Innovative Farming: Rotational Grazing, Roller Crimping Cereal Rye, and On-Farm Energy Systems

SATURDAY, JUNE 24TH, 2017 • 1:00-3:30 PM • Fairfield, Iowa

Take a visit to Southeast Iowa to see what innovations you can make to your dairy or field crop operation. Francis Thicke’s diversified organic farm, Radiance Dairy, is a model of sustainability and experimentation. Tour an intensively managed pasture system - the farm has 60 paddocks and the milking cows get fresh grass after each milking. Visit fields where soybeans are planted into cereal rye that was terminated with a roller/crimper. And listen to Francis’s perspective on the new energy systems he has put in place on the farm, including a solar hot water system, a solar PV system for pumping water to the paddocks, and a 40 kW wind turbine.

This field day series is made possible by IOA with help from the USDA’s Risk Management Agency.

SCHEDULE: Field Day Program 1:00–3:30 p.m. 

HOSTS: Francis Thicke • Radiance Dairy • 1745 Brookville Rd. • Fairfield, IA 52556

Questions: Email: [email protected]

TOPICS: Transitioning to organic • Organic dairy production • Rotational grazing • Rye cover crop • Diversified organic operations • Sustainable energy 

DIRECTIONS: 
From downtown Fairfield, head west on Highway 34 for 2 miles. Take a right on Brookville Road. Radiance Dairy will be on your right.