AMES, Iowa — Iowa State University Research and Demonstration Farms field days begin June 5 with a demonstration of cover crops at the Horticulture Research Station near here.
“There has been a steady increase in the number of growers adopting cover crops in their production systems,” said Ajay Nair, assistant professor of horticulture. “This field day will discuss various cover crop establishment and termination techniques, along with information about strip tillage.”
He said sustainable and organic growers use very few or no chemicals to terminate cover crops, and roller crimping is a popular mechanical method, especially with rye. The field day will begin at 5 p.m. at the station, 55519 170th St., Ames.
Anyone is welcome to attend Iowa State field days, which take place rain or shine.
Topics of field days in the summer typically cover corn and soybean production, including insect and weed management, soil fertility, tillage systems, water quality, planting dates, crop population, manure management and value-added crops.
The June 24 field day at the Muscatine Island Research and Demonstration Farm, at 111 North St. in Fruitland, will include vegetable production topics. It will begin at 5:30 p.m. and includes a meal.
Also on June 24, the Northeast Research and Demonstration Farm field day will begin at 1 p.m. with refreshments served during the event. The research farm is located at 3321 290th St., Nashua; or 1.2 miles west of Nashua on Highway B60. After taking the Nashua exit off of Highway 27 (218), go one mile south on gravel (Windfall Avenue) and 0.2 miles east on 290th Street.
The Northwest Research and Demonstration Farm field day will take place at 9:30 a.m. June 25 with a meal for a charge. The farm is located at 6320 500th St., Sutherland; or 11 miles north of Cherokee on U.S. Highway 59 and a quarter mile east on County Road B-62.
The Northern Research and Demonstration Farm field day will begin at 9 a.m. June 26 with a meal afterwards. The farm is located at 310 S. Main St., immediately south of Kanawha on County Road R-35.
On June 26, the Southeast Research and Demonstration Farm field day will begin at 1 p.m. with refreshments served. The farm is located at 3115 Louisa-Washington Rd., Crawfordsville; or 1.75 miles south and 2 miles east of Crawfordsville on the Washington/Louisa county-line road.
The list of remaining field days scheduled for this year is available at: https://farms.cals.iastate.edu/research-farms-field-days-and-meetings.