Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, the Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium and the Southeast Iowa Agricultural Research Association will host a field day on March 29 to highlight pollinator and prairie establishment and management.

The field day will run from 5:00-7:30 p.m. and will be held at the Iowa State University Southeast Research and Demonstration Farm.

ISU Extension and Outreach specialists, as well as other conservation experts, will present on a variety of topics related to pollinators. Presenters include:

• Burning prairie: benefits, techniques and demonstration - Kevin Andersen, private lands biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources
• Pollinator/monarch habitat establishment and management - Seth Appelgate, agronomist with the Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium
• Prairie benefits for native and honey bees - Randall Cass, entomologist with ISU Extension and Outreach
• Choosing native mixes to fit your goals - Emery Davis, wildlife biologist with Pheasants Forever

A controlled burn demonstration will be conducted if weather conditions allow. A light BBQ dinner will be served at the start of the event.

The field day is free and open to the public, however please RSVP in advance so proper amounts of food can be purchased. Reserve your spot by contacting Meaghan Anderson at mjanders@iastate.edu or 319-337-2145 by Monday, March 26.

Directions to the Southeast Research and Demonstration Farm: Take Highway 218 south from Crawfordsville 1 3/4 miles, travel east on G-62 two miles, then 3/4 mile north. Watch for signs to farm.

This field day is part of the USDA-NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant program