Join the Minnesota Soil Health Coalition, Practical Farmers of Iowa and Pheasants Forever at Jerry and Nancy Ackermann’s Farm Assessing Habitat Potential on Marginal Acres.

Jerry and Nancy Ackermann, alongside Pheasants Forever, have restored a 3.4-acre prairie habitat, home to pheasants, deer, essential pollinators and other wildlife, through a process called precision conservation. The Ackermanns started conservation efforts on their 1,200-acre corn, soybean and small grains farm in 2019 with the interseeding of cover crops into corn to create a sheltered space for pheasants. Most recently, they have put in a pond and worked with the Natural Resources Conservation Service to create better drainage to reduce runoff from their farm. Join Jerry and Nancy at their field day, along with Pheasants Forever and the Minnesota Soil Health Coalition, as they explore conservation methods to improve soil quality and create quality habitat from unproductive acres. Lunch will follow the field day.

See & Discuss:

• Precision conservation through soil and yield mapping data
• Increasing soil health by creating more efficient tile drainage
• A rain simulator demonstration to illustrate varying drainage types around the farm
• Creating pollinator habitat through data analysis and eco-typical seed selection using Environmental Quality Incentives Program grants

Jerry and Nancy Achermann’s Farm: 39750 820th St, Lakefield, MN 56150