Iowa Learning Farms and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will host a field day Wednesday, August 24 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30p.m. at Mark Kenney’s Farm near Nevada. The free event is open to farmers and landowners and includes a complimentary meal.

A project led by Mark Licht, extension cropping systems specialist and associate professor, Iowa State University, and funded by North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education, is working with Iowa farmers to convert marginal land areas prone to flooding to perennial vegetation to evaluate the profitability and explore the potential benefits to water quality, soil health, wildlife habitat and overall aesthetics.

The field day will begin with a demonstration of the Conservation Station rainfall simulator. Licht and farmer partner and host, Mark Kenney, will discuss the process of redefining the field edge from site selection to seeding and management. Adam Janke, Iowa State University extension wildlife specialist and associate professor, will highlight the wildlife research findings to date across the demonstration sites. Weather permitting, there will be a short tour of the perennial vegetation site following the complimentary meal.

The field day will be held at the Kenney Farm, 16738 650^th Ave, Nevada. From Nevada, head east on IA-930 E/East Lincoln Way for about 2 miles. Turn left to head north on 650^th Avenue for about 6 miles The farm is located on the east side of the road and field day signs will mark the driveway to enter.

The event is free and open to farmers and landowners, though we require reservations to ensure adequate space and food. For reasonable accommodations and to RSVP please contact Liz Ripley at 515-294-5429 or ilf@iastate.edu.  Attendees will be entered in a drawing for ISU Prairie Strips honey.

Iowa Learning Farms field days and workshops are supported by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. For more information about Iowa Learning Farms, visit www.iowalearningfarms.org.