The Illinois Soybean Association Agronomy team is hosting a Field Talk this Friday (September 8th) on the topics of cover crop and nitrogen management. Sponsored by Vermilion County Soil & Water District, American Farmland Trust, ProHarvest Seeds, and Jim Isermann with Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership, this event will explain the 1st year of a multiyear study pertaining to legume cover crop after wheat and nitrogen management. The study aims to assess the cost, return on investment, and average yield of this multiyear legume cover crop and nitrogen management strategy.

Hosted at David Olson’s farm in Hoopeston, he will explain how he alleviated the issue of rising nitrogen bills by implementing legume cover crops on his farm to produce nitrogen after wheat harvest.

Agenda:

9am – 9:30am – On-Farm Research of Legumes Following Wheat (David Olson, Farmer)

9:30am – 10:00am – Soil and Nitrate Testing with Analysis and Cover Crop Species/Seed Selection (Doug Hanson, ProHarvest Seeds)

10:00am – 10:45am – PhD Research: Water Quality, Nutrient Loss, and Nitrogen Management for Nutrient Cycling and Reduction Strategies (Dr. Giovani Preza-Fontes, Assistant Professor, Crop Sciences, University of Illinois)

10:45am – 11:30am – Illinois Soybean Association Update (Abigail Peterson, ISA Director of Agronomy and Stephanie Porter, ISA Outreach Agronomist)

11:30am – 11:45am – Torey Colburn, American Farmland Trust

11:45am – 12:00pm – Program and Cost Share Opportunities (Vermilion Co. SWCD/NRCS)

Noon – Lunch

Lunch and CCA credits provided. Walk-ins are welcome to this event. Learn more by clicking here.