Learn about Cover Crops, Grassed Waterways And Conservation Planning July 21

Jul 07, 2015

Iowa Learning Farms, along with the Jasper County Natural Resources Conservation Service, will host a workshop to inform farmers of available conservation planning, the installation of grassed waterways and erosion control blankets along with the use of cover crops. The workshop is set for Tuesday, July 21, from noon to 2 p.m. on the Jasper County Fairgrounds in Colfax.

The workshop will begin with a complimentary lunch at noon, followed by a program at 12:30 p.m. Attendees will hear from Jasper County farmer Patrick Gannon. He has been farming for 40 years and farms with his wife Diane and son-in-law Troy Layton. Gannon has been no-tilling half of his 2,000 acres for more than 10 years. He started using cover crops last fall, planting triticale on 140 acres. Gannon installed several grassed waterways with erosion control blankets last fall and used cover crops as well. In addition to growing crops, Gannon has a farrow-to-finish hog operation.

Also speaking at the workshop are Jasper County NRCS Soil Conservationist Holly Giombi and District Conservationist Curtis Donohue. They will discuss using the NRCS Conservation Planning Process to solve resource concerns while minimizing risk and maximizing benefits. Gannon will share his perspective on working with NRCS, using the Conservation Planning Process, installing grassed waterways and planting cover crops. The speakers also will review the benefits of these for soil health and clean water. Following the program, attendees will take a field tour of Gannon’s grassed waterways, weather permitting.

The workshop is free and open to the public, but reservations are suggested to ensure adequate space and food. Contact Jasper County NRCS by July 16, 641-792-4116 ext. 3 or by email: Jessica.Rutter@ia.nacdnet.net. The workshop will be held in the Big Tent on the Jasper County Fairgrounds, 359 N. Walnut St. in Colfax.

Source:iastate.edu

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Border View Farms is a mid-sized family farm that sits on the Ohio-Michigan border. My name is Nathan. I make and edit all of the videos posted here. I farm with my dad, Mark and uncle, Phil. We also have a part-time employee, Brock. My dad started the farm in 1980. Since then we have grown the operation from just a couple hundred acres to over 3,000. Watch my 500th video for a history of our farm I filmed with my dad.

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