SWCD holds cover crop field day

Friday, July 31, 2009

Putnam County Soil and Water Conservation District will be holding a Multi-County Cover Crop field day on Aug. 21.

The event will be hosted by Ames 4K Farms. The day will begin at 9 a.m. with registration at the Ames 4K Farms. The group will then travel en mass to two demonstration plots for field sessions.

Topics will involve walking the cover crop plots, digging some roots to view the root systems of the cover crops and discussions on when and how to seed the differing types of cover crops.

Other worthy topics of discussions will include the economics of cover crops from the producer's point of view, discussion of the nitrogen loss potential, from cropland and from manure application and where cover crops fit in managing these nutrients.

This multi-county endeavor hopes to reach the audience of landowners/producers that have been impacted by the recent flooding/rainfall events with discussion on how cover crops improve soil quality and how they help water quality by reducing nitrate leaching to tile drains.

There will be discussion on specific cover crops and their pluses and minuses. The tour will conclude with a complementary luncheon during which time a panel of local farmers will be addressing cover crop issues from their personal experiences.

The field day experience will conclude at 1 p.m. Anyone desiring seating should bring lawn chairs. This event will be held rain or shine, so dress appropriately.

Anyone wishing to attend may RSVP to the Putnam County SWCD at 653-7454 by Aug. 7.

Also, the Montgomery County SWCD, NRCS, IDNR Division of Fish & Wildlife, the Coal Creek Chapter and Sagamore Chapter of Pheasants Forever are hosting a Habitat Management Field Day on Aug. 13 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lunch will be provided.

The Field Day will be held at Shad & Sara Schenck's in west central Montgomery County. The event will be looking at plots and discussing various types of habitat establishment, food plots -- both annual and perennial, demonstration plots of mid-contract management activities include disking, interseeding and spraying. Dean Zimmerman, IDNR wildlife biologist, will also discuss CP33 monitoring results.

This is the same location as 2008 and will be covering mid-contract management, but will also discuss and see other important criteria for habitat creation and management. Demonstration plots include wheat food plot, sunflower food plot, corn and soybean food plots and clover food plots. Mid-contract management of warm season grass plots include interseeding forbs in disked area using no burndown, interseeding forbs in disked area using burndown, interseeding forbs in spring burned with fire. Other plots include discussions on results of mowing and prescribed burning. They will also discuss feathered edge, early successional development and results of mowing.

RSVP by Aug. 7 for an accurate count for lunch. Contact Connie Cleek at the Montgomery County SWCD at 362-1194, ext. 3. If after hours, leave a message with name of people attending, county, and phone number or need for a call back.

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