farmers and landowners and includes a complimentary meal.
This field day aims to assist farmers and landowners with establishing and maintaining perennial vegetation, including STRIPS and Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) areas. These areas offer many benefits including reducing soil erosion from sensitive areas, build soil health, improve wildlife and pollinator habitat and provide beauty to the landscape.
The field day will include Tim Youngquist, Iowa State University STRIPS program farmer liaison. He will share results from over 15 years of research on prairie strips as well as practical recommendations for how to add prairie strips to corn and soybean fields. Host and Adair County landowner Carl Varley and Chris Smith with Hertz Farm Management will share advice for working with tenants to successfully add prairie strips as well as discussing the benefits and challenges of using prairie. Tom Rosburg, Professor of Ecology and Botany at Drake University, will discuss seed mix design and species selection to meet goals. Jon Judson, Carroll County farmer and Diversity Farms owner, seeded the site and will highlight tips for successfully seeding and managing prairie. Concluding the field day will be Nick Thompson, Pheasants Forever Farm Bill Biologist, discussing current programs available to help establish prairie on your farm.
The field day will be held at the Carl Varley’s Farm north of 1175 Sheldon Ave, Stuart, IA 50250. From the I-80/Stuart Exit 93, head south on Stuart Road/P28 for 1.2 miles. Turn right to head west on 118th Street for 1 mile. Turn left to head south on Trenton Avenue for 0.2 miles and then turn right on 120th Street to head west for 1 mile. Turn right to head north on Sheldon Avenue for 0.3 miles. The driveway for the field day will be located on the west side of the road and marked with field day signs.
The event is free and open to farmers and landowners, though we require reservations to ensure adequate space and food. For reasonable accommodations and to RSVP, please contact Liz Ripley at 515-294-5429 or ilf@iastate.edu by September 3. Attendees will be entered in a drawing for ISU Prairie Strips honey.
Iowa Learning Farms field days and workshops are supported by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and this project is supported by USDA NIFA award 2020-68012-31824. For more information about Iowa Learning Farms, visit www.iowalearningfarms.org.