March 19, 2024

Cover crop tour planned

Clarke County and Decatur County Farm Bureaus have teamed up to bring the public a cover crop and soil health field tour and meeting, Monday, Sept. 15.

The tour will begin 4 p.m. on the border of Clarke and Decatur counties in Warren Keeler’s field of north of Sport Wade Inc. on Highway 69, north of Van Wert. Then, the meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Van Wert Community Center with a meal provided. RSVP would be appreciated (but not required) by Sept. 8. Call Decatur SWCD at 641-446-4135 ext. 3.

The line up of speakers is as follows:

Dave Brandt, a nationally-known cover crop expert with years of experience using cocktail mixes

Steve McGrew, a southwest Iowa producer seasoned on the benefits of cover crops

Colten Catterton, Green Cover Seeds, Masters in Cover Crops with an emphasis on grazing

Paul Ackley, Practical Farmers of Iowa

Mark Zucco, soil scientist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service will discuss soil health and other local producers sharing their experiences with cover crops.

This meeting is only possible with the cooperation of the sponsors — sponsored by the Clarke and Decatur Farm Bureaus through a SHARE Grant with key partners — Clarke, Decatur, Lucas and Wayne Soil and Water Conservation Districts, The Natural Resource Conservation Service, Practical Farmers of Iowa, The Iowa State University Extension, Rathbun Land and Water Alliance, Green Cover Seeds and Warren Keeler.