Iowa Water Center

Iowa Learning Farms Webinar: Prairie Strip Soil Movement Measurement Explained
2023-11-01 12:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago)
The Iowa Learning Farms conservation webinar taking place November 1 at noon will feature Jessica Nelson, graduate research assistant, Iowa State University. A member of the Science-based Trials of Rowcrops Integrated with Prairie Strips (STRIPS) team since 2019, Nelson’s research and studies are focused on sustainable agriculture and studying bioeconomic valuation of cropping systems and environmental outcomes from various management practices.
In the webinar, “Movement of Soil in Corn and Soybean Fields Managed with Prairie Strips,” Nelson will discuss outcomes of research utilizing mesh soil pads deployed in paired comparison fields to monitor the movement of soil within fields and flumes and assess edge-of-field sediment transport. She will discuss the pairing of study sites with prairie strips and those without prairie strips. Nelson will also share data and results including mass movement per day and total suspended sediment (TSS) load per rain event.
“Better management of soil loss within the Midwestern agroecological systems is crucial to sustaining strong row crop performance,” said Nelson. “Implementing diverse best management practices such as prairie strips or increasing groundcover year-round offer opportunities to slow losses and improve soil health. I am hopeful that participants in this session will be able to better imagine the possibilities that can help halt the decline of our ecosystems.”
Shortly before noon CDT, click the link below or type this web address into your internet browser: https://iastate.zoom.us/j/364284172

Iowa Learning Farms Webinar: Community-Based Pesticide Resistance Management
2023-11-08 12:00 - 14:00
The Iowa Learning Farms conservation webinar taking place November 8 at noon will feature Katehrine Dentzman, Ph.D., assistant professor of rural sociology, Iowa State University. Dentzman specializes in transdisciplinary agri-food research at the intersection of environmental and social sustainability. Using mixed method designs and a grounding in critical theory, she has contributed a unique sociology perspective to nearly a dozen separate research teams.
In the webinar, “Community Approaches to Pesticide Resistance Management,” Dentzman will describe the ongoing issue of pesticide resistance – a complex situation for which there are no simple solutions, and discuss why individual management approaches have been ineffective in preventing resistant weeds, insects and pathogens from continuing to spread across agricultural lands. She will highlight the impact of larger factors such as farm sizes, crop prices and market volatility which can limit management choices available to farmers, crop advisers, and other agricultural stakeholders. Dentzman will also discuss the potential of community-based management as one possible avenue for dealing with this landscape-scale issue.
“There is increased evidence that pesticide resistance is an issue that cannot be managed through individual efforts, but improving understanding of collaborative community-based approaches among stakeholders may help break through the current barriers and provide systemic improvements,” said Dentzman. “I hope that participants in this session will come away with a better understanding of the struggles different stakeholders face in managing resistance and how a collaborative approach can assist in overcoming these barriers.”
Shortly before noon CST, click the link below or type this web address into your internet browser: https://iastate.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xtAwWXycQZW8iwtNLz34GA#/registration

Iowa Learning Farms Conservation On Tap
2023-11-09 18:00 - 19:00
Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach in Madison and Warren County and Conservation Learning Group, will host “Conservation on Tap,” Thursday, November 9 from 6-7 p.m. at Middlebrook Mercantile in Cumming.
The event will provide local farmers, landowners and urban residents with a chance to discuss and ask questions about conservation practices aimed to improve water quality and soil health, as well as managing risk from weather variability and climate change. There will be an opportunity for networking following the event. To ensure adequate space and food, please RSVP by calling 515-294-5429 or email ilf@iastate.edu.
“Our intent with this event is to help build community through encouraging farmers, landowners, and urban residents to talk about topics important within the community, what keeps them up at night, what challenges they see with conservation practices, and what they want to learn more about,” said Liz Ripley, Iowa Learning Farms conservation and cover crop outreach specialist. “There will be no formal presentations or agenda, just a chance to talk, ask questions, listen and learn while enjoying a beverage and provided food. We are looking forward to learning alongside everyone else who attends.”
ISU hosts at the event will include Matt Helmers, Iowa Nutrient Research Center director, and Liz Ripley, ILF conservation and cover crop outreach specialist. Tim Portzen and Mosa Shayan from Middlebrook Farm will also join in the conversation as to why water quality matters for their operation.

