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Edge of Field Batch and Build Workshop to be held March 2 in Ames
March 2, 2023 @ 11:30 am - 1:30 pm
Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with Story County, City of Ames and Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, is hosting a bioreactor and saturated buffer workshop on Thursday, March 2 from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the Ames Water Treatment Plant to discuss the new batch and build project kicking off in Story County. The free event is open to farmers and landowners and includes a complimentary meal.
Saturated buffers and bioreactors have been prioritized by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship as they are some of the most cost-effective methods to improve water quality. These practices can be located within existing filter strips and are designed to work with the drainage system of the field. In Story County there is a new program with financial and technical assistance available offering 100% cost share for these practices to be installed.
Join us to learn more about how these practices work through the demonstration of the Conservation On The Edge trailer. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig will share update on water quality efforts in the state and opportunities for farmers and landowners to get involved. Sara Carmichael, watershed coordinator for Story County, Megan Volkens, environmental specialist with Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and Dustin Albrecht, environmental specialist for City of Ames, will provide information and technical assistance to help decide if a bioreactor or saturated buffer could work on your land and discuss possible funding opportunities to assist with installation. Weather permitting, there will be an optional tour of current bioreactor and saturated buffers installations in Story County.
The workshop will be at the Ames Water Treatment Plant, 1800 E 13th Street, Ames, IA 50010. 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. Attendees will be entered in a drawing that evening for ISU Prairie Strips honey.
Iowa Learning Farms field days and workshops are supported by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. For more information about Iowa Learning Farms, visit www.iowalearningfarms.org.