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Joel Gruver (far right), assistant professor in WIU's School of Agriculture, presenting to attendees of the 2008 Allison Organic Farm Field Day event. The theme of WIU's 2009 field day, which is August 7, is cover crop innovation. Certified organic and conventional cover crop seed will be available for pick up at the field day at discounted prices for farmers who place orders in advance.
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Cover crops, oats and radishes, in late Sept. 2008. Photo Courtesy of Joel Gruver
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Andy Clayton, who works in WIU's School of Agriculture, measures the cover crop rye (Fall 2008). Learn more about WIU's Organic Agriculture Research program at wiu.edu/ag/organicfarm. Photo courtesy of Joel Gruver
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Cover Crop Innovation Will Be Focus of Allison Organic Farm Field Day August 7

July 22, 2009

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MACOMB, IL -- Cover crop innovation will be the theme and focus of another installment of the Allison Organic Farm Field Day from noon-4 p.m. Friday, August 7. Part of Western Illinois University's School of Agriculture's Organic Agriculture Research program, the venue for the event is WIU's Allison Organic Farm and neighboring Kane Farm in southwestern Warren County.

According to field day organizers, attendees will receive a CD with profiles of more than 40 organic and conventional grain farmers in the Midwest region who are cover crop innovators. Certified organic and conventional cover crop seed will be available for pick up at the field day at discounted prices for farmers who place orders in advance. Contact Andy Clayton at (217) 322-2639 for more information about ordering seed.

The field day will start with a free lunch and will feature local farm products. After lunch, a cover crop seed industry rep, an aerial applicator and a cover crop researcher will give short presentations, and a farmer panel (including organic and conventional farmers) will answer questions about their experiences with cover crops. The field day will conclude with a walking tour of the research and production fields (including several cover crops) at the Allison Farm.

The lunch, expert presentations and farmer panel will take place one mile west of the Allison Farm at the Kane Farm (220 10th St., Roseville, IL).

While the field day is open free to the public, advance registration is required for the luncheon. The registration deadline for the luncheon is Wednesday, August 5.

For more information or to register, contact Clayton at AW-Clayton@wiu.edu, (309) 298-1172 or (217) 322-2639 or Western's School of Agriculture at (309) 298-1080. More information about WIU's Organic Agriculture Research program is available online at www.wiu.edu/ag/organicfarm.

Directions to Allison Farm
If arriving from the north, travel on Rt. 67 five miles south of the Rt. 67 and Rt. 116 intersection in Roseville to County Rd. 20th Ave. N, then turn west and travel five miles on 20th Ave. to the Kane Farm.

If arriving from the south, travel on Rt. 67 seven miles north of the Rt. 67 and Rt. 9 intersection in Good Hope to County Rd. 20th Ave. N, then turn west and travel five miles on 20th Ave. to the Kane Farm.

The Allison Farm is located one mile east of the Kane Farm on the northwest corner of the intersection of County Rd. 20th Ave. N and 20th St. Signs will be posted at both farms. Please contact Clayton at (217) 322-2639 if you need additional assistance.

Posted By: Teresa Koltzenburg (WIUNews@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing