Cover Crop Tour

Cover Crop Tour

July 31, 2009

Use of cover crops to improve soil fertility will be the major topic of an August 7 tour at the Dennis Demmel farm north of Grant in Perkins County.

The event will begin with registration at 1 p.m. and a program at 1:30 p.m. The tour is sponsored by the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Organic Crop Improvement Association, High Plains Chapter.

The use of cover crops in farming systems has gained considerable interest in recent years. This event will provide further information for no-tillers, conventional farmers, organic producers, and livestock managers.

The Demmel Farm is a fully certified organic operation supplying a variety of grains and seeds for the growing organic industry. Numerous tillage practices are used, including ridge till, mulch till, and no till. The tour will offer an opportunity to see how cover crops are used here, including how peas and oats are used and grazed in dryland programs and sweet clover and rye grass are used in irrigated crops.

Other topics and speakers will include:

  • Cover crops and grazing potential, Doug Anderson, Extension educator
  • Organic farming techniques and requirements
  • Irrigation scheduling technology and soil water sensors on the Demmel farm, Steve Melvin, Extension educator, irrigation

Location

The Demmel farm is 9 miles north of Grant and 1/2 mile west of Hwy 61 on Road 769. An evening meal will be available. For further information or to register for the meal call Claudia Stevenson at 308-352-4776, ext. 3.

 

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