March 3, 2026
8 AM - 4 PM
Wilder Business Center, Calmar Campus
March 4, 2026
8 AM - 3 PM
Conference Center, Peosta Campus
The fence line is just the beginning. Join us for "Beyond the Fence," an interactive seminar designed to help Northeast Iowa farmers reduce costs and improve soil health. Whether you’re interested in virtual fencing or looking to maximize corn yields with minimal inputs, we’re bringing the experts to you. From "Grazing Myths" to fertilizer reduction strategies, this event is built for producers who want to lead with innovation.
There is no cost to attend and lunch is provided; however, RSVP is required. Any cancellations or event changes due to weather will be announced here on this event webpage. 5 CEU credits are offered for Certified Crop Advisors.
- Nutrient Management: 2 credits
- Soil & Water Management: 1 credit
- Crop Management: 2 credits
This event is made possible by the generous support from community sponsors and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, under agreement number NR243A750018C042 Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In addition, any reference to specific brands or types of products or services does not constitute or imply an endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for those products or services. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Register by Monday, February 23, 2026
Phone: 563.562.3262, ext. 1332
Email: elsberndmel@nicc.edu
Schedule
| 8:00 am | Registration & Refreshments. Coffee and Pedretti's donuts provided. |
| 8:30 am | Welcome |
| 8:35 am | Grazing Myths that Reduce Profitability: Greg Halich |
| 9:05 am | Northeast Iowa Community College Farm Manager Update: Brodie Bushman |
| 9:15 am | Break |
| 9:25 am | Bale Grazing: Greg Halich |
| 10:25 am | Virtual Fence: Jacob Hawes & Tim Harbaugh |
| 11:30 am | Working Lunch |
| 12:30 pm |
Conservation in NE Iowa Jewell Family & Ross Evelsizer (Calmar) Zach Timm & Ross Evelsizer (Peosta) |
| 1:30 pm | Maximize Corn Yields with Minimal Inputs: Tyler Boeckmann |
| 2:00 pm | Reducing/Eliminating Fertilizer Use on the Farm: Greg Halich |
| 3:00 pm | Dairy & Ag Foundation Annual Meeting (Calmar only) |
Presenters
Greg Halich
Greg is a forage systems economist at the University of Kentucky where he works with livestock farmers to improve profitability. Production focus areas are biological farming techniques that reduce or eliminate the need for commercial fertilizer inputs, grass-finished beef production, bale grazing and extended season grazing systems. He lives and farms outside of Lexington, Kentucky, where he produces grass-finished beef and tests ideas like those he’ll be speaking on.
Tim Harbaugh
Tim and his wife, Peg, along with their family, are the owners and operators of Cox Springs Farm near Peosta. While maintaining full-time careers off the farm, they manage an agricultural operation that includes targeted goat grazing, as well as raising cattle, meat goats, field crops and produce. They have been successfully utilizing NoFence grazing technology with their goats for the past two years and with their cattle for the past year.
Ross Evelsizer
Ross has over 12 years of experience coordinating conservation partnerships, watershed improvement initiatives and grant-funded projects across Northeast Iowa. He has led multi-stakeholder collaborations focused on water quality, soil health and regenerative agriculture. Ross has extensive experience coordinating farmer-focused communication through field days, presentations and one-on-one engagement. He helped develop a grassroots effort to explore multi-cropping and relay cropping that is now being practiced by many producers in Iowa.
Robby Jewell
Robby is co-owner of Jewell Enterprizes, a 1,600-acre farm located in Northeast Iowa near Decorah. The farm raises organic turkeys (40,000 raised annually) and pasture-raised pork (100 hogs direct-marketed to consumers). The beef cow/calf operation consisting of 200 cows (calves on pasture) is rotationally grazed through established pastures, silvopastures and crop/cover crop fields. Organic crops of corn, oats, barley, peas and alfalfa make up roughly 500 acres and conventional crops of corn and beans are planted on 250 acres. The farm uses no-till, cover crops, mob intensity grazing and a diverse crop rotation. Jewell Enterprizes received the 2024 Excellence in Agriculture Award from the Decorah Area Chamber. Robby is a sixth-generation farmer on a farm started in 1876. He works year-round with his father and Co-Owner Bob Jewell.
Jacob Hawes
Jacob is a grassland specialist with NRCS, where he primarily works with producers and staff to improve pasture and grazing-based systems. Outside of work, he helps run a small beef herd on his family farm in Allamakee County where he practices management intensive grazing. In 2025, he began using virtual fence collars as a tool to help further improve grazing management and soil health, while reducing daily labor requirements to achieve those goals.
Tyler Boeckmann
Tyler earned his bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Studies with a minor in Agronomy from Iowa State University in 2007. In 2025, Tyler completed his 20th season managing Boeckmann Farms Inc. in Waverly, Iowa, with the support of his parents. During that time, he helped grow the operation from approximately 1,000 acres in 2005 to 2,800 acres today. The operation continues to learn and expand its strip-till practices, including corn-on-corn production and, most recently, strip-tilling soybeans. “Being better instead of bigger” has long been a guiding principle for Tyler. By thinking outside the norm, trying small changes each year, managing risk and continuously learning, Tyler remains focused on steady improvement. While the pursuit of 300 bushels per acre may sound like a simple goal, it has proven to be one filled with valuable lessons and ongoing growth.
Zach Timm
Zach farms with his family north of Monticello, Iowa. They run a diversified family farm with row crops, feedlots and cow-calf pairs. On-farm research is a big focus on the farm with trials through Iowa Soybean Association’s Research Center for Farming Innovation. Zach and his family employ a variety of conservation practices to mitigate erosion and improve the farm for the next generation.
