Location
Bryan Sievers’ Farm
26618 20th Ave
Stockton IA, 52769
RSVP: 515-294-5429 or ilf@iastate.edu
Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with Horizon II Climate-Smart Partners, will host an establishing and harvesting prairie field day Tuesday, August 20th from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Bryan Sievers’ farm near Stockton. 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 prairie perennial vegetation. These areas offer many benefits including: pollinator habitat, reducing soil erosion from sensitive areas, building soil health, improving wildlife, and providing beauty to the landscape. Additionally, the field day will highlight the innovative use of harvested prairie for renewable fuel generation through anaerobic digestion.
Mark Licht, Iowa State University Extension Cropping Systems Specialist, will begin the program highlighting best management practices for establishing and maintaining prairie perennial vegetation and share water quality research results from ongoing ISU prairie research. Keith Webster, ISU Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Technical Project Specialist, will lead a tour and discussion of the machinery used for harvesting and storing prairie for use as bedding and feed source for anaerobic digestion. Scott County farmer and host, Bryan Sievers, will share how he has incorporated and managed perennial vegetation on his farm. He will lead a tour of their prairie area and discuss how they have added prairie and winter crop biomass into their anaerobic digestion program.
The field day will be held at Bryan Sievers’ farm located 26618 20th Ave, Stockton IA, 52769 and will be held rain or shine. The farm is located on the west side of the road marked with a tree farm sign, and field day signs will mark the driveway to enter. Insect repellent will be provided, and attendees are encouraged to wear long pants and closed toe shoes.
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 by August 13 at 515-294-5429 or ilf@iastate.edu. Attendees will be entered in a drawing for ISU Prairie Strips honey.
This field day is supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service under Federal Award No. NR233A750004G072. For more information about Iowa Learning Farms, visit www.iowalearningfarms.org.
About Iowa Learning Farms
Established in 2004, Iowa Learning Farms is building a Culture of Conservation by 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 include the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Iowa Department of Natural Resources, EPA Section 319 Grant Program and GROWMARK, Inc.
About Horizon II
Horizon II is an innovative program that compensates farmers in Iowa and Missouri for harvesting winter crops and prairie. This biomass, alongside manure and other agricultural or municipal waste, serves as a feedstock for anaerobic digesters to produce renewable energy. The program aims to advance a climate-smart agricultural system in the U.S., reducing greenhouse gas emissions from commodity production and promoting year-round ground cover. Additionally, the initiative expands existing supply chains for renewable natural gas (RNG), biofertilizers, and carbon credits, while enhancing soil health, water quality, flood control, and wildlife habitat. Supported by a USDA Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities grant and led by Roeslein Alternative Energy, Horizon II is a collaboration between fourteen partners committed to enhancing rural vitality.