Cover Crop and Grazing Field Day
2023-11-14 12:00 - 14:00
Iowa Learning Farms will host a cover crop and grazing field day Tuesday, November 14 from 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. at Jarad Weber’s farm near Argyle. The free event is open to farmers and landowners and includes a complimentary meal.
The field day aims to equip attendees with best management practices for establishing and managing cover crops. Cover crops offer many benefits to farmers and landowners, including reduced soil erosion, weed suppression potential, reduced nitrogen and phosphorus loads entering water bodies, and increased organic matter in the soil. In addition, cover crops add a feed source for livestock operations in the fall and spring.
The field day will feature Iowa Learning Farms farmer partner Jarad Weber sharing his experience with growing cover crops and grazing cattle in the fall on cover crops. Patrick Wall, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, will focus on cover crops as a grazing source. J.D. Hollingsworth and Jason Steele, NRCS, will discuss establishing cover crops and soil health benefits. Additionally, T.J. Mathis and LeAnn Winters, NRCS, will share financial assistance available for cover crops and other livestock related practices.
The field day will be held at the Weber Farm in a heated shop, 1983 275th St., Argyle, IA 52619. From HWY 218, travel 1 mile west on 275th Street. The farm is on the north side of the road.
The event is free and open to farmers and landowners, though reservations are required to ensure adequate space and food. For reasonable accommodations and to RSVP please contact Alena Whitaker at 515-294-2473 or ilf@iastsate.edu. Attendees will be entered in a drawing for ISU Prairie Strips honey!

Iowa Learning Farms Webinar: Benefiting Farm Income and Ecosystems through Perennial and Winter Cover Crops
2023-11-15 12:00 - 14:00
The Iowa Learning Farms conservation webinar taking place November 15 at noon will feature Matt Leavitt, perennial grains and winter annuals agronomy specialist, University of Minnesota. Leavitt provides agronomic assistance to growers in Minnesota, supporting the incorporation of winter annual grains and oilseed crops on their farms. He also supports the Environmental & Economic Cluster of Opportunity (EECO) grant from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
In the webinar, “Perennial and Winter Annual Crops for Economic and Environmental Benefit,” Leavitt will showcase the Forever Green Initiative at the University of Minnesota and offer insights into this unique breeding and commercialization platform and highlight the ecosystem benefits the crops provide to agricultural landscapes while also delivering economic returns to farmers and landowners.
“Winter annual grains and oilseeds offer farmers and landowners a tangible way to diversify their income stream,” said Leavitt. “These options also protect and enhance soil health and stability through erosion prevention and reduction of nutrient loading.”
Participants are encouraged to ask questions of the presenters. People from all backgrounds and areas of interest are encouraged to join.
Shortly before noon CST, click the link below or type this web address into your internet browser: https://iastate.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xtAwWXycQZW8iwtNLz34GA#/registration

Strip-tillage and Bioreactor Field Day - November 15
2023-11-15 16:00 - 18:00
Iowa Learning Farms will host a strip-tillage and bioreactor field day near Eldora on Wednesday, November 15 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. beginning at the Hunt Farm with host Jacob Bolson, and moving to the Hardin County Emergency Management building in Eldora. The free event is open to farmers and landowners and includes a complimentary meal.
The goal of this field day is to share the benefits of strip tillage and bioreactors on Iowa’s soil health and water quality. Strip-tillage can result in reduced soil erosion, less fertilizer runoff, increased organic matter and potential weed suppression benefits. Water quality can also be greatly improved through the use of bioreactors. Bioreactors utilize microbial action to reduce nitrate loads in water learving a field through tile outlets.
Weather permitting, the field day will begin with a farm tour with Jacob Bolson at the Hunt Farm. Following the tour, the program will move indoors to the Hardin County Emergency Management building at 1031 Edgington Ave, Eldora, Iowa. Jacob Handsaker with Hands-On Excavating will discuss the installation process of a wood chip bioreactor. Japer County farmer Will Cannon will then discuss the goals and benefits of strip-tillage. The field day will conclude with a complimentary meal.
The field day will begin at the Hunt Farm at 28989 State Highway 175, Eldora, Iowa. In case of inclement weather, the field day will begin at the Hardin County Emergency Management building at the 1031 Edgington Ave, Eldora, Iowa. 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 Mitch Harting at 515-294-8912 or ilf@iastate.edu by November 10. Attendees will be entered in a drawing for ISU Prairie Strips honey.

