July 6 presentation features Purdue University’s Jane Frankenberger discussing drain water management strategies that support current and future productivity while addressing environmental challenges

Ames, Iowa – The Iowa Learning Farms (ILF) conservation webinar taking place July 6 at noon CDT will feature Jane Frankenberger, professor and extension agricultural engineer, Purdue University. Frankenberger led the $5 million Transforming Drainage project that brought together researchers and extension specialists from eight states to advance more resilient drainage systems. Her work focuses on advancing drainage design and management utilizing tools and strategies to support informed decision making by landowners and stakeholders.

Iowa Learning Farms is an Iowa State University Extension and Outreach conservation and water quality education program.

In the webinar, “Transforming Drainage: Working Together Across the Midwest to Increase Resiliency of Drained Agricultural Land,” Frankenberger will highlight the Transforming Drainage project and present lessons learned as well as advances made in practices that store water in the landscape to increase resilience. Drawing on the innovation and field work of the project members, she will discuss practices including controlled drainage, saturated buffers and drainage water recycling. She will also cover tools, publicly available data, research studies and education products that can be used across the region to inform drainage decisions and transform drainage systems.

“While conventional drainage has been a key factor in our remarkably productive agriculture across the Midwest, new strategies are needed to maintain this productivity as extreme weather and concerns about water quality increase,” said Frankenberger. “I am eager to share the efforts of the project team who worked together to increase our knowledge, develop new education strategies, and form a lasting network to continue to transform drainage in the future.”

Participants in Iowa Learning Farms Conservation Webinars are encouraged to ask questions of the presenters. People from all backgrounds and areas of interest are encouraged to join.

Webinar Access Instructions

To participate in the live webinar, shortly before noon CDT July 6:

Click this URL, or type this web address into your internet browser: https://iastate.zoom.us/j/364284172

Or, go to https://iastate.zoom.us/join and enter meeting ID: 364 284 172

Or, join from a dial-in phone line:

Dial: +1 312 626 6799 or +1 646 876 9923

Meeting ID: 364 284 172

The webinar will also be recorded and archived on the ILF website, so that it can be watched at any time. Archived webinars are available at: https://www.iowalearningfarms.org/page/webinars.

A Certified Crop Adviser board-approved continuing education unit (CEU) has been applied for. Those who participate in the live webinar are eligible. Information about how to apply to receive the credit will be provided at the end of the live webinar.

Upcoming Webinars in the Series:

7/13: Mike Castellano, Iowa State University

7/20: Chuck Burr, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

7/27: Kay Stefanik, Iowa Nutrient Research Center 

8/3: Michael Burchell, North Carolina State University

8/10: Daniel Andersen, Iowa State University