AMES, Iowa—Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, will host a wetland and cover crop field day Tuesday, November 22 from 12:00-2:00 p.m. at the Lagos Acres Golf & Country Club near Keota. The free event is open to farmers and landowners and includes a complimentary meal.

Water quality enhancement wetlands are constructed to reduce nitrogen loads from croplands to streams and rivers, while also providing wildlife habitat and increased recreational opportunities. To accelerate the installation of wetlands across the state to help meet the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy goals, the Iowa Water Quality Initiative offers flexible, cost-share funding to help install wetlands in areas that do not meet other program requirements. To date, more than 30 additional wetlands are set to begin construction in the next two or three years.

Additional efforts to meet the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy goals start in the field with practices like cover crops and no-till. While helping to improve water quality downstream, cover crops offer many benefits in the field including reduced soil erosion, weed suppression potential, and increased soil organic matter. When paired with no-tillage, cover crops increase water infiltration during heavy rain events.

Field day attendees will have the opportunity to hear from Keokuk County farmer Denny Lyle about how he has incorporated cover crops into his system, alongside no-till soybeans and corn, and how he manages the water quality enhancement wetland constructed on his farm. Shane Wulf and Matt McDonald with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship will share how to get involved with the Water Quality Initiative and details about the water quality enhancement wetland program. Liz Ripley, Iowa Learning Farms conservation and cover crop outreach specialist, will share results from on-farm cover crop demonstration trials and resources available to help farmers and landowners make a successful transition to a cover crop and no-till system.

The field day will be held at Lagos Acres Golf & Country Club, 2010 Keokuk Washington Rd, Keota, IA 52248 and will be held rain or shine. Weather permitting, the field day will include a site tour of the wetland.

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 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.