Cover Crop, Soil Health and Water Quality Field Day to be held near Gilmore City November 16
2023-11-16 12:00 - 14:00
Iowa Learning Farms, Iowa Nutrient Research Center, and Iowa Corn will host a cover crop, soil health and water quality field day near Gilmore City on Tuesday, November 16 from 12:00-2:00 p.m. at the Faith United Methodist Church. The event is free and open to farmers and landowners and includes a complimentary meal.
This field day aims to equip attendees with best management practices for establishing and managing cover crops to improve soil health and reduce nutrient losses. Cover crops offer many benefits to farmers and landowners, including reduced soil erosion, weed suppression potential, reduced nitrogen and phosphorus loads entering water bodies, and increased organic matter in the soil.
The field day will begin with a complimentary meal at the Faith United Methodist Church in Gilmore City. Following the meal, Dr. Matt Helmers, ISU professor Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (ABE) and Iowa Nutrient Research Center director, will share information on the water quality results from over 30 years at will discuss phosphorus and potassium recommendations along with soil sampling information and information on deficiency symptoms.
The field day will begin at the Faith United Methodist Church, 111 SE 2nd St, Gilmore City, IA 50541. The event is free to open to farmers and landowners, though reservations are required to ensure adequate space and food. For reasonable accommodations and to RSVP, please contact Liz Ripley at 515-294-5429 or ilf@iastate.edu by November 10. Attendees will be entered in a drawing for ISU Prairie Strips honey.

Cover Crop Field Day to be held near Cambridge November 21
2023-11-21 10:00 - 12:00
Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with Polk Soil and Water Conservation District, will host a crop field day near Cambridge on Tuesday, November 21, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. beginning at the Polk SWCD Cover Crop Plot and moving to the Nord-Kalsem Community Center in Huxley. The free event is open to farmers and landowners and includes a complimentary meal.
This field day aims to equip attendees with best management practices for establishing and managing cover crops to improve soil health and reduce nutrient losses. Cover crops offer many benefits to farmers and landowners, including reduced soil erosion, weed suppression potential, reduced nitrogen and phosphorus loads entering water bodies, and increased organic matter in the soil.
Weather permitting, the field day will begin with a tour of the Polk SWCD cover crop plots with Michael James, Water Quality Initiative Coordinator, and Nick Helland, Polk County farmer. Following the tour, the program will move indoors to the Nord-Kalsem Community Center, 204 West 5th Street, Huxley, Iowa. Mark Licht, Iowa State University Associate Professor and Extension Cropping Systems Specialist, will share best management practices for establishing and managing cover crops. Hillary Olson, Soil Health Specialist with Iowa NRCS, will then discuss and demonstrate soil health principles that can lead to reduced soil erosion, improved infiltration, water storage, and more. The field day will conclude with a complimentary meal.
The field day will begin at 16300 NE 42nd Street, Cambridge, IA 50046. In case of inclement weather, the field day will begin at the Nord-Kalsem Community Center, 204 West 5th Street, Huxley, IA 50124.
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 Mitch Harting at 515-294-8912 or ilf@iastate.edu by November 17. Attendees will be entered in a drawing for ISU Prairie Strips honey.

100 Years of Farming: Sediment and Nutrient Loss Yesterday and Today
2023-11-22 12:00 - 14:00
The Iowa Learning Farms conservation webinar taking place November 22 at noon will feature Matt Helmers, professor and extension agricultural engineer, Iowa State University. Helmers conducts research and extension outreach programs concerning nutrient management, cropping practices, drainage design and management, and strategic placement of buffer systems to reduce nutrient export from agricultural landscapes.
In the webinar, “Impact of 100 Years of Agricultural Practice Changes on Sediment and Nutrient Loss from One Farm in Osceola County, Iowa,” Helmers will discuss the changes in farming practices over the past 100 years through the lens of his family’s farm. He will overview the evolution of farming practices over time and examine some of the potential impacts of different practices on sediment and nutrient losses.
“Looking at the ways in which farmers utilize the land and how land management practices have changed over the last 100 years provides an excellent opportunity to increase understanding of how these practices have impacted sediment and nutrient loss,” said Helmers. “Over time, the outcomes of adopted practices were not always predictable or entirely beneficial. It may surprise some people that while some practices may have reduced sediment loss, they also increase nitrate losses. Taking the good with the bad, seeing impacts over a 100-year span provides an excellent backdrop for learning and discussion.”
Shortly before noon CST, click the link below or type this web address into your internet browser: https://iastate.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xtAwWXycQZW8iwtNLz34GA#/registration

Matt Helmers (lower right), his father (upper right), and grandfather on the family farm near Oceola, Iowa

