WOMEN FARMLAND OWNERS IN PALO ALTO COUNTY AREA INVITED TO FREE PROGRAM FOCUSED ON CONSERVATION OCT. 27 IN EMMETSBURG

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AMES—Women who own or manage farmland in Palo Alto and neighboring counties are invited to participate in a FREE conservation discussion and field tour on Wednesday, Oct. 27, at Iowa Lakes Community College in Emmetsburg. The program is called Women Caring for the Land.

Women now own or co-own nearly half the farmland in Iowa, and often express strong conservation values in meetings and surveys. However, many are unsure of exactly how to reach their conservation goals and what resources are available to help them. Women Caring for the Land offers a peer-to-peer, informal discussion format to allow women landowners to talk about their individual land stewardship goals, facilitated by women conservation experts who can share resources available such as USDA cost-share programs, state loans, and other tools.

All interested women are welcome, including owners, operators and inheritors of farmland, regardless of their degree of knowledge about conservation. A free lunch will be provided. In order for us to get an accurate meal count, please RSVP by Monday, Oct. 25, by calling the Palo Alto Soil and Water Conservation District office at 712-852-3386.

The program begins with registration and coffee at 8:30 a.m. at Community Building 800 on the campus of Iowa Lakes Community College, 3200 College Drive, Emmetsburg, IA. The discussion will begin at 9 a.m., and will be guided by the interests of the participants. Possible topics of conversation can include erosion control, tillage options, management of pasture and timber lands, prairie and pond restoration, alternative cropping options, residue removal, using leases to manage conservation with tenants, and others.

An optional field tour will follow lunch, so that participants can look at conservation practices in the area. Transportation will be provided for this tour. The meeting will end back at the Community Building with a wrap-up and dessert.

This session of Women Caring for the Land is sponsored by Women, Food and Agriculture Network in partnership with the Palo Alto and Clay County Soil and Water Conservation Districts, USDA-NRCS and Iowa Lakes RC&D, with funding from the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation and Pioneer Hi-Bred International. Women landowner meetings are being held all across Iowa, and will be offered in neighboring states in 2011 with funding from USDA – SARE and NRCS.

For more information, call Leigh Adcock of WFAN at 515.460.2477 or email info@wfan.org.