Edge-of-Field and Forestry Workshop
In Partnership with Marshall County Soil and Water Conservation District and USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
Grimes Farm & Conservation Center
2349 233rd Street
Marshalltown, IA 50158
Iowa Learning Farms, Marshall County Soil and Water Conservation District, and USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), will host an edge-of-field and forestry workshop on Tuesday, March 5 from 10:30-12:30 p.m. at the Grimes Farm & Conservation Center outside of Marshalltown. The free event is open to farmers and landowners and includes a complimentary meal.
The goal of this workshop is to share the benefits of edge of field practices on Iowa’s soil health and water quality. Practices such as woodchip bioreactors and saturated buffers can improve water quality through denitrification. In addition, this workshop aims to educate landowners on forest stand management to benefit Iowa’s biodiversity and create habitat for Iowa’s native species.
Gabe Johnson, PhD candidate in Sustainable Agriculture and Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at Iowa State University, will give insights into edge-of-field practices and share the water quality benefits they can provide. Joe Herring, DNR forester for district 3, will give discuss forest stand improvement in Iowa and tree identification. Marshall County District Conservation, Dana Holland will share information on state and federal programs to help landowners interested in taking the next step with these practices. The workshop will conclude with a complimentary meal.
The event will be held at the Grimes Farm & Conservation Center, 2349 233rd St, Marshalltown, IA and is free and open to farmers and landowners, though we require reservations to ensure adequate space and food. Attendees will enjoy a complimentary meal and be entered in a drawing for ISU Prairie Strips honey. For reasonable accommodations and to RSVP, please contact Mitch Harting at 515-294-8912 or ilf@iastate.edu.
Iowa Learning Farms field days and workshops are supported by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.