PIERCETON — Knowledge on the benefits and management of cover crops continues to grow.  To learn the latest on this important topic and to see extensive field plots, plan on attending a Cover Crop Field Day from 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 20, at the JA Scott Farm, 6281 E Van Ness Road, Pierceton.  Registration is needed and can be done online.

The on-site cover crop field plots will include 55 single species and 30 mixes.  These plots will offer one of the most extensive visuals of cover crop varieties in a field setting, as well as, a discussion on species selection for a variety of goals and field conditions.  Several speakers will address cover crop selection, benefits, and management. 

Jamie Scott is part of a local family farm that has been using cover crops for several years and has held workshops and field demonstrations annually since 2010.  Through Scott’s Cover Crops, he also coordinates aerial seeding of over 100,000 acres of cover crops in Michigan and Indiana.

Blake Vince, a 5th generation farmer from Merlin, Ontario serves as a director of the Innovative Farmers Association of Ontario.  As a Nuffield Scholar, he has travelled extensively through North and South America, learning about the challenges and benefits of adopting a soil health system.

Dave Goracke is a representative of the Oregon Ryegrass Growers Seed Commission and farms 3000 acres in the Wallamette Valley, the “grass seed capital of the world.”  His farm has been engaged in a number of research projects with Oregon State University.

Ron Althoff, an agronomist, joined Saddle butte Ag in 2000 for the opportunity to purse his passion of improving the quality of soil and water, while reducing erosion. 

Cameron Milles farms in Walton and began adopting cover crops on his 3500 acre farm after attending the 2005 National No-Till Conference.  His extensive on-farm trials include cover crop mixes, interseeding nitrogen rates/timing, and the effects of herbicides on cover crop establishment. 

This field day is being sponsored by the Kosciusko County Soil and Water Conservation District, Conservation Cropping Systems Initiative, Clean Water Indiana and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

For additional information, call the SWCD office at (574) 267-7445 x3 or go to the SWCD website.