Three crops in two years being explored
Iowa State University’s Dr. Matt Helmers (left) examines a clod of soil from no-till corn stubble ground where winter cereal rye was growing. Looking on is Iowa State agronomist Gentry Sorenson (second from right) and local farmer Jay Lynch (right). Lynch has been a longtime practitioner of reduced tillage and cover crops. “They improve both the topsoil and subsoil and increase the soil’s fertility and nutrient makeup,” Lynch said. Humboldt Independent photo by Kent Thompson.
By KENT THOMPSON
In the past 33 years, researchers at the Gilmore City Water Drainage and Research Farm located west of Gilmore City, have learned a lot, according to experts at Iowa State University.
On an extremely windy day in mid-November ISU educators hosted a field day at the Faith United Methodist Church in Gilmore City where discussions about intercropping and acceptable cover crops took place.
After lunch, attendees traveled to the drainage water research and demonstration farm located in western Pocahontas County, directly west of the Martin Marietta – Moore Quarry on 510th Street.
“Our goal is to harvest three crops (rye, beans and corn) off this ground over a two-year period,” Helmers said.
One of the benefits of drilling cereal rye in the fall is the soil erosion benefits it provides.
Researchers are not only interested in the soil, plant and other agronomic benefits, but in seeing how this new practice could influence social and cultural effects of farming.
Read the full story and see other photos in this week's Humboldt Independent, celebrating January as Corn Month.
