JULY 20 NORTHEAST IOWA
Organic Gardening Field Day - Dubuque Area Shared Visions
group
Rita Engelken, 2478 135th St., Greeley 52050
319-925-2962
Demonstrations: a one-acre organic garden that includes a
wide variety of vegetables and fruits. Mrs. Engelken will
describe methods for growing organically and demonstrate
various home food preparation techniques, such as grinding
wheat for homemade breads.
1:30 P.M. Where Hwy 38 turns at the N. edge of Greeley, go
3 blocks N. on Nature Road to 135th St., then E. 2 miles.=20
House and trailer house on S. side, feedlot on N. Look for
Barrington Hall Farm sign.
JULY 30 NORTHEAST IOWA
Jeff Klinge and Deb Tidwell, RR 1, Box 101, Farmersburg, IA =20
52047
(319) 536-2314
Resource person: Kris Giles, ISU Entomology Dept.
Jeff and Deb run a 700-800-head-per-year feeding operation
for holstein steers. About two-thirds of their 300 acres is
in corn, with the remainder alfalfa.
Demonstrations: managing alfalfa weevil and potato
leafhopper with field scouting, cultural practices, and
biological controls (with ISU Entomology), barley as a
short-term feed source.
10:00 A.M. From the intersection of Hwys 13 and 52, go
southwest on 52. First farm, NW side of road.
Dan Specht, RR 1, McGregor 52157
(319) 873-3873
The farm includes 180 acres of organically certified crop
land devoted to pasture, corn, barley, and hay. Eighty
holstein heifers are rotationally grazed. An additional 80
acres is wooded.
Demonstrations: management-intensive grazing in 1) released
CRP, 2) warm season grasses, and 3) berseem clover following
small grains harvest, native prairie legumes with grazing
potential, berseem clover vs. Nitro alfalfa as N source for
corn (1st year), corn raised without herbicides by using a
rye cover crop.
12:00 P.M. From the west side of Marquette, take Hwy B-45
(Pleasant Ridge Rd.) W. 2 miles. From Monona, take B-45 E.
10 miles. At PFI sign, take long lane to S.
LIGHT LUNCH SERVED
JULY 31 NORTHEAST IOWA
Robert and Mary Jane Recker, 1260 Falcon Trail, Alta Vista,
IA 50603 =20
(515) 364-6952
The 330-acre farm includes 200 acres of pasture and hay.=20
The Reckers rotationally graze both a 300-head stocker herd
and 200 broilers (and some laying hens). They have
developed a brochure and their own state-approved label for
marketing packaged beef and chicken.
Demonstrations: planned grazing of cattle and chickens,
methods of marketing to the consumer.
1:30 P.M. 1 mile W. of Alta Vista on blacktop, 2 miles S.
on gravel, at "T" go =BD mile W., then =BD mile N. E. side, 2
silos.
Tom and Irene Frantzen, 1155 Jasper Ave., New Hampton =20
50659
(515) 364-6426
With support from PFI Sustainable Projects and the Organic
Farming Research Foundation. In cooperation with University
of Northern Iowa (Laura Jackson and Judy Krebsbach) and ISU
Agronomy.
The Frantzens raise cattle, hogs, corn, soybeans, oats,
forages, and alternative crops on 335 acres, of which 85 is
rented. They have practiced holistic resource management
since 1992.
Demonstrations: farm decisions tested against a three-part
goal, appropriate land use, alternative feeding practices
for swine, economic evaluation of pasture farrowing, planter
band vs. postemerge band vs. mechanical weed control in
corn, japanese millet as short-term hay source, three-crop
and four-crop narrow strip intercropping, high lysine corn
for swine feed, grazing maize for yearling cattle, palaton
reed canary grass for permanent pasture, establishing
warm-season grasses for grazing (second year, with Laura
Jackson, UNI), expanded underground pasture watering system,
multipurpose shelterbelt trees in a pasture-farrowing
system, establishment methods for hazelnut nut production
(with Sustainable Projects and OFRF), streambank management
project (with Judy Krebsbach).
