Experienced Cover Crop Farmers Available for Q&A at Farm Progress Show
AMES -- Practical Farmers of Iowa invites farmers with questions about cover crops to stop by the Practical Farmers booth during this year’s Farm Progress Show, Aug. 30 to Sept. 1, in Boone.
Experienced cover crop farmers will be available each day, along with Practical Farmers staff, to answer a wide range of cover crop production questions. Look for the Practical Farmers booth (number 9513) on the westernmost side of the Varied Industries Tent, in the Southwest Exhibit Field of the show grounds.
The following farmers will be on hand during the show, each with expertise in specific aspects of cover crops:
On Tuesday, Aug. 30, meet with:
Ruth and Robert Harvey, of Redfield (central Iowa), from 8-11 a.m. They have been using cover crops on more than 1,000 acres and can answer questions on:
- no-till and cover crops
- aerial-seeding cover crops
- planter setup for planting corn and soybeans into cover crops
Jeremy Gustafson, of Boone (central Iowa), from 2-5 p.m. He farms corn, soybeans and small grains close to the Farm Progress Show site and can answer questions on:
- using cover crops on heavy, wet soils
- summer cover crop mixtures
- planting soybeans into green rye
Sarah Carlson, Midwest cover crops research coordinator at Practical Farmers, and Meghan Filbert, livestock coordinator at PFI, will be available all day to answer questions about cover crops in crop and livestock systems.
On Wednesday, Aug. 31, meet with:
Nathan Anderson, of Cherokee (northwest Iowa), from 8-11 a.m. Nathan and his family raise corn, soybeans, cattle, small grains and hay. They have been using cover crops for more than four years and can answer questions on:
- grazing cover crops
- aerial seeding
- multi-species mixes
- making cover crops work with a corn-soybean rotation
Mark Peterson, of Stanton (southwest Iowa), will be at the booth throughout the day. Mark and his wife, Melanie, raise corn, soybeans and small grains on about 500 acres, and have been using cover crops for eight years. Mark can answer questions on:
- spring nitrogen program for corn following cereal rye cover crop
- drilling versus aerial-seeding with helicopters
- cover crop variety trial observations
Wade Dooley, of Albion (central Iowa), from 1-4 p.m. Wade and his father farm about 1,500 acres, raising corn, soybeans, cereal rye, alfalfa hay and pasture, as well as watermelons, squash and popcorn. Wade can answer questions on:
- grazing cover crops
- aerial- and drill-seeding cover crops
- making cover crops work with a corn-soybean rotation
Stefan Gailans, research and field crops director at Practical Farmers, will be available all day to answer questions on cover crops in crop production systems.
On Thursday, Sept. 1, meet with:
Dan Hayes, of Stanley, from 8-11 a.m. Dan raises asparagus and guinea fowl, and can talk about:
- the benefits of cover crops
- using cover crops after asparagus
- cover crops for home gardeners
Mark Peterson, of Stanton (southwest Iowa), from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mark can answer questions on:
- spring nitrogen program for corn following cereal rye
- cover crop drilling versus aerial-seeding with helicopters
- cover crop variety trial observations
Mark Schleisman, of Lake City, from 1-4 p.m. Mark farms more than 2,000 acres, using cover crops on at least 1,000 acres, and has a cow-calf operation. He can answer questions on:
- grazing cover crops
- aerial-, highboy- and drill-seeding cover crops
- making cover crops work with a corn-soybean-seed corn production system
Sally Worley, executive director of Practical Farmers, will be available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and can answer questions about Practical Farmers of Iowa.
For more information on cover crops, or the Practical Farmers of Iowa presence at the Farm Progress Show, contact Sarah Carlson at (515) 232-5661 or sarah@practicalfarmers.org.
More about Practical Farmers of Iowa
Practical Farmers of Iowa strengthens farms and communities through farmer-led investigation and information-sharing. Our values include: welcoming everyone; creativity, collaboration and community; viable farms now and for future generations; and stewardship and ecology. Founded in 1985, farmers in our network raise corn, soybeans, livestock, hay, fruits and vegetables, and more. To learn more, visit http://practicalfarmers.org.