Iowa Water Center

Remote Sensing and Strategic Management of CyanoHABs Across the Nation Webinar
2022-10-05 11:00 (America/Chicago)
Join the Algal Bloom Action Team on October 5th as they host a webinar discussing Remote Sensing and Strategic Management of CyanoHABs Across the Nation.
Presenters Gregory LeFevre and Corey Markfort from the University of Iowa will present on their exploration of complex HABs mixtures and mid-range remote sensing in Iowa lakes. Jennifer Graham from the USGS New York Water Science Center will share structured decision-making research around cyanoHABs management in New York state parks.
The webinar will begin at 11:00 AM CT/12:00 PM ET. The webinar is free, but registration is required.
Registration here.

Iowa Water Conference September 28-29, 2022, Dubuque, Iowa
2022-09-28 - 2022-09-29
Our Watershed Moment, Building Communities for Conservation
The 16th annual Iowa Water Conference will be held on September 28-29, 2022 in Dubuque Iowa. We all live in a watershed; each watershed has one common resource – its water. The Mississippi River and its watershed are the foundation for a large, diverse community that affects the use and resilience of many of this country’s natural resources. Individuals and communities throughout the region have stories to tell. How does water impact them? How are they innovating to increase resilience and mitigate the impacts of climate change?
The conference will emphasize the historical influence the river has had on neighboring communities, agriculture, recreation, and ecology, as well as examine the roles Iowa and other neighboring states have in protecting it. This year’s theme emphasizes the importance that watershed citizenship has in making strides towards improving soil health and water quality goals in our communities, in our watersheds, and in the larger region – The Mississippi River Basin.
At the Iowa Water Conference, sharing these stories will connect us through shared experiences within the river basin. We hope you join us for these timely discussions in Dubuque as we come together to explore the value of water in our watershed community.
The Iowa Water Conference is IWC’s largest outreach and collaboration effort with a dozen planning partners.
The conference is designed to bring together multi-disciplinary organizations and institutions to discuss relevant water issues in Iowa. The inaugural event in 2006 combined several existing conferences with the purpose of coordinating research and management efforts. Today’s conference draws over 400 attendees and still strives to encompass the whole of Iowa’s water landscape including expanding into realms of education and outreach, conservation, policy, and regulations.

Iowa’s premiere stormwater conference & exhibition
2022-09-15 - 2022-09-16
Join us on September 15-16, 2022 at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny, IA for a chance to network with other stormwater professionals. Read more about our COVID safety measure here.

Registration is now open for Sponsors and Exhibitors

The past few years our virtual conferences were a great success…primarily because of your support.

Because we’re back to an in person conference this year, we want to boost your ROI. Here are some of the benefits you can expect:

The exhibit hall is centrally located to session breaks, breakfast, lunch, and the awards ceremony where attendees gather to network. If you are a part of the stormwater industry there is no better place to maximize your company’s exposure!
See your company logo displayed on all printed and digital marketing materials (conference webpage, social media, conference program, flyers, etc.)
Sponsors are provided a complimentary exhibit both and registration to the conference.

We are offering various sponsorship levels for the conference. Learn more about sponsorship benefits here.

Your support for Iowa’s stormwater programs and clean water is appreciated. Thank you for your interest in the IStorm 2022 Conference!

P.S. Early bird registration for the public begins June 1. Take advantage of our early marketing effort and get your company logo seen as much as possible by registering now. Click here to RSVP for a booth!

Webinar: Helping Communities Prepare for Extreme Weather
2022-09-14 14:00
Sep 14, 2022 02:00 PM in Central Time (US and Canada)

As the climate continues to change, extreme weather events are becoming more commonplace. Tune into this edition of The Current as we explore different tools and approaches to creating community resilience – through hazard mitigation, natural infrastructure, and evaluating and communicating flood risk.

North Central Region Water Network

Register here.

Iowa Learning Farms Webinar: Maximize Agronomic and Environmental Outcomes through Improved Manure Management
2022-09-14 12:00
Sep. 14 presentation features Iowa State University Extension and Outreach field agricultural engineer, Brian Dougherty discussing manure application practices
Ames, Iowa – The Iowa Learning Farms (ILF) conservation webinar taking place Sep. 14 at noon CDT will feature Brian Dougherty, field agricultural engineer, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Dougherty’s research and outreach focuses on the effects of cropping systems and management practices on soil health and water quality.
Iowa Learning Farms is an Iowa State University Extension and Outreach conservation and water quality education program.
In the webinar, “Improving Manure Management to Maximize Agronomic and Environmental Outcomes,” Dougherty will discuss the results from a 5-year study that assessed the effect of manure application timing, fall cereal rye cover crops and utilization of nitrification inhibitors on water quality and crop yields. He will also explore some best management practices in relation to maximizing the value of manure nutrients while minimizing environmental losses.
“As we approach harvest season for most row crops, planning for fall cover crop establishment and fall or winter manure application should be underway now,” said Dougherty. “This is the time to review the latest research on application timing, use of nitrification inhibitors and practices that will keep nutrients in the fields where they deliver the most value. I am hopeful that participants in this webinar will gain in their appreciation for the impacts management decisions regarding manure application timing will have on agronomic and environmental outcomes.”
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 Sep. 14:
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:
9/21: Trisha Moore, Kansas State University
9/28: D. Raj Raman, Iowa State University
10/5: Vinayak Shedekar, Ohio State University
10/12: Laura Alt, Iowa State University