4:00 P.M. 3 miles E. of Alta Vista on B-22 (110th St.), =BD
mile S. on Jasper Ave. W. side.
AMARANTH PANCAKE AND SAUSAGE FEED - in cooperation with New
Hampton FFA
AUG 1 NORTHEAST IOWA
Mike Natvig, 20074 Timber Ave., Cresco 52136
(319) 569-8358
In cooperation with University of Northern Iowa (Laura
Jackson). With support from the Organic Farming Research
Foundation (OFRF).
With his parents Godfrey and Theodora, Mike farms 250 acres
of corn, soybeans, oats and hay. The Natvigs
farrow-to-finish about 700 hogs per year on pasture. Their
beef herd of 33 cows has been in an intensive rotational
grazing system since 1988. The pastures are dotted with
mature trees from what originally was prairie-oak savannah.=20
The Natvigs recently established a windbreak, a new farm
pond, and a native prairie planting.
Demonstrations: management-intensive rotational grazing for
gestating sows and for a cow-calf herd, establishment
methods for a hazelnut windbreak/nut production operation
(with OFRF), managing native plants for grazing, re-creating
the historical plant community of oak-savannah (with UNI),
livestock traffic to incorporate seed.
1:00 P.M. From Protivin take V-58 (Willow Ave.) 1+ miles
north and west. Where highway turns north again, continue
W. 3 miles on 200th St. S. side, at intersection of 200th
and Timber Ave.
AUG 5 NORTH-CENTRAL IOWA
Doug Alert and Margaret Smith, 972 110th St., Hampton =20
50441
(515) 456-4328
Doug and Margaret raise corn, beans, oats, forages, and
cattle on 280 acres.
Demonstrations: management-intensive rotational grazing for
an RX-3 cow-calf herd, perimeter and subdivision fencing,
watering system using buried and surface lines, forage
selection for pasture in a crop rotation.
7:00 P.M. From Hampton: 4 miles S. of Hwy 3 on Hwy 65, 6=BC
miles W. on gravel. N. side. From Dows exit of I-35: 5
miles E. to stop sign, 1 mile N. on pavement to 110th St.,
E. 1 3/4 miles. N. side.
AUG 8 EAST-CENTRAL IOWA
David and Lisa Lubben, 24539 Hwy 38, Monticello 52310
(319) 465-4717
With assistance from Tony Harvey, Extension livestock field
specialist.
About half of the 1,200 acres the Lubbens farm is devoted to
row crops. The remainder grows alfalfa hay or bromegrass
for pasture. Intensive rotational grazing is used with the
100 stock cows, and the Lubbens run a 250-head feedlot for
finishing.
Demonstrations: corn nitrogen management on manured soil,
corn =B1 the Bt gene, =B1 "beaver tail" seed firmers in
conventionally planted corn, a long-distance,
up-and-down-hill buried water system for summer grazing.
10:00-12:00 A.M. From Monticello, 3 miles N. on Hwy 38.=20
3rd house (look for PFI sign).
REFRESHMENTS SERVED
AUG 13 NORTHEAST IOWA
Ray and Marj Stonecypher, 1321 March Ave., Floyd 50435
(515) 398-2417
Tony and Kelly Stonecypher, 2141 130th St., Floyd 50435
(515) 398-2356
Five hundred acres of Ray and Marj Stonecypher's farms are
in 3-year and 2-year rotations. They farrow-to-finish about
700 hogs at their home farm and are in their third year of
rotationally grazing beef cows and yearling calves on Ray's
father's home farm at 1052 River Bend Rd. (off 105th St.)
overlooking the Cedar River. Their son and daughter-in-law
Tony and Kelly are on their third year of a seasonal,
grass-based dairy operation on 160 acres nearby.
Demonstrations: a self-propelled watering fountain for under
$100, nitrogen rates for corn on unmanured soil, seasonal
dairy of Jersey cows using intensive rotational grazing,
white clover frost seeding, grazing dry cows on released CRP
acres.
