March 28, 2024

LWV hosting panel discussion Thursday

The League of Women Voters of Jasper County will host a panel discussion regarding farming techniques used to promote clean water at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the Park Centre Garden Room.

Panel discussion participants are Calvin Winn, local farmer; Gene Kaldenberg, Jasper County Soil and Conservation commissioner and local farmer; and Curt Donohue, district conservationist for Natural Resources Conservation Services.

Winn has been farming since 1962 and currently farms approximately 450 acres. He has used no till farming techniques since 1969 and uses a variety of measures to promote water quality, including cover crops.

Gene Kaldenberg has been farming for 40 years and currently farms approximately 200 acres. His father was a conservationist. Kaldenberg taught high school chemistry for four years before having the opportunity to return to farming. He currently does crop farming and uses grass strips and other measures for soil erosion and water control.

Curt Donohue is the District Conservationist for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services. He has served in this capacity since 1998.

The panel discussion is in conjunction with the league’s continuing agriculture study.  The public is invited and encouraged to attend this informative discussion.