Iowa Learning Farms Webinar: Tracking Manure Nutrient Content Nationwide with ManureDB
2023-11-29 12:00 - 17:00
The Iowa Learning Farms conservation webinar taking place November 29 at noon will feature Nancy Bohl Bormann, Ph.D. candidate, University of Minnesota. Bohl Bormann is pursuing a Ph.D. through the Soil, Water, and Climate Department at the University of Minnesota, focusing her research on developing and implementing ManureDB, a nationwide manure database. She has also spent some 14 years in nutrient management as a CCA and together with her husband Matt is an Iowa Learning Farms farmer partner operating a family grain farm in northern Iowa.
In the webinar, “ManureDB: The Creation and Launch of the Largest Manure Nutrient Database in the U.S.,” Bohl Borbman will describe the purpose and function of ManureDB as well as highlighting the diverse nutrient book values of manure and how these values may inform nutrient management practice implementations. She will also discuss how ManureDB demonstrates the wide nutrient variability of manure from different animals, storages, regions, and management practices in the U.S. Bohl Bormann will also provide an overview of the dynamic manure test database structure and capabilities implemented through a partnership with the Minnesota Supercomputing Institute. The ManureDB project is being conducted under a National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) grant under the direction and leadership of Melissa Wilson, Ph.D. and Erin Cortus Ph.D.
“Most manure book values used today are from the Midwest Plan Service (MWPS) and American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, which were derived from samples prior to 2003,” said Bohl Bormann. “Knowing current manure test values will assist in more accurate nutrient management and education and planning, manure land application, and agricultural modeling and encourage even more wide-spread manure testing. In addition, providing a more precise nutrient value of the manure or organic amendment being applied is important to achieving both agronomic potential and environmental stewardship.”
Shortly before noon CST, click the link below or type this web address into your internet browser: https://iastate.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xtAwWXycQZW8iwtNLz34GA#/registration

Iowa Learning Farms Conservation on Tap
2023-11-30 18:00 - 19:00
Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with the Floyd County Soil and Water Conservation District and Conservation Learning Group, will host “Conservation on Tap,” Thursday, November 30 from 6-7 p.m. at Tellurian Brewing in Charles City.
The event will provide local farmers, landowners and urban residents with a chance to discuss and ask questions about conservation practices aimed to improve water quality and soil health, as well as managing risk from weather variability and climate change. There will be an opportunity for networking following the event. To ensure adequate space and food, please RSVP by calling 515-294-5429 or email ilf@iastate.edu
“Our intent with this event is to help build community through encouraging farmers, landowners, and urban residents to talk about topics important within the community, what keeps them up at night, what challenges they see with conservation practices, and what they want to learn more about,” said Liz Ripley, Iowa Learning Farms conservation and cover crop outreach specialist. “There will be no formal presentations or agenda, just a chance to talk, ask questions, listen and learn while enjoying a beverage and provided food. We are looking forward to learning alongside everyone else who attends.”
Iowa State University hosts at the event will include Dr. Mark Licht, associate professor and extension cropping systems specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Dr. Matt Helmers, Iowa Nutrient Research director, and Liz Ripley, Iowa Learning Farms conservation and cover crop outreach specialist. Cort Sanvig, owner and brewer at Tellurian Brewing, will also join in the conversations as t why water quality matters for brewing.

Iowa Learning Farms Webinar: Disease and Yield Implications of Cereal Rye Before Corn
2023-12-06 12:00 - 14:00
The Iowa Learning Farms conservation webinar taking place December 6th at noon will feature Rashelle L. Matthiesen Ph.D., research scientist, department of plant pathology, entomology and microbiology, Iowa State University. Matthiesen’s research for over a decade has focused on addressing the Pythium species that infect corn and soybean causing seedling disease. Her most recent research is evaluating the effect of a cover crop before corn on growth and development, seedling disease and yield. The goal of this research is to understand the factors that may play a role in corn yield drag following a cereal rye cover crop and the development of improved management practices that mitigate these factors and help to ensure the success of farmers planting cover crops.
In the webinar, “What Lies Beneath: The Impact of a Cereal Rye Cover Crop on Corn Seedling Disease Severity,” Matthiesen will provide data and outcomes from a field experiment conducted during 2021-2023 at 16 locations in the U.S. in which the effects of termination timing of a cereal rye cover crop were evaluated. She will present results related to seedling disease, insects, slugs and corn growth. In addition, Matthiesen will present data from a comparison study of cover crop termination done before and at planting time, offering insights into the effects of timing on disease and corn growth.
“The environmental and soil health benefits of including cereal rye cover crops in field crop production are well-recognized, but it is crucial to continue to create and refine best management practices that will help to ensure farmers are successful in the cereal rye-corn production system,” said Matthiesen. “For example, we do not recommend planting corn into a green cover crop of cereal rye because of a greater risk of seedling disease that may result in lower corn yield – a situation that will prevent or slow cover crop adoption.”
Shortly before noon CST, click the link below or type this web address into your internet browser: https://iastate.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xtAwWXycQZW8iwtNLz34GA#/registration

