Jim O’Connell and his son, Casey, specialize in corn and soybeans at O’Connell Farms in Linn County, Iowa. For the past 17 years, Jim has planted cover crops green into both corn and beans on all his acres. His farming practices are focused on reducing nitrates from water that leaves his land. He uses a…
The popular Fencing and Grazing Clinic will return on Aug. 11 in Marion. Beef producers are invited to the hands-on clinic, which addresses one of the biggest challenges in implementing any grazing system: infrastructure. Program schedule 8:30 a.m. – Welcome 9 a.m. – Breakout sessions: New Tools in Fencing/Building Your Paddocks Noon – Lunch…
Flyer for Heartland float day Date: August 13th LCWMA Float Trip Field Day 9:30 a.m. – Meet at Rochester Park to shuttle to Cedar Valley Park (cars will be left at Rochester Park) 10 a.m. – Launch at Cedar Valley Park 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. – 4-hour float with time for lunch on a…
Nicole Vernon grew up on Monck Farms, a 700-acre corn and soybean farm near Monticello, Iowa, where her parents emphasized sustainable farming and conservation practices. While at Iowa State University, Nicole bought her own 100-acre farm, raising corn, soybeans and cattle. She uses no-till and cover crops, and has restored prairie and wetlands. She has…
Justin Wehling began farming in 2023 with a conventional approach. He is now making small changes and trialing different practices to improve the soil health on his land. Justin moved to no-till and is experimenting with roller-crimping. He is part of PFI’s N Rate Risk Protection Program to try to reduce his inputs. He is…
Brian Keehner’s goal of adding diversity to his 820 acres of crop fields began when he took over the family farm in 2012. He is constantly trialing new approaches, like frost-seeding, to find the best practices for his farm. Brian plants rye on every acre in the fall and has trialed planting cover crops into that rye…