1:30 P.M. From Floyd 3 miles W. on Hwy 18, 5=BD miles N. on
T-38 (Lancer Ave.), 1=BC mile E. on 105th St. to big white
house straight ahead (turn in 2nd driveway on right).=20
Followed by car caravan to dairy about 3:00.
AUG 15 SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA
Mark and Julie Roose, 1504 133rd St., Pella 50219
(515) 625-4227
The Rooses farm 315 acres (235 tillable), raising corn,
soybeans, oats, hay, and (on set-aside land) plowdown hairy
vetch. They have a 50-sow farrow-to-finish operation and a
250-head feedlot.
Demonstrations: managing alfalfa weevil and potato
leafhopper with field scouting, cultural practices, and
biological controls, 20 acres of corn and soybeans in 8-row
strips, composting feedlot manure.
9:30 A.M. From Sully exit (#173) of I-80, take Hwy T22 S.
and Hwy F62 E. to Sully. From =BC mile E. of Sully, go S. on
Hwy T33 8-9 miles (through Peoria) to Hwy 102. 1 mile E. on
102 to 1st gravel, 1 mile N. on gravel. Gold (2nd) house on
E. side.
Russ and Sheri Hughes, 5144 40th St., Searsboro 50242
(515) 593-6378
Russ and Sheri have divided a series of pastures for three
grazing operations. They also raise hogs and row crops on
650 acres.
Demonstrations: reseeding winterkilled pasture, fall
management to minimize winterkill, 60-acre pasture divided
into 19 paddocks for a 50-unit cow-calf herd, 110 yearlings
on 80 acres of grass, permanent fence plus polywire for
flexible fencing, in-field water from "dug-outs," a 7-row
farmstead windbreak.
1:30 P.M. From the Grinnell exit (#182) of I-80, Go S. 9
miles on Hwy 146 to Searsboro. At "Y" stop in town, turn
left, cross overpass bridge, then immediately take gravel S.
1=BD miles. At hill top pull into gravel road on W.
AUG 23 NORTHWEST IOWA
Colin and Carla Wilson, Dan and Lorna Wilson, 5482 450th
St., Paullina 51046
(712) 448-2708
Resource people: Mark Honeyman, Director of ISU Outlying
Research Farms; Nolan Jungclaus, Swedish-style system hog
producer.
The Wilsons farm 800 acres of corn, soybeans, barley, and
hay. They farrow 2,400 hogs a year, half of which are
farrowed on pasture. Seventy-five percent of the hogs are
custom finished by a neighbor, and the rest by the Wilsons.=20
They are experimenting with the Tamworth breed in their
cross breeding program.
Demonstrations: a Swedish-style, deep-bedded farrowing and
nursery building, barley-based vs. corn-based rations for
growing and finishing pigs (results of two years), fencing
and homemade equipment for pasture hogs, mobile coop for 4-H
project range broilers.
10:00 A.M. From Paullina, go 1 mile W. on Hwy 10, 1 mile N.
on Polk Ave., =BC mile W. North side, red buildings, white
house (Colin and Carla's).
LIGHT LUNCH SERVED
Paul and Karen Mugge, 6190 470th St., Sutherland 51058
(712) 446-2414
The Mugges raise corn, soybeans, and some oats on their 320
acres of land. They also take part in a networked
farrow-to-finish hog operation.
Demonstrations: field cropping vs. narrow strip
intercropping (corn-beans-oats and corn-soybeans), practices
to prevent rootworm migration in strip intercropping (with
South Dakota State University), economics of crop rotations,
=B1 deep-banded P & K in corn, =B1 pell lime with deep banded P
& K, a preplant brassica "smother crop" for soybeans,
growing soybeans for a specialty market.
1:30 P.M. Hwy 10, 3 miles W. of Sutherland, N. side.
AUG 29 SOUTHWEST IOWA
Ron and Maria Rosmann and sons, 1222 Ironwood Rd., Harlan,
51537
(712) 627-4653
Resource people: Charles Brummer, ISU forage breeder; Kris
Giles, ISU Entomology Dept.
