Iowa Learning Farms will host a webinar at noon April 15 exploring opportunities to convert marginal farmland to native perennial vegetation and gaining the associated benefits.

This presentation will explore the promise and opportunities for taking unprofitable areas out of production and converting them to native perennial vegetation. Adam Janke, an assistant professor and Extension wildlife specialist at Iowa State University, will explore where these areas are found in crop fields, what to do with them once they’re found, and how water and wildlife can benefit from this conservation practice.

Janke studies wildlife habitat relationships in working landscapes, with a specific focus on how wildlife use water quality conservation practices.

Unprofitable areas

A large team of ISU educators have been working on this interdisciplinary project to describe the benefits of redefining the field edge. There are promising outcomes for farmers when unprofitable field areas are taken out of production and instead situated to grow soil and wildlife and provide clean surface waters.

“I hope that participants will see the opportunity for redefining the field edge on their own farms, or farms they have influence over, and take the practice there and try it out,” Janke says.

To participate in the live webinar, shortly before noon April 15, go to iastate.zoom.us/j/364284172. Or go to iastate.zoom.us/join and enter meeting ID: 364 284 172. Or join from a phone at 312-626-6799 and use meeting ID 364 284 172.

The webinar will also be recorded and archived on the ILF website, so it can be watched any time. Archived webinars are at iowalearningfarms.org/page/webinars.

Earn CCA credits

A certified crop adviser board-approved continuing education unit has been applied for, for people who are able to participate in the live webinar. Information about how to apply to receive the credit (if approved) will be provided at the end of the live webinar.

Source: ISU, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content in this information asset.