Get Cover Crop Tips from Experienced Farmers At Iowa Power Farming Show

The need for practical, proven cover crop management tips is growing as rapidly as the growth in Iowa cover crop acres.  Learn how Corn Belt crop and livestock producers successfully use cover crops to reduce erosion, improve soil health, maximize nutrient efficiency and provide forage resources during three days of cover crop workshops and exhibits at the Iowa Power Farming Show, Jan. 28-30 in Des Moines.

Free with admission to the show, the one-hour concurrent sessions will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday. The noon session “Optimizing Production Risk with Cover Crops Makes Managing Market Risk Easier” will feature grain marketing analyst Elaine Kub. Other speakers include experienced Iowa farmers like Tim Smith, Steve Berger and Chris Gaesser.

Core topics offered in both morning and afternoon sessions include:

• Selecting cover crops
• Five popular seeding methods
• How and when to terminate cover crops
• Making cover crops work in your livestock operation

These additional topics will also be offered:

• Why farmers are using cover crops to reduce erosion, manage nutrients and enhance water quality.
• How aerial and high-clearance seeding into standing corn and soybeans gives cover crops more time to catch rains, germinate and grow versus. Waiting later to drill, plant or ground apply.
• Trouble-shooting management ideas
• Radish, rye and ryegrass: What you need to know about these three popular cover crops.

CCAs may receive up to 46 continuing education unit credits for attending the Cover Crop Workshop sessions: Nutrient Management, 6; Soil & Water Management, 32; and Crop Management, 8. 


For more details and to view a session schedule go to www.cdiowa.org.

Cover Crop Workshop financial supporters and contributors include DuPont Pioneer, Saddle Butte Ag, Kimberley Ag Consulting, KB Seed Solutions and GS3 Quality Seed, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Pork Producers Association and the Oregon Ryegrass Growers Seed Commission.