Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) and the Northeast Iowa Dairy & Agriculture Foundation in partnership with the Iowa Natural Resources Conservation Service are inviting local producers to discover the future of farming at the upcoming "Beyond the Fence: Grazing, Virtual Fence & Fertilizer Reduction" field day. This event is designed to help farmers navigate rising input costs by merging modern technology with traditional land stewardship.

"The issue for producers with all the new technology available is determining if it fits their program and is cost effective," explains Brodie Bushman, NICC farm manager. "At the end of the day, the producer has to merge sustainability, tech advances and production with his bottom line in mind."

The field day represents over a decade of progress led by David Lawstuen, NICC agriculture instructor and Foundation chair. Under his leadership, the organization has pioneered no-till and cover crop practices, leading to the Foundation being named Innovator of the Year at the 2026 National No-Till Conference.

The event features keynote speaker Greg Halich, a forage systems economist from the University of Kentucky. Halich is a renowned expert in biological farming techniques that can significantly reduce or even eliminate the need for commercial fertilizers. From bale grazing to extended season systems, his insights offer a roadmap for farmers looking to maximize yields while minimizing inputs.

Join us for a day of learning and community. Choose the date and location that works for you:

• Tuesday, March 3: 8 am - 4 pm at the Calmar campus
• Wednesday, March 4: 8 am - 3 pm at the Peosta campus

The schedule includes:

• 8 am: Registration with coffee and Pedretti's Bakery donuts
• 8:30 am - 8:35 am: Welcome
• 8:35 am - 9:05 am: "Grazing Myths that Reduce Profitability" by Greg Halich
• 9:05 am - 9:15 am: NICC Farm Manager Update - Brodie Bushman
• 9:25 am - 10:25 am: "Bale Grazing" by Greg Halich
• 10:25 am - 11:30 am: "Virtual Fence" by Jacob Hawes and Tim Harbaugh
• 11:30 am - 12:30 pm: Working lunch featuring virtual fence demonstrations
• 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm: "Conservation in Northeast Iowa" featuring local producers
  • Calmar location: Jewell Family and Ross Evelsizer
  • Peosta location: Zach Timm and Ross Evelsizer
• 1:30 pm - 2 pm: "Maximize Corn Yields with Minimal Inputs" by Tyler Boeckmann
• 2 pm - 3 pm: "Reducing/Eliminating Fertilizer Use on the Farm" by Greg Halich
• 3 pm - 4 pm: Foundation Annual Meeting (Calmar location only)

While the event is free to attend, we ask that you RSVP to help us prepare.

At the College, we are driven to bring the best training and education to our community. Come discover how the next decade of agricultural innovation can start on your farm. Learn more here.