AMES, Iowa – Organic growers and those with an in interest in transitioning to organic discovered research-based practices and practical farming solutions, along with information on the new Transitioning to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP), during four Field Days in Iowa this summer. These field days included a Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) Field Day, demonstrating organic no-till soybeans at A & W Farms, Cambridge, IA; an on-farm tour of organic corn varieties and weed management equipment at the Shriver Farm in Jefferson, Iowa; organic no-till black beans at the Rodale Midwest Organic Center in Marion, Iowa; and the long-term comparison of organic and conventional crop rotations at the ISU Neely-Kinyon Farm in Greenfield, Iowa.
TOPP Field Days ISU press release Final with Images
Midwest
Attachment
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Kathleen Delate
Extension Organic Specialist
ISU Extension and Outreach
515-294-7069
kdelate@iastate.edu
Transitioning to Organic Highlighted
at Iowa Summer Field Days
The Iowa State University (ISU) Organic Ag Program (OAP) and Midwest TOPP project were
main topics during on-farm and research station field days this summer
AMES, Iowa – Organic growers and those with an in interest in transitioning to organic discovered
research-based practices and practical farming solutions, along with information on the new
Transitioning to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP), during four Field Days in Iowa this summer.
These field days included a Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) Field Day, demonstrating organic no-till
soybeans at A & W Farms, Cambridge, IA; an on-farm tour of organic corn varieties and weed
management equipment at the Shriver Farm in Jefferson, Iowa; organic no-till black beans at the
Rodale Midwest Organic Center in Marion, Iowa; and the long-term comparison of organic and
conventional crop rotations at the ISU Neely-Kinyon Farm in Greenfield, Iowa.
Kathleen Delate, professor and organic specialist with Iowa State University Extension and
Outreach, and ISU program specialist, Josiah Pollock, met with many of the 256 total attendees
at these events, explaining Midwest TOPP project activities and encouraging sign-up as Mentors
or Mentees in the mentorship program. “We’re very encouraged to see the interest in organic
farming at these events,” Delate said. “Farmers are more interested because we are showing
the agronomic, economic and environmental benefits from the organic practices, especially in
light of climate change challenges.”
Included in Field Day research discussions were the latest corn hybrids from organic and nonGMO seed producers, Albert Lea/Blue River and Prairie Hybrids, on the Shriver Farm. Shriver
and his family farm 1,800 acres organically, using modern organic farming practices and weed
control. The family has been farming since 1867 and transitioned to organic in 1998. Shriver
hopes to be paired with an aspiring organic farmer in the Midwest TOPP mentorship program.
Partners that served as speakers at the
Field Days included plant breeders from
the Iowa State University Agronomy
Department and the United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA), a soil
scientist from the USDA – Agricultural
Research Service, National Lab for Ag and
the Environment, and organic farmers,
Noah Wendt, Caleb Akin and Scott Shriver.
Discussions included best practices for
organic corn, soybean, wheat and rye
production, including fertilizing and weed
management. Attendees also learned
about the benefits of using longer crop
rotations, and judicious manure
applications and cover crops, which has resulted in greater soil quality in organic fields at the
ISU Neely-Kinyon Farm.
Support for the OAP participation at these field days was through a grant from the Midwest
Organic Services Association (MOSA), the Midwest coordinator for the USDA-National Organic
Program TOPP project.
Photos:
Kathleen Delate and Josiah Pollock, Iowa State University Organic Ag Program, explain the TOPP
mentorship program and encourage field day participants to sign up as mentors or mentees.
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