Iowa Learning Farms will host a no-till and soil health field day on Tuesday, Nov. 25, from noon to 2 p.m. at the Badger Community Center. The event is open to farmers and landowners at no cost and includes a complimentary meal.

Field day host Mark Thompson's farm is located in the heart of the Des Moines Lobe, known for its rich, dark soil. Thompson has used no-till on all soybean acres since 2002 and has transitioned to no-till corn in recent years. During the field day, Thompson will share his experiences with adjusting machinery settings to handle the additional residue in a no-till system and the timing of operations that work best for his system.

“At first, it was an economics thing, then I found out that conservation, nutrient management and erosion control came along with it,” said Thompson. “If you have never tried no-till, try some no-till beans. You will be shocked how well it works and how easy it is — just hesitate to do any tillage in the fall and plant right into the corn stalks.”

Additionally, Angie Rieck-Hinz, field agronomist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, will discuss residue management in a no-till system. Humboldt County farmer Doug Adams will also discuss his experiences with cover crops, no-till and strip-till and their benefits to soil health. Weather permitting, the event will include a field tour.

The field day will be held at the Badger Community Center, located at 211 1st Ave SE, Badger. The event is open to farmers and landowners, though reservations are required to ensure adequate space and food. For reasonable accommodations and to RSVP, please contact Liz Ripley at 515-294-5429 or ilf@iastate.edu by Nov. 18. Attendees will be entered into 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 the Iowa Learning Farms website.

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, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Iowa Department of Natural Resources, EPA Section 319 Grant Program, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture and GROWMARK Inc.