Below is a listing of upcoming conservation field days around the state. For a complete listing of future conservation field days, click here.  

Upcoming Field Days

Cover Crop and Grazing Field Day 

Tuesday, April 4 (10:30am-12:30pm)

Blair Farm 

3531 Paragon Ave. Dayton, IA 50530

Iowa Learning Farms will host a cover crop and grazing field day Tuesday, April 4 from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at AJ and Kellie Blair’s Farm near Dayton. The free event is open to farmers and landowners and includes a complimentary meal.

Cover crops offer many benefits to farmers and landowners including reduced soil erosion, weed suppression potential, reduced nitrogen and phosphorus loads entering water bodies, and increased organic matter in the soil. When paired with grazing, cover crops add an additional food source to cattle or other animals on the farm.

AJ and Kellie Blair, Iowa Learning Farms farmer partners, will share their experiences with cover crops and grazing beef cattle. Angie Rieck-Hinz, field agronomist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, will discuss termination of cover crops after grazing and methods to terminate if not grazing. Russ Euken, beef specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach, will speak about grazing beef on cover crops.

The field day will be held at the Blair Farm, 3531 Paragon Avenue, Dayton, IA 50530. From Dayton, head west on IA-175 then turn right to go north on Paragon Avenue for about 1 mile. The farm is located on the west side of the road and field day signs will mark the driveway to enter.

For more information and to rsvp, click here.


Iowa Learning Farms Conservation Webinar 

Wednesday, April 5 (12pm) 

Live Webinar 

The Iowa Learning Farms will be hosting a live webinar featuring Melissa O’Rourke with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

For more information, click here.


Conservation Planning and Cover Crop Field Day 

Wednesday, April 5 (12pm-2pm)

Bormann Farm 

1307 130th Ave. Bode, IA 50519 

Iowa Learning Farms will host a cover crop and grazing field day Wednesday, April 5 from 12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. at Matt and Nancy Bormann’s Farm near Bode. The free event is open to farmers and landowners and includes a complimentary meal.

Matt and Nancy Bohl-Bormann, Iowa Learning Farms farmer partners, will share their experiences with cover crops and whole farm conservation. Angie Rieck-Hinz, field agronomist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, will discuss different conservation practices and how to work those into leases. Ann Johanns, program specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach, will speak about planning for conservation leases and the Ag Decision Maker. Brian Tumey, soil conservationist with NRCS in Algona, will present the rainfall simulator highlighting rainfall on different soil management effects.

The field day will be held at the Bormann Farm, 1307 130th Ave, Bode, IA 50519. From Algona, travel 6 miles south on Hwy 169. Turn east on blacktop B58 (150th St.) for 1 mile and travel south 1 mile on 130th Avenue. The farm is on the west side of the road.  

For more information and to rsvp, click here.


Iowa Learning Farms Conservation Webinar 

Wednesday, April 12 (12pm) 

Live Webinar 

The Iowa Learning Farms will be hosting a live webinar featuring Gabriel Johnson with Iowa State University. 

For more information, click here. 


Soil Health Field Day: Specialty Crop Producers 

Wednesday, April 12 (1pm-3pm)

Dogpatch Urban Gardens 

5085 Meredith Dr., Des Moines, IA 50310 

Learn about soil health through live demonstrations on how neglected and healthy soils respond differently. There will be discussion on best practices and small-scale financial resources that are available to help make your soil healthier. 

For more information and to rsvp, click here by April 5.