Iowa Learning Farms Virtual Field Day
2023-12-07 13:00 - 14:00
To participate in the virtual field day, shortly before 1:00 p.m. CT on December 7 go to this link: https://iastate.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUpduihpj8iE9ZHcjpsenc2DWQILG41wg0D#/

Iowa Learning Farms Webinar: Prairie Planting Success
2023-12-13 12:00 - 14:00
The Iowa Learning Farms conservation webinar taking place December 13 at noon will feature Laura Jackson, director and professor of biology, Tallgrass Prairie Center, University of Northern Iowa. Jackson has taught courses in ecology, conservation and restoration ecology for 30 years at UNI while also conducting research on the restoration of biological diversity in agriculture landscapes, and the dynamics of seedling establishment in prairie reconstructions.
In the webinar, “Planning and Planting Prairie: Research and On-farm Experience,” Jackson will draw on the results of field experiments and on-farm studies conducted in collaboration with co-authors Justin Meissen, research and restoration program manager, and Andy Olson, prairie on farms manager at the Tallgrass Prairie Center, to discuss results of testing for successful seed mix design, planting date, first year mowing and seeding depth effects on the success of prairie plantings. She will also highlight the conservation, habitat and biodiversity benefits of prairie plantings. Jackson will also discuss four key ideas that have proven to work together to underpin prairie success:

Tiny, wildly diverse seeds
Seed mix design determines ecological functions
Success or failure is largely determined in year 1, and
There’s no way to go back and start over, so planning and coordination are critical

“Most Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) prairie plantings fall short of their potential to provide high quality habitat for a wide variety of animals,” said Jackson. “Successful plantings require detailed planning and the willingness to spend more than the minimum on good native seed. Our research aims to close the quality gap between what farmers can achieve on their land when compared to work conducted by prairie restoration practitioners.”
Shortly before noon CST, click the link below or type this web address into your internet browser: https://iastate.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xtAwWXycQZW8iwtNLz34GA#/registration

A Vision for Iowa: Growing Food for People through Diversified Agriculture Systems
2023-12-15 13:00 - 15:00
Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with the Iowa Nutrient Research Center, and Conservation Learning Group (CLG), is hosting a free virtual field day on Friday, December 15th at 1 p.m. Join for a live discussion with Wendy Johnson, Floyd County Iowa Learning Farms partner and co-owner of Jóia Food and Fiber Farm.
“The future of agriculture is this! It’s diverse, it’s fun, and it’s joyful. You see life – growing life and supporting wildlife,” explains Johnson on the growing interest in this form of diversified agricultural system.
The virtual field day will explore how Wendy Johnson and her husband Johnny Rankin started and continue to manage Jóia Food & Fiber Farm with a mission to farm holistically and grow food for people through the use of a diversified agricultural system and direct marketing of meat, grain, wool and other products they are producing.
“Following significant flooding, specifically in 2016 and 2018, my husband and I made the decision to pasture more and crop less,” noted Johnson. “We also have integrated custom grazing of cow/calf pairs as added income and have added Kerzna, a perennial no-till small grain. On these 130 acres, we are now 100% perennial. Now, in a drought, we have not had to use hay during the last three growing seasons due to our use of adaptive grazing system, increasing our resiliency to changing weather.”
Not only is their landscape diverse, but Johnson also cares for certified Animal Welfare Approved sheep and lambs, as well as raising pigs, broiler chickens, layer chickens, turkeys, a few cows of their own, and custom grazing a cow/calf herd. With growing interest in agroforestry, they are utilizing silvopasture through the integration of trees and shrubs, including fruit and nut types, in their pastures.
Additionally, Wendy co-owns Counting Sheep Sleep Company, a wool fiber business utilizing Jóia’s wool, and co-manages the family farm, Center View Farms Co, with her father. Wendy has helped to expand conservation practices on her family’s traditional row-crop farm to become more sustainable and regenerative by implementing 100% no-till, adding cover crops, and reducing costly inputs.
To participate in the live virtual field day at 1:00 pm CT on December 15 to learn more, click this URL: https://iastate.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUpduihpj8iE9ZHcjpsenc2DWQILG41wg0D or visit https://www.iowalearningfarms.org/events-1.

