Iowa Learning Farms will be holding an educational event in early September.

The group will be at the Carl Varley Farm south of Stuart for an Establishing and Managing Prairie Field Day. Iowa Learning Farms is partnering with Science-Based Trials of Rowcrops Integrated with Prairie Strips (STRIPS) for a free cover crop event on September 10th from 10:30am to 12:30pm, which is open to farmers and landowners.

The event is aimed at assisting farmers and landowners with establishing perennial vegetation in STRIPS and Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) areas, which offer benefits like reducing soil erosion, building soil health, improving wildlife and pollinator habitats and beautifying the landscape. Iowa State University STRIPS Program Farmer Liaison Tim Youngquist will be on hand to share the results of over 15 years of research, as well as give practical recommendations on adding prairie strips to corn and soybean fields.

Host and Adair County Landowner Carl Varley, along with Hertz Farm Management representative Chris Smith will share advice on working with tenants to successfully incorporate adding prairies trips along with the benefits and challenges doing so can bring. Other speakers include Drake University Professor of Ecology and Botany Tom Rosburg, Carroll County farmer and Diversity Farms owner Jon Judson, and Pheasants Forever Farm Bill Biologist Nick Thompson.