PROGRAM:
Rtn. Lynette Marshall introduced Rtn. Steve Schomberg. Steve is farmer and retired University of Iowa professor. He is also the secretary of the Bur Oak Land Trust.
Steve grew up farming and he and his sister inherited two farms in Muscatine County. Together they have 1,300 acres. Instead of farming just corn and soybeans, though, Steve farms miscanthus and has prairie on several acres.
Why prairie? Prairie provides habitat, restores the land to the pre-settlement landscape, and makes good use of soil and spaces. Since fire is the most important tool you have to grow prairie, Steve became certified in fire management. Fire controls the invasive plants, trees, and cool season grasses, and stimulates prairie seed germination. It also provides cover crops.
Why miscanthus? The University of Iowa is using miscanthus as part of their biofuels program, so there’s a market for it. It’s also a perennial crop and environmentally friendly. The UI uses it in conjunction with coal but there are other emerging markets. It is also being used to make filter socks for construction materials, biofuel to heat livestock facilities, garden mulch, livestock bedding, and bio-plastics.
Steve said if there wasn’t a market for it, he wouldn’t grow miscanthus. The other plus is that he currently gets to set the price because the market is so new.
The meeting ended at 1:00 pm as President Steve led the assembly in reciting The Four Way Test.
The Club enjoyed singing Smile, led by Rtn. Bob Crane and Rtn. James Conard on piano.
MEETING:
Please forward any newsworthy items and/or photos to Jon Brown or Janice Baldes to include in the weekly slide decks emailed to members prior to each meeting and shown just before Rotary meetings at the Club. You can send information to: Janice Baldes janicebaldes@gmail.com or Jon Brown at mjonBrown@taxesplusiowacity.com
For questions related to Club administration, please contact us at secretary@iowacitynoonrotary.org.
It is our policy to have all members silence their cell phones before the meeting and refrain from answering their cell phones during the meeting out of respect to the speaker and fellow members.
Our Greeter Scott Finlayson, announced there were no visiting Rotarians.
Guests of Rotarians: Erin Hazen, Dan Black (Steve Schomberg); Austin Miller (Mike Walsh)
Program: Tom Cilek; Attendance: Nancy Droll
