Season-Long Water and Manure Management to be Featured at Aug. 2 Field Day

Jul 04, 2024

By Kapil Arora and Daniel Andersen et.al

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will host the “In-Season Manure Application with Irrigation Field Day” on Aug. 2 at Brent Renner’s Farm, near Klemme.

The day will feature innovative and climate-smart strategies aimed at helping solve nutrient water quality issues originating from agriculture.

“Yield improvement from consistent and timely watering, the ability to introduce manure or critical nutrients throughout the growing season past V4 corn growth stage, and lowering off-season manure application costs are all key aspects of a recently introduced system, 360 RAIN from 360 Yield Center,” said Kapil Arora, field agricultural engineer with ISU Extension and Outreach.

The field day will demonstrate this autonomous machine, which applies irrigation water or diluted manure to the base of a growing crop season-long. Learn about the details of the USDA Conservation Innovation Grant Project using 360 RAIN at this field day. A summary of the first year’s research will also be shared.

Iowa State researchers are teaming up with Ohio State University, and with industry partners, for developing and demonstrating in-season manure and nutrient management strategy, including projects like 360 RAIN.

Based on first year’s data, information will be shared on the topics of in-season manure application and irrigation strategy, corn plant nutrient needs and supply, economics of in-season manure application and what this all means for overall on-farm manure management. Field demonstrations will be held after the presentations and will conclude by 3 p.m.

The field day flyer explains the activities for the day. The program will begin at 11:30 a.m. with a free lunch for registered participants.

Commercial and confinement manure applicators, agency staff involved in manure management, manure planners and consultants, watershed coordinators and other interested stakeholders are encouraged to attend. The field day is a collaborative effort of the Iowa Pork Producers Association, 360 RAIN and ISU Extension and Outreach.

Registration is required. Register by July 29 to ensure a free meal. Call the ISU Extension and Outreach Hancock County office at 641-923-2856 or email kristyb@iastate.edu

Interested participants can also register online by visiting https://go.iastate.edu/OIANSK.

The Renner Farm is located at 2455 180th St., Klemme, Iowa.

Source : iastate.edu

Video: From Conventional to Regenerative: Will Groeneveld’s Journey Back to the Land

"You realize you've got a pretty finite number of years to do this. If you ever want to try something new, you better do it."

That mindset helped Will Groeneveld take a bold turn on his Alberta grain farm. A lifelong farmer, Will had never heard of regenerative agriculture until 2018, when he attended a seminar by Kevin Elmy that shifted his worldview. What began as curiosity quickly turned into a deep exploration of how biology—not just chemistry—shapes the health of our soils, crops and ecosystems.

In this video, Will candidly reflects on his family’s farming history, how the operation evolved from a traditional mixed farm to grain-only, and how the desire to improve the land pushed him to invite livestock back into the rotation—without owning a single cow.

Today, through creative partnerships and a commitment to the five principles of regenerative agriculture, Will is reintroducing diversity, building soil health and extending living roots in the ground for as much of the year as possible. Whether it’s through intercropping, zero tillage (which he’s practiced since the 1980s) or managing forage for visiting cattle, Will’s approach is a testament to continuous learning and a willingness to challenge old norms.

Will is a participant in the Regenerative Agriculture Lab (RAL), a social innovation process bringing together producers, researchers, retailers and others to co-create a resilient regenerative agriculture system in Alberta. His story highlights both the potential and humility required to farm with nature, not against it.