OTHO — The Smeltzer Charitable Trust will host a field day from 5 to 8 p.m. on Aug. 19 at the Smeltzer Learning Farm, rural Otho. The field day will focus on the idea of using carbon markets and green ammonia to improve the bottom line for landowners.

The program will begin at 5 p.m. with two guest speakers from Holganix and ContinuumAg discussing carbon markets. Attendees can enjoy a complimentary supper, followed with a guest speaker from Landus Co-op on the topic of green ammonia.

Field day attendees will also be able to see practices on the farm that are being used to reduce nitrates leaving the fields, stabilize the streambank and provide wildlife habitat.

Doug Adams will demonstrate soil health with the rainfall simulator. TJ Lynn with Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) will explain the bioreactor and saturated buffer. The Iowa Corn Growers will have the corn education trailer for visitors to explore.

Other organizations planning to be present with information are: Webster County Natural Resources Conservation Services, Sunderman Farm Management, Iowa Soybean Association (tile water testing) and Webster County Sanitarian (well water testing).

The field day will be at the Smeltzer Learning Farm located at 2610 Nelson Ave., Otho. This is one mile south of Otho on County Road P59 in Webster County. The farm is on the east side of the road.

The Ann Smeltzer Learning Farm was established in 2006, as a learning farm to show different land treatments and conservation methods for farmers and landowners to learn from and carry out on their own land. The farm grows corn and soybeans using no-till and with cover crops. Over 20 demonstrations on the farm include restored oxbows, streambank stabilization and buffers, grassed waterways, prairies, riparian plantings and terraces.

The field day is open to the public at no cost.