By Elizabeth Ripley
Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with the Iowa Nutrient Research Center, will host a drainage water recycling field day on Wednesday, Sept. 4, from 5-7 p.m. at Mark Schleisman’s farm near Lake City. The free event is open to farmers and landowners and includes a complimentary meal.
Drainage water recycling (DWR) is a drainage management system designed to capture water during wet periods so it can be used later when growing crops are thirsty.
Versions of DWR have been around for years, but adoption has remained limited. Now, interest is growing as the practice is recognized for its potential to improve water quality and help farmers reduce risks from weather volatility.
During this field day, attendees will have a chance to get a closer look at new installations being used to collect in-field data on the performance of these systems. These sites are being studied as part of a research project led by the Iowa Nutrient Research Center and the Iowa Soybean Association analyzing drainage water recycling’s costs and benefits, with funding from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, the Iowa Nutrient Research Center and the EPA’s Gulf of Mexico Division.
The field day will feature a field tour of the site with host Mark Schleisman, Calhoun County farmer and landowner, and Chris Hay, owner and principal of Christopher Hay Consulting. Additionally, Matt Helmers, Iowa Nutrient Research Center director, and Eric Henning, Iowa State University agricultural and biosystems graduate research assistant, will share yield and water quality research findings. Jeremy Viles, Calhoun County NRCS district conservationist, will conclude the program with a discussion on soil health.
“Too much rain or not enough rain are two of the biggest problems for Iowa crops most years,” said Hay. “Drainage water recycling can help farmers address these challenges. Research -- mostly done in other states -- shows it can boost yields by up to 50% for corn and 30% for soybeans. Our early work modeling it here in Iowa also shows potential for significant yield gains, especially in dry years, and the system can also benefit water quality and wildlife. But there’s still a lot of work to be done to predict what farmers can expect in terms of return on investment.”
The field day will be held at the Schleisman Farm, 1532 365th St., Lake City, IA 51449. From Lake City, head west on IA-175W/365th St. for three miles. The farm is located on the south side of the road and field day signs will mark the driveway.
The event is free and open to farmers and landowners, though reservations are required to ensure adequate space and food. For reasonable accommodations and to RSVP, contact Liz Ripley at 515-294-5429 or ilf@iastate.eduby Aug. 28. 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.
Source : iastate.edu