AMES, IOWA—Iowa Learning Farms, along with Science-Based-Trials-of-Rowcrops-Integrated-with-Prairie-Strips (STRIPS), Jackson County Conservation Board, and the Sand County Foundation will host a prairie strips field day on Wednesday, July, 27th from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Gossman Farm near Zwingle. The event is free and open to the whole family and includes a complimentary meal and a prairie walk.

The field day will include Jackson County landowner David Gossman.  David owns 670 acres in Jackson County, 220 of those acres are in a corn/soybean rotation.  He is a prairie reconstruction pioneer, establishing many patches of prairie on his farm starting in 1996, including several prairie strips.  David also harvests timber from his farm that is available through his business, Timber Farm Products.  Wood is sold online and at his storefront in downtown Maquoketa.  David will share advice for successfully adding prairie strips as well as discussing how he has overcome challenges and how to create seed mixes for prairie reconstructions.

The field day agenda will continue with Tim Youngquist, Iowa State University STRIPS program farmer liaison. He will share results from over 15 years of research on prairie strips as well as practical recommendations for how to add prairie strips to corn and soybean fields.  Liz Ripley, Iowa Learning Farms conservation and cover crop outreach specialist, will share a demonstration of the Conservation Station rainfall simulator.  Jessica Wagner, Jackson County Conservation Board environmental education coordinator, will discuss projects happening in Jackson County.  Craig Ficenec, Sand County Foundation program director, will be on hand to give an update on conservation efforts in southwest Wisconsin and beyond.  Andrew Waldo will be available to discuss opportunities available to farmers/landowners through the nearby Dubuque County Buffer Initiative.

The field day will be held at the Gossman Farm, 19502 159^th Ave, Zwingle. The workshop is free and open to the whole family, but reservations are suggested to ensure adequate space and food. Please RSVP to Tim Youngquist at 712-269-0592 or timyoung@iastate.edu.

About Iowa Learning Farms:

Established in 2004, Iowa Learning Farms is building a Culture of Conservation by encouraging adoption of conservation practices. Farmers, researchers and ILF team members are working together to identify and implement the best management practices that improve water quality and soil health while remaining profitable. Partners of Iowa Learning Farms include the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Iowa Department of Natural Resources, EPA Section 319 Grant Program and GROWMARK, Inc.

Contact

Tim Youngquist                                                                   Liz Ripley

STRIPS Farmer Liaison                                                      ILF Conservation and Cover Crops Outreach Specialist

timyoung@iastate.edu                                                   ejuchems@iastate.edu

712-269-0592                                                                       515-294-5429