(With support from Nelson Farm Supply)
The Rosmanns raise oats, corn, soybeans, rye, turnips,
barley, alfalfa and pasture on their 480-acre farm.=20
Three-fourths of the acres are certified organic; the rest
are in transition. The Rosmanns farrow 1,000 Tamworth-cross
hogs annually, with some sold as feeder pigs, and they
operate a cow-calf herd of 65 cows. They also raise
broilers and operate a small nursery featuring
container-grown and field-grown trees, all for local sales.
Demonstrations: grazing for a cow-calf herd using cool
season and warm season grasses, turnips and other short-term
forages in a 22-paddock system (with ISU Agronomy), corn
borer management using scouting and biological control (with
ISU Entomology), alfalfa in hog finishing rations,
clear-hilum and natto specialty organic soybeans, corn
hybrid comparison, tree nursery.
1:00 P.M. rain or shine From intersection of Hwy 59 and 44
in Harlan, 2 miles W. on Hwy 44, then N. 2 miles on
Ironwood Rd., W. side.
Vic and Cindy Madsen, 2186 Goldfinch Ave., Audubon 50025
(712) 563-3044
The Madsens raise corn and soybeans and finish hogs on their
farm of 400 acres.
Demonstrations: one year's experience with "hoophouse"
system for hog production, planned grazing of sheep, barley
as short-term supplement for hog rations, nitrogen
management for corn on manured soil.
4:30 P.M. From Audubon Co-op, go past the hospital 1 mile
S. and 2 miles W. Turn S. on N-16 and go 3/4 mile, E. side.
LIGHT SUPPER SERVED
SEPT 5 CENTRAL IOWA rain or shine
Richard and Sharon Thompson, 2035 190th St., Boone =20
50036-7423
(515) 432-1560
Resource people: Doug Buhler and Keith Kohler, National Soil
Tilth Laboratory; Joe Colletti, ISU Forestry Dept.; Mark
Honeyman, ISU Outlying Research Farms.
The 300-acre farm is chiefly in 5-year and 6-year rotations.=20
The farm also supports a beef cow-calf and farrow-to-finish
hog operation. Most of the crop land is devoted to on-farm
research.
Demonstrations: new concrete sow feeders, new A-frame isolit
farrowing house, new windbreak planting of austrees, new
double-throw Buffalo cultivator, concrete pen dividers for
swine, two kinds of hog feeders, swine and beef production
without routine antibiotics, manure and biosolids storage,
modified walk-through fly trap with oilers and dusters,
intensive grazing pasture walk, seven-treatment weed study,
manuring practices study.
2:00 P.M. until dark following ISU Agronomy Day Hwy 30 to
Hwy 17. Take Hwy 17 N. about 4 miles to Hwy E-26. Go E. 1=BD
miles. N. side, two silos.
EVENING SNACK PROVIDED
SEPT 10 WESTERN IOWA
David and Lynn Zahrt, Reese Homestead LTD., RR 1, Box 53,
Turin 51059
712-353-6772
In cooperation with Richard DeLoughery, ISU Extension.
The Zahrts crop 90 acres of Missouri River bottomland and
graze 34 cow-calf units on 160 acres of cedar-covered loess
bluff. They have received support from the USDA SARE
Producer Grant program to help establish a water system for
the 11-paddock grazing operation. Previously stock had to
walk as much as a mile for water. David and Lynn also run a
bed and breakfast.
Demonstrations: running water lines up and down hill to
paddocks, recovering little bluestem prairie from cedar,
establishing reed canarygrass in an old riverbed,
photography to document farm changes.
4:30 P.M. From the Onawa (#112) exit of I-29, go E. 10
miles on Hwy 175, 1 mile N. on Larpenteur Rd. Third house
on E. side. Bed-and-breakfast sign.
SEPT 18 NORTHEAST IOWA
Matt and Diana Stewart, 15434 25th St., Oelwein 50662
(319) 283-1337
In cooperation with University of Northern Iowa (Laura
Jackson and Judy Krebsbach), and Northeast Iowa
Demonstration Project (John Rodecap).
