| News Release
For Immediate Release
September 17, 2008
Contact: Sally Worley, Practical Farmers of Iowa, (515)232-5661, sally@practicalfarmers.org
John Sellers, (641)872-2657
Practical Farmers of Iowa Field Day Explores Alternative Energy
Corydon—John and Jean Sellers are hosting a field day on their farm near Corydon Saturday, September 27 from 10 a.m. to noon. The event will look into cellulosic bioenergy and discuss other sustainable energy options for Iowa.
The climate for alternative energy is changing. At this field day, producers will learn what they can do to prepare for cellulosic bioenergy. Also, this event will show farmers and landowners how to convert to switchgrass from cool-season grasses such as those in the Conservation Reserve Program. NRCS Assistant State Conservationist for Field Operations Bruce Trautman will describe programs that help farmers convert both cropland and cool-season CRP to switchgrass CRP. John Sellers will show how he establishes switchgrass in stands of cool-season species. Renewable energy consultant Ed Woolsey will review the status and the outlook for cellulosic energy and other sustainable energy in Iowa.
Jean and John Sellers’ 520 acres is devoted to pasture, forages, CRP and enough row crops to feed their 40 cow-calf pairs. John is active in many organizations, including the Iowa Farm Bureau, Chariton Valley Beef, a switchgrass growers’ group, and the Iowa Forage and Grasslands Council. This field day is free, and everybody is welcome.
Directions: 1458 160th St., Corydon: From Corydon, go 6 miles north on Hwy 14 to Millerton, then 3 miles east on J-22, then 1.25 miles south on 170th St. The farm is on the west side of the road.
Sponsored by Successful Farming and SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program). Sustaining sponsors for Practical Farmers of Iowa Field Days are the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Iowa State University Extension, Iowa Pork Producers Association, American Natural Soy, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service, Midwest Organic Services Association, Henry A. Wallace Endowed Chair for Sustainable Agriculture, and the CROPP Cooperative of Organic Valley/ Organic Prairie Family of Farms. Major sponsors for the Field Days are Wheatsfield Cooperative Natural Foods Grocery, Hubbard Feeds, Michael Fields Agricultural Institute, Iowa Forage and Grasslands Council, King Corn and Mosaic Films, and the North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education.
PFI is a non-profit sustainable agriculture group dedicated to farming that is profitable, environmentally sound, and healthy for consumers and communities. Founded in 1985, PFI has over 700 farmer and non-farmer members throughout Iowa. For more information, call (515)232-5661 or visit www.practicalfarmers.org. # # # |
