Rush and Shelby County Indiana agencies - including Purdue Cooperative Extension, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Little Blue River Watershed project - joined forces to present the 2009 Farm and Field Day Conservation Tour.
The tour started on State Road 44 west of Rushville. This stop highlighted no-till equipment modification demonstrations.
Rush County implement dealers provided no-till demonstration equipment. Sponsors of the field day were Rush Shelby Energy, Farm Credit Services, Midwest Ag Finance, Wells Fargo Bank, Crop Production Services - Homer, Watershed Management LLC and the Indiana Soybean Alliance.
Curtis Knueven (standing next to planter), Rush County District Conservationist, was on hand to talk about cost share opportunities through the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Little Blue River Watershed project.
Barry Fisher, NRCS State Agronomist, shared his passion and knowledge about no-till equipment set up options.
The equipment was effective in planting corn into sod.
After inspecting this site, participants moved on to Rush Shelby Energy near Manilla for the next segment of the tour - the Private Applicator Renewal Program (PARP).
Will Schakel, Rush County Extension Educator, welcomed participants to the PARP section of the field day in the garage area of Rush Shelby Energy.
Approximately 130 people came to Rush Shelby Energy to hear speakers and participate in PARP.
Bob Neilson, Purdue Agronomy Department, spoke about pest management and application issues in no-till corn fields within walking distance of the Rush Shelby Energy location.
Participants were able to enjoy outdoor PARP training. Since three different management techniques were used in the nearby corn fields, Bob Neilson had numerous pesticide options to present.
Participants also learned about pesticide application safety near bodies of water at the Rush Shelby Energy detention pond.
Crosby Lawn & Pond Care provided an amphibious vehicle demonstration.
Field Day participants had a chance to view the Rush Shelby Energy alternative energy display, too.
After the outdoor program was completed people enjoyed lunch provided by the Farm and Field Day committee.
Jane Hardesty, NRCS State Conservationist, announced that the Rush and Shelby County FSA and NRCS offices will be combined at one facility near Manilla, Indiana sometime in 2010.
Jane Hardesty introduced Julia Wickard as the newly appointed State Executive Director for Indiana FSA.
Scott Gabbard, Shelby County Purdue Extension Educator, introduced the featured speaker, Eileen Kladivko, Purdue Soil Physicist.
Eileen Kladivko is with the Agronomy Department at Purdue University.
Dr. Kladivko spoke about drainage water management and its impact on nitrogen leaching.
The Little Blue River Watershed Project provided information about cost share opportunities through an IDEM 319 Nonpoint Source Water Pollution grant.
After the program and lunch at Rush Shelby Energy, participants traveled east on 44 for a presentation on structures for water control.
Beth Clarizia from the Natural Resources Conservation Service explained how the structure for water control works.
Beth Clarizia, NRCS, (standing in truck bed), showed a water control structure and talked about cost share opportunities that are available.
Steve Stohry is installing water control structures in the field behind him. These structures will keep water in the field during fallow seasons and dry spells, but allow water to drain away for planting and harvest.
Willard Stohry, Steve's dad, came to the field demonstration for water control structures.
Steve made a chart that shows drainage patterns in the field and where he will put the structures.
Steve and Eileen Kladivko discuss the water quality benefits of holding water and the nitrogen it contains in a field during the fallow seasons.
Although the concept of retaining water in a field is unusual, several people were interested to know more. They suggested we have another field day here next year to find out how the structures are working and if the Stohry family likes the results.
Steve is willing to do that and to use his field as a demonstration site for the Little Blue River Watershed project.