4th Annual Virtual Harmful Algal Bloom Symposium
2024-01-04 09:00 - 17:00
The fourth annual research symposium will be held virtually and feature presentations on prediction, monitoring, and treatment as well as communication and outreach regarding harmful algal blooms (HABs).
In addition, the event will include a special feedback session with representatives from the NOAA Ocean Acidification Program studying the effects of freshwater acidification on HABs. The team at NOAA are currently conducting a nationwide stakeholder needs assessment for acidification concerns, priorities, interests, and intersections. The feedback session will offer attendees the opportunity to lend their perspectives and provide feedback to NOAA on the impact of freshwater acidification on HABs.
This event is organized by the Algal Bloom Action Team, a collaboration of water professionals, researchers, and educators from 12 states in the North Central Region of the United States.

PFAS Webinar: What Do We Know and Where Are We Headed Next?
2024-01-17 14:00 - 15:00
Tune into the first webinar in this year’s series from the North Central Region Water Network on January 17th at 2:00 p.m. CST. Each month, the best water-related research and Extension programming throughout the region are highlighted.
In this edition, you will hear about the latest research on PFAS and the social and economic issues related to PFAS risk, exposure, and remediation. It will also include a discussion on knowledge and research gaps and the future direction of PFAS work and policy.

Pasturing Oxbows: Optimizing Benefits to the Farm, Water, and Wildlife
2024-01-18 13:00 - 14:00
The Iowa Nutrient Research Center and the Conservation Learning Group join Iowa Learning Farms on Thursday, January 18th, to discuss Oxbows. Sara McMillan, professor of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at Iowa State University, and Karen Wilke, Associate Director of Freshwater at the Nature Conservancy, will share how an oxbow formed naturally in Kossuth County and the process to restore it.
Located within an actively used pasture, the restoration process took into consideration factors such as livestock safely accessing the water. Pastured oxbows help improve overall forage production by providing a place for water to collect and reduce flooding within the pasture. Additionally, by providing a water source from the stream, these systems improve water quality through the reduction of direct contributions of bacteria from livestock in the stream and the maintenance of streambanks that help retain sediment and phosphorus.

INRC Focus on the Future Seminar - Feb 14 Session
2024-02-14 15:10 - 16:00
Join the first session of the Iowa Nutrient Research Center’s Spring “Focus on the Future” Series! The following two topics will be presented.
Microbial communities as a pathway to improved woodchip and corncob bioreactor design and performance
The first presenter is Taylor Vroman, Environmental Science, Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering.
Her research focuses on analyzing the microbial communities within corncob and woodchip bioreactors to optimize the performance of the edge-of-field conservation practice. She is currently using nitrate removal, greenhouse gas production, water chemistry and gene presence to determine performance in laboratory upflow columns.
Ranking the effect of GxExM factors on the economic optimum N rate
The second presenter is Mitch Baum, Post doc, Department of Agronomy.
Mitch created a ranking of influential GxExM factors on the economic optimum N rate using a well calibrated process-based cropping systems model. The goal is to explore how the annual variability of the yield response to N can be managed with crop genetics and management vs. the uncontrollable variability caused by seasonal weather fluctuations.

Join online or in person at 1306 Elings Hall on the Iowa State University campus.

ILF Webinar: Agricultural Climate Resilience through Water Management and Soil Conservation
2024-02-28 12:00 - 13:00
This Iowa Learning Farm Conservation Webinar will feature Rick Cruse, professor of agronomy and director of the Iowa Water Center at Iowa State University. Cruse was raised on a farm in Northeast Iowa and has been engaged with Iowa farmers while working at Iowa State University for over 40 years. His research, teaching and extension efforts address management impacts on soil erosion, water and crop production.
Cruse will highlight factors and practices which affect agricultural climate resilience. He will focus on the importance of water and water management and discuss actions including draining excess water, capitalizing on water sourced from shallow groundwater, and maximizing water infiltration and storage through improving soil health.
“Water and water management are the most fundamental components of climate-resilient farm plans,” says Cruse. “We are eager to help Midwest farmers gain a better understanding of the underutilized water resources that they may already have and how those resources can substantially improve their climate resilience.”

