By Nathan Johanning
Join us on Thursday, March 26th, 2015 for the Spring Cover Crop Field Day at the University of Illinois Extension Ewing Demonstration Center. Registration will start at 8:30 a.m. and the program will begin at 9:00 a.m., rain or shine. The Ewing Demonstration Center is located at 16132 N. Ewing Rd; Ewing, IL 62836, on the north edge of the village of Ewing, north of the Ewing Grade School on north Ewing Road. Watch for signs.
Cover crops have many benefits to the soil, environment, and overall crop production and management. Topics covered during this field day program include:
Challenges of Grazing Lush Spring Forage
- Travis Meteer, Extension Educator, U of I Extension
Techniques for Planting into Cover Crop Residue
- Mike Plumer, Private Consultant
Understanding the Soil Profile Beneath Your Feet
- Bryan Fitch, Resource Soil Scientist, NRCS
Which One to Choose? Cover Crop Species Selection and Demonstration Trial Tour
- Nathan Johanning, Extension Educator, U of I Extension
Some of the program highlights will be the demonstration trial planting of cover crops, including 17 different cover crops and combinations illustrating first hand the characteristics of the cover crops and what benefits they bring to your soil and crop production system. Also, (weather and soil conditions permitting) we will have a soil pit dug, exposing the soil profile, where NRCS Resource Soil Scientist, Bryan Fitch will lead us through the characteristics of our southern Illinois soils to enhance understanding of the importance of a healthy soil. Also Certified Crop Advisor CEU credits will be available (2.0 Soil & Water Management & 1.0 Crop Management) for the program.
This field day will be free and open to anyone interested in learning more about cover crops. A light lunch will be provided and this is a great way to talk to fellow growers to learn more from their challenges and successes incorporating cover crops into their cropping systems. Please call the Franklin County Extension Office at 618-439-3178 for more information and to register by March 24th. We hope to see you there!
Source: University of Illinois Department of Crop Sciences