Iowa Learning Farms Webinar: Species Selection for Bioreactor Woodchip Media Affects Denitrification Performance
2022-08-31 12:00
Aug. 31 presentation features Iowa State University assistant professor and extension forestry specialist, Billy Beck discussing woodchip selection for bioreactors
Ames, Iowa – The Iowa Learning Farms (ILF) conservation webinar taking place Aug. 31 at noon CDT will feature Billy Beck, assistant professor and extension forestry specialist at Iowa State University. Beck’s research and extension activities focus on utilizing tree and forest resources to address water quality and quantity issues in the agricultural Midwest.
Iowa Learning Farms is an Iowa State University Extension and Outreach conservation and water quality education program.
In the webinar, “Woodchips and Water Quality: Can Select Tree Species Enhance Performance of Denitrifying Woodchip Bioreactors?,” Beck will present the results from a study that investigated the impact of select woodchip species in lab-scale denitrifying bioreactors. He will also discuss current practices whereby bioreactors often utilize woodchip media of unknown species composition that frequently leads to poor and unpredictable nitrate removal performance. Drawing on the study results, Beck will highlight how utilization of select species may promote sustainable forest management statewide by encouraging on-farm or local production of species needed to deliver the best denitrification performance of bioreactors.
“Every species of tree has a unique combination of ‘extractives’ such as tannins, oils and resins, and we are learning that woodchips from some perform better than others for nitrate removal in bioreactors,” said Beck. “Utilization of bioreactor media, grown on-farm through sustainable forestry practices, may enhance water quality AND add value to the overall agricultural enterprise through leveraging the largely untapped potential of trees, forests and forestry on farms.”
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 Aug. 31:
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:
9/7: Emily Waring Ph.D., Iowa State University Alumnus
9/14: Brian Dougherty, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
9/21: Trisha Moore, Kansas State University

11th International Drainage Symposium
2022-08-30 08:00 - 2022-09-02 17:00 | Des Moines, Iowa
As a leader in edge-of-field conservation practice adoption, the Soil and Water Conservation Society is partnering with the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) to help bring you the 11th International Drainage Symposium, to be held in Des Moines, Iowa, August 30-September 2, 2022.
Two days of sessions will highlight drainage research, practice design, implementation, and policy. The third day of the symposium will feature field tours highlighting some of the innovative drainage work happening in the local area. The challenge of increasing agricultural production on the world’s poorly drained soils in a changing climate, with ever-increasing water quality and quantity concerns, will require technical, economic, policy, and social perspectives. The symposium will provide an opportunity for the research, agency, industry, and practitioner communities to interact, share experiences, and address emerging issues related to agricultural drainage.
Visit www.swcs.org/22IDS for more information, or to submit your abstract. Also available are details regarding exhibitor and sponsor opportunities and a draft agenda-at-a-glance.

Climate Webinar: Managing Water and Nutrients in a Changing Climate
2022-08-29 13:00
Managing nutrients and water in a changing climate: Thoughts from an agronomist in the land of 10,000 lakes
This coming Monday, August 29, 2022 at 1PM CST
In the middle of the North American continent, Minnesota sits in an interesting and dynamic climatic region. At the edge of the humid-to-dry climate transition, and with long, harsh winters that are warming faster than almost anywhere else in the United States, it faces some unique challenges and opportunities as the climate changes. In this webinar, University of Minnesota Extension Educator Greg Klinger discusses some of these potential challenges related to agricultural management of water and nutrients.
Register here.

Cover Crop and Soil Health Field Day to be Held at LICA Farm Near Melbourne August 25
2022-08-25 10:30 - 12:30
Iowa Learning Farms, Marshall County Soil and Water Conservation District, USDA-Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and Iowa Land Improvement Contractors Association (LICA), will host a cover crop and soil health field day Thursday, August 25 from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the LICA Farm near Melbourne. The free event is open to farmers and landowners and includes a complimentary meal.

Cover crops continue to gain popularity in Iowa due to their many benefits including reduced soil erosion, weed suppression potential, reduced nitrogen and phosphorus loads entering water bodies, and increased organic matter in the soil. When paired with no-tillage additional benefits include increased water infiltration and reduced erosion during heavy rain events. This field day aims to equip attendees with best management practices for establishing cover crops and maintaining yields during the transition to a higher residue system of no-tillage and cover crops.

Fayette County Farmer Loran Steinlage has been experimenting with different cover crop species on his farm over the past few years utilizing the longer establishment window provided by harvesting winter cereal rye for seed. He also has experience with companion/relay no-till cropping and currently produces corn, soybeans, cereal rye, winter wheat, malt barley and buckwheat. Attendees will be able to hear from Loran about what he found works and what doesn’t and ask questions. Marshall County NRCS will offer some hands-on soil health demonstrations that farmers can utilize in their own fields. Liz Ripley, Iowa Learning Farms conservation and cover crop outreach specialist, will share results from on-farm cover crop demonstration trials and best practices for establishing and managing your cover crops.

The field day be held at the LICA Farm located at 1723 290th St, Melbourne, IA 50162 and will be held rain or shine. The farm is located on the north side of the road and field day signs will mark the driveway to enter.

The event is free and open to farmers and landowners, though we require reservations to ensure adequate space and food. For reasonable accommodations and to RSVP please contact Liz Ripley at 515-294-5429 or ilf@iastate.edu. Attendees will be entered in a drawing for ISU Prairie Strips honey.

Iowa Learning Farms field days and workshops are supported by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. For more information about Iowa Learning Farms, visit www.iowalearningfarms.org.