Shortly before noon CST, click the link below or type this web address into your internet browser: https://iastate.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xtAwWXycQZW8iwtNLz34GA#/registration

A New Look At An Old Way to Fix Broken Lakes
2024-03-12 13:00 - 14:00
This Midwest Greater Lakes Partnership presentation will illustrate the need for a more robust lake scientific study design that accurately quantifies glacial lake health as the first step in lake restoration, which is a team sport.
Jerry Sweeten, Senior Restoration Ecologist — Ecosystems Connections Institute, LLC, will present examples where nutrient and sediment monitoring were conducted to prioritize tributaries for restoration. Leveraging these data have helped to designate the lake in the National Water Quality Initiative and direct increased funding to on-the-ground conservation.

Virtual Field Day - A New Direction in Cover Crops: Developing Perennial Ground Cover for Corn Systems in the Midwest
2024-03-21 13:00 - 14:00
Join Iowa Learning Farms, the Iowa Nutrient Research Center (INRC), and Conservation Learning Group (CLG), for a FREE virtual field day.
The discussion will include D. Raj Raman, Morrill Professor of Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering at Iowa State University, and Daniel Andersen, Associate Professor of Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering at Iowa State University.
RegenPGC stands for Regenerating America’s Working Landscapes to Enhance Natural Resources and Public Goods through Perennial Groundcover. The vision RegenPGC is to make year-round groundcover on working lands the norm for Midwestern US agriculture and beyond. Central to the approach is developing and de-risking perennial groundcover (PGC) systems, where a perennial cover crop is planted once and then persists for multiple years alongside annual crops such as corn and soybean.
This project started nearly two decades ago, with Dr. Ken Moore, Distinguished Professor of Agronomy, and RegenPGC Educational Theme Leader, and his team exploring ways of planting a perennial cover between rows of corn. Early successes led to funding from the Sun Grant program, INRC, and others, and eventually to USDA’s-National Institute for Food and Agriculture Sustainable Agricultural Systems Coordinated Agricultural Projects program. RegenPGC was formally started in September, 2021, as a 5-year transdisciplinary project combining research, extension, education, and commercialization efforts.

Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) Preventative Treatment & Adaptive Management
2024-03-28 10:00 - 11:00
This first webinar in the 2024 Great Lakes HABs Collaborative series will focus on preventative treatment and adaptive management of HABs with field case studies.
The presentation will feature the following speakers
Dr. Alyssa Calomeni-Eck, Research Biologist, US Army Corps of Engineers ERDC
Dr. Ciera Kinley-Baird, Aquatic Ecotoxicologist, Aquatic Control, Inc.
They will discuss cutting-edge research and technology on harmful algal bloom interception, treatment, and adaptive management.

2024 Conservation Drainage Network Annual Meeting
2024-04-03 08:00 - 2024-04-05 17:00 | Renaissance Columbus Westerville-Polaris Hotel, Westerville, OH, United States
This is a must-attend event for anyone passionate about conservation drainage.
Targeted Outcomes:

Raise awareness of the importance of agricultural water management to farm profitability, local, regional, and national initiatives to advance soil health, water quality, watershed restoration, risk reduction and climate resiliency goals.
Strengthen understanding of drivers for practice implementation and identify impediments to conservation drainage practice adoption.
Prioritize information needs (i.e., research gaps) to address risks.
Understand how to advance conservation drainage as an integral component of managing food production, regenerative agriculture, and terrestrial water supplies under changing climate conditions.
Advance conservation drainage implementation.

Webinar: Phosphorus Management and Water Quality
2024-04-10 14:00 - 15:00
Managing phosphorus to both meet crop needs and reduce P loss from agricultural fields is critical to managing water resources. This edition of The Current webinar will focus on P management and water quality – the latest research on P transport modeling and a review of ag BMPs and their efficacy for reducing P loss.
Featured Speakers:

Gurbir Singh, Assistant Professor/ and State Extension Specialist, Soil Science, Agroecology and Landscape Management, University of Missouri-Novelty
Peter Tomlinson, Associate Professor and Extension Specialist for Environmental Quality, Kansas State University
Rebecca Logsdon Muenich, Associate Professor, Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of Arkansas

The Current is a networking webinar series for professionals engaged in water-related extension, research, and conservation activities. The North Central Region Water Network and Extension Directors from all 12 North Central states are sponsoring this series to highlight the best water-related research and Extension programming in the region.

