On May 16, we started off with a breakfast of quiche made by Mr. Stole. Then we were off to Ellsworth Community College, which almost resulted in me being left behind, to talk with Professor Kevin Butt about farm safety and precision agriculture. Farming is the 8th most dangerous job, and accidents can happen at any time.

Precision Agriculture uses GPS and the mapping of fields to get the most productivity and efficiency out of farming. Through technology, the farmer can see the variations in the soil quality (among other things) on his/her fields.  These variations can influence the use of pesticides, fertilizers, and crops grown on those fields to produce more and better crops. Drones are also used in precision agriculture. They are beneficial especially to corn farmers because corn plants grow to become very tall and an acre can sustain around 36,000 corn plants, so the drone gives farmers a bird’s eye view of their fields. It allows them see what the problem areas are within the fields. Drones also have the capability to use infrared to access the health of plants and animals. Corn’s maturity is measured by its heat units and sick cows will have body temperatures that are either hotter or cooler than normal. These technologies used in farming take stress off the farmer and allow them to use this time to do other things.

After talking with Professor Kevin Butt and visiting the Butt farm, ate at “the #1 voted Chinese restaurant in Central Iowa” and went shopping for rompers, gloves, and boots. We traveled 30 minutes to Ames and spent time at the Wheatfields Co-op where four of us were to attend a composting seminar later that evening.

Wheatfields is a neat grocery store. It sources products locally and many of the vegetables are local seasonal produce. Locals purchase memberships and can volunteer at Wheatfields. This was also where our composting class was located. Composting with worms, also called vermiculture, is apparently very easy–even though our instructor informed us that he killed off his worms on two occasions! The worms can eat through half their body weight everyday. Much like the story of Goldilocks, composting worms like their conditions to be just right. Not too moist or dry and not too hot or cold. Composting with worms does not require a lot of space and can virtually be as small- or large-scale as one wants it to be. Perfect for dorm rooms if you ask me…could these be approved comfort animals?