Nutrient Reduction Strategy Participation - John Weber, Iowa Pork Producer, from the 2016 Iowa Pork Congress, January 27-28, Des Moines, IA, USA. More presentations at http://www.swinecast.com/2016-iowa-pork-congress

1. Nutrient
Reduction Strategy
Participation
John Weber
January 28, 2016

2. John Weber, Dysart, Iowa

3. Middle Cedar Watershed

4. Four Areas of Participation
I. Cover Crops
II. Split Application of Nitrogen
III. Saturated Buffer Installed Research
IV. Nitrogen vs. Manure Application Rate Study

5. Cover Crop - Dysart, Iowa
• Aerial seeding September 7, 2014

6. Cover Crop - Dysart, Iowa
• Annual rye grass
• Kale (25 lbs/acre)
• Hairy Vetch

7. Cover Crop - Dysart, Iowa

8. Cover Crop - Dysart, Iowa

9. Fall 2015 Cover Crops

10. 75# Rye + 200lbs. 0-0-60
Fertilizer Spreader + Vertical tilled

11. Early November growth

12. Warm Fall allowed good growth.

14. 75# Winter Wheat

15. Seed acres allow timely seeding

19. Fall of 2014

20. Fall of 2014

22. May 2,2015 Ready to Plant Beans

23. Good Burndown plus Residue

24. 2015 Bean Planting

25. Good Soil Protection

26. Challenges and Observations
1. Seeding date to get effective cover. (Old saying State
Fair week is ideal)
2. Seeding method (Aerial or ground)
3. Muddy conditions at harvest (Bad for no till in spring)
4. Timely spring termination.
5. Cover crops on soybean ground going to corn. (May
present other challenges)
6. Cost and economics. (May not always see a yield
response but almost always will see reduced soil loss)
7. Seeing and measuring results. (Will take time)

27. Nitrogen Management Trends
Split applications
NH3 - Fewer acres and lower rates in fall
season,
NH3 – Lower spring applied rates.
Both followed by some form of in season
application taking into account rainfall, crop
stand, yield goals, and other economic factors.

31. Saturated Buffer
• A system installed to help use nature to
remove nitrates from ground water passing
through field tile.

32. Creek bank stabilization

33. Bank Stabilization Project

34. Saturated Buffer

35. Data
Collection

36. Saturated Buffer Control Box

37. Reestablishing Buffer

38. Reestablishing Buffer

41. Manure Study Nitrogen Response

43. Manure Analysis
• 4 summer pit tests
• 4 tests while pumping
• Average N-P-K 61 – 30 – 36
• Value per 1000 gal. = approx. $41.37
• 4000gal/ac. 244 – 120 – 144 Nutrient value
• $165.38/ac.
• Application cost .015/gal. = $60.00/ac

45. Take Aways
• We can afford to transport manure to fields
with lower fertility.
• What amount of organic N is left in the soil
and for how long?
• Manure is an outstanding source of crop
nutrients if properly applied.

46. Participation
The Nutrient Reduction Strategy is about
everyone doing something.