Two hundred acres of the 380-acre farm is in grass, the rest
is in corn and alfalfa. The 100-cow registered Holstein
herd and 100 of the 140 heifers are on pasture. The
Stewarts are working to combine traditional and seasonal
dairying, drying out cows the winter before they calve,
optimizing forage quality through grazing, and focusing on
the bottom line.
Demonstrations: strategies for late summer and fall grazing,
season of calving study (with John Rodecap), pasture
recovery from orchardgrass winterkill through diversity, new
seedlings and rotational grazing, pasture mix changes over
time, survey of birds in a 1995 pasture biodiversity
planting (with Judy Krebsbach), grazing warm season grasses
(with UNI), pasture improvement through planned grazing,
rate of gain on rotational grazing for holstein steers.
1:00 P.M. From Oelwein, 1 mile S. on Hwy W-19 (Outer Rd.).=20
NE corner of W-19 and 25th St.
SEPT 20 SOUTHEAST IOWA
Rufus Musser III, RR 1, Milton 52570
(515) 656-4663
The farm raises about 70 acres of crops in rotation, with
another 60 acre in permanent pasture or woodland. Forty
animals are milked out of the 80-head dairy herd, with dry
cows and heifers following the milkers in the grazing
rotation.
Demonstration: bringing together grazing and conventional
dairying.
10:00 A.M. 3/10 mile S. of Milton on Hwy 15. First farm W.
side.
John and Pam Cowles, RR 2, Box 90, Bloomfield 52537
(515) 675-3414
The Cowles' have 180 acres in permanent pasture, with
another 370 acres in crop rotation. Seventy acres of the
pasture is used by a Jersey dairy herd. The Cowles
renovated a barn on their home place to begin milking cows
in 1995. They describe the farm as in transition from row
crop and beef cow production to dairy utilizing old
permanent pasture and new seeding alfalfa.
Demonstrations: grass-based dairy, double-four
herringbone-style milking parlor, renovation of a
100-year-old barn, intensive grazing management setup using
permanent fencing, two ponds with a pump, hydrants and
temporary lines .
1:00 P.M. From Bloomfield, 6=BD miles E. on Hwy 2. From
Milton, 8=BD miles W. on Hwy 2. At "IMO Camp" sign on Hwy 2,
take gravel S. 1=BD miles. E. side.
LIGHT LUNCH SERVED
SEPT 21 SOUTHWEST IOWA
Kenneth Rosmann, 1240 Ironwood Rd., Harlan 51537 =20
(712) 627-4217
In cooperation with Heartland Organic Co-op and ISU
Extension.
The 510 acre farm has been in transition to organic
production since 1983 and was certified organic in 1991.=20
Crop land is in a five-year rotation. The 70-unit cow-calf
herd rotationally grazes in a 12-paddock system.
Demonstrations: purchased poultry manure vs. on-farm cattle
manure for corn production (with ISU Extension), =B1 a mined
potassium/calcium carbonate for corn nutrient needs (with
ISU Extension), specialty soybeans (large-seeded, natto,
tofu), diversified farming.
3:00 P.M. (following Heartland meeting) From intersection
of Hwy 59 and 44 in Harlan, 2 miles W. on Hwy 44, then N. 2 3/4
miles on Ironwood Rd., W. side, long driveway.
SEPT 22 SOUTHWEST IOWA
Pasture Walk - Audubon Graziers Shared Visions group
Scott Alt, 1283 J. Ave., Audubon 50025
712-563-2464
Demonstrations: end of season pasture walk showing results
of first year of rotational grazing on 90-acre pasture that
had previously been in continuous grazing.
5:00 P.M. At Landmands Bank on Hwy 71 in Audubon, go E. 2=BD
miles. N. side. Look for large white granary and small
machine shed.
****************************************************************************
Rick (Derrick N.) Exner
PFI Farming Systems Coordinator
ISU Extension
Practical Farmers of Iowa
2104 Agronomy Hall, ISU, Ames, IA 50011
(515) 294-1923, -9985 fax