Cover Crop Field Day to be held in Kouts

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Indiana farmers will have an opportunity to learn more about cover crops at a field day held by Purdue Extension and the Soil and Water Conservation District in Porter County. 

"Cover Crops Field Day" will be 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. CDT on March 29 at American Legion Post 301, 959 W. Indiana St., Kouts.

The meeting will cover topics such as soil health, specialty crop rotation, management and economics, weed control, pollinator protection and moisture management with cover crops. Along with several presentations there will be a panel of farmers discussing methods that work well for them.

Speakers are:

* Ashley Hammac, agronomist for Conservation Cropping Systems INitiative.

* Betsy Bower, certified crop adviser and agronomist for Ceres Solution.

* Travis Legleiter, weed science program specialist in the Purdue University Department of Botany and Plant Pathology.

* Eugene Matzat, Purdue Extension educator in LaPorte County.

"The speakers bring a range of expertise and will provide timely information about the benefits of cover crops used in northern Indiana cropping systems for soil health to agricultural producers, landowners and agribusinesses," Matzat said.

Participants will tour local cover crop fields, weather permitting. Hammac and Bower, along with local farmer Jim Kreiger, will dig into cover crop fields to examine roots, earthworms, soil structure and organic matter. Participants will also see specialized equipment for seeding cover crops.

Private Applicator Recertification Program credit, continuing certification hours for commercial applicators and continuing education for certified crop advisers have been approved for this meeting. Participants seeking PARP credit must attend the morning session from 9 a.m. to noon CDT and bring their private applicator license and $10 for the PARP fee.

Other sponsors include the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service and Farm Credit Mid-America.

There is no cost to attend this meeting, but registration is required. Lunch will be provided. To register, call the Porter County Extension Office at 219-465-3555 or the Porter County Soil and Water Conservation District office at 219-462-7515.

Writer: Megan Tarter, 765-496-6734, metarter@purdue.edu

Source: Eugene Matzat, 219-324-9407, ematzat@purdue.edu

Agricultural Communications: (765) 494-2722; 

Keith Robinson, robins89@purdue.edu
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