Focus on the Future Series - April 10
2024-04-10 15:10 | 1306 Elings Hall, 605 Bissell Road, Ames, Iowa, United States
The Iowa Nutrient Research Center continues its spring 2024 seminar series, Focus on the Future. Join current and recent graduate students as they discuss their studies and their experiences as early career researchers.
The April 10th presentation will feature the following topics and speakers:

Improving understanding of “corn yield drag” after cereal rye cover crop by tracking soil net nitrogen mineralization across three hillslope positions
Presenter: Mila Vicorio Pessoto, Department of Agronomy
Spatiotemporal variability of soil and digital soil mapping for agriculture
Presenter, Arturo Flores Godoy, Department of Agronomy

The monthly hybrid seminar series is presented online and in-person at 1306 Elings Hall, 605 Bissell Road, on the Iowa State University campus.

Great Lakes HABs Collaborative April Webinar.
2024-04-25 14:00 - 15:00
This episode will focus on Harmful Algal Bloom Interception, Treatment, And Transformation System (HABITATS). The speaker is Dr. Martin Page, Operational Water Research Team Leader, US Army Corps of Engineers ERDC.
The webinar will last 60 minutes with a facilitated Q&A to follow the speaker.

North Central Climate Collaborative (NC3) Webinar
2024-04-29 13:00 - 14:00
Applying social sciences in the development of climate-smart agriculture
In efforts to understand and advance agricultural practices that promote climate resilience, ag organizations and advisors face several challenges in facilitating the adoption of these practices. Social science research has honed in on these issues, developing nuanced frameworks for exploring these challenges and barriers.
In this webinar, Dr. Laurie Nowatzke, Coordinator of the USDA Midwest Climate Hub in Ames, Iowa, will present two studies related to farmers’ climate perspectives and conservation practice use. The presentation will also include a discussion of two applied projects that harness social science research to advance climate-smart outreach and programming in the Midwest.
The North Central Climate Collaborative (NC3) is comprised of individuals with expertise in climate science, agronomy, stormwater management, and other disciplines, and is working to increase the flow and usability of climate information for extension, farmers, natural resource managers, and communities. The team is working to increase the adoption of climate-smart practices and improving water management while maintaining profitability.

Public Radio's 'Science Friday'
2024-05-04 18:00 - 20:00 | Scheman Building, Ames, IA, United States
National Public Radio’s “Science Friday,” hosted by Ira Flatow, will be broadcasting from Iowa State University on Saturday, May 4, and will feature ISU researchers.
The first topic will be climate change. As climate change continues to have a larger effect on how agriculture works, how are the experts on the ground preparing for the future? Iowa State University faculty experts Dr. Arti Singh and Dr. Patrick Schnable will join other presenters to share how they see the future of agriculture, from using AI and robots to give farmers a better understanding of their crops in real-time and develop drought-resistance, to using environmentally sustainable farming techniques, like regenerative agriculture.
The live event at Stephens Auditorium begins at 6pm; doors open at 5pm

Focus on the Future - May 8th
2024-05-08 03:10 - 16:00
The Iowa Nutrient Research Center continues its spring 2024 seminar series, Focus on the Future. Join current and recent graduate students as they discuss their studies and their experiences as early career researchers.
On May 8th, the seminar topics are:
1) Evaluating Wildlife Responses to Working Land and Water Conservation
Presenter: Michael Rohde, Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management. Advisor: Adam Janke
Iowa’s urbanized and agricultural landscape has caused water quality degradation and loss of species. Conservation groups are working to protect these resources, but they often lack coordination. To provide insight on the impact of water quality conservation on wildlife. He will provide estimated occupancy of key Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) across Iowa informed by the Iowa Multiple Species Inventory and Monitoring (MSIM) long-term dataset and the simulated various scenarios of water quality conservation using the Agricultural Conservation Planning Framework (ACPF) to estimate potential effects of water quality conservation on the distribution of SGCN in Iowa.
2) Managing Crop Residue to Reduce AONR (Agronomic Optimum N Rate) for Water Quality
Presenter: Alexandria Logan, Department of Agronomy. Advisor: Michael Castellano
With renewed interest in using crop residue as biofuels and increasing yields, research aiming to understand the effects of residue management on the soil nitrogen cycle is necessary. This research evaluates crop residue management’s influence on optimum nitrogen rates, focusing on the subsequent corn crop.
The presentations are from 3:10-4:00 p.m. and take place online and at 1306 Elings Hall on the Iowa State University campus.
