Webinar: Phosphorus Management and Water Quality
2024-04-10 14:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago)
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.

Iowa Learning Farms Webinar: Understanding and Improving Farmers' Edge-of-Field Perceptions
2024-05-08 12:00 - 13:00
The Iowa Learning Farms (ILF) conservation webinar taking place May 8 at noon CT will feature Wendong Zhang, Ph.D., extension economist and assistant professor in the Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management at Cornell University. Zhang’s research focuses on issues related to the interplay between agriculture and the environment, the U.S. farmland market, as well as the global trade implications of Chinese food and agricultural demand.
In the webinar, “Decoding Iowa Farmers’ Understanding of Edge-of-Field Practices,” Zhang will draw on the outcomes from a recent report assessing edge-of-field (EOF) practice knowledge and adoption to illustrate current EOF practice adoption rates and adoption willingness, perceived environmental benefits, and barriers to adoption among Iowa farmers. He will also offer suggestions on effective education strategies which were shown to be embraced by landowners and farmers—and improved effectiveness of communication and message comprehension.

Discovering a Potential Treatment for Health Effects of Algal Toxin Exposure
2024-05-16 12:00 - 12:30
Microcystins are some of the most abundant and potent harmful algal bloom toxins and have emerged as a public health concern due to the potential to cause severe organ injury including liver damage. While currently there are no targeted therapies to protect against microcystin exposure, previous research found that naturally occurring bacteria from Lake Erie had the ability to degrade algal toxins such as microcystin.
Drs. Steven Haller and David Kennedy of The University of Toledo have made significant progress in discovering a potential treatment for microcystin exposure through probiotics. Researchers ran in vitro experiments on human liver cells as well as model experiments on mice to find out if microcystin-degrading bacteria can function as probiotics to protect against organ damage from toxin exposure.
Join this Ohio Sea Grant Freshwater Webinar on May 16 to learn more!

Algal Bloom Action Team Webinar: Cyanobacteria in the Context of Climate Change
2024-06-05 11:00 - 12:00
This webinar focuses on cyanobacteria in the context of global climate change, including nitrate, reduced ice cover, and increased temperatures and light. Tune in to learn about the work of Rebecca North, Associate Professor at the University of Missouri’s School of Natural Resources and Silvia Newell, Director of Michigan Sea Grant and Professor at the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability.

North Central Region Water Network Webinar - Multistate Water Work in Action
2024-06-12 14:00 - 15:00
The North Central Region Water Network is celebrating the 100th edition of The Current Webinar Series! To celebrate this milestone they will showcase several examples of multistate water work that are expanding the scope and positive impact of programs through multistate partnerships. This will include:

The Confluence for Watershed Leaders program
The Conservation Drainage Network, and
The upcoming North Central Agriculture and Climate Conference

Iowa Learning Farms Webinar: Understanding Cereal Rye N Cycling Benefits and Risks
2024-06-19 12:00 - 13:00
This Iowa Learning Farms (ILF) conservation webinar will feature Richard Roth, assistant professor and extension nitrogen education specialist, Iowa State University. His research and extension program at Iowa State University focuses on engineering and optimizing nitrogen and sulfur management strategies to improve the efficiency and environmental sustainability of cropping systems in the Midwest.
Roth will provide an overview of cereal rye cover crop systems and discuss how adopting cereal rye influences nitrogen cycling and potential subsequent impacts on growing crops. He will also introduce and highlight some management options to help overcome potential risks from the impacts of cereal rye on nitrogen cycling.
“Cereal rye is excellent at scavenging nitrogen from the soil profile, but not great at returning that nitrogen to the soil in a plant available form for growing crops,” said Roth. “Cover crops, specifically cereal rye, are one of the most effective tools in a farmer’s toolbox to help improve soil health and minimize nutrient losses from their fields, but understanding potential risks associated with cover crop adoption is key to success in these systems. I hope that participants learn the potential risks associated with cereal rye but also gain an understanding that shifts in management can be made to help overcome the risk.”

Webinar: Ruination to Restoration to Revitalization: The Story of a Great Lakes Area of Concern
2024-06-27 12:00 - 13:00 | Arkansas Water Resources Center
This Water Webinar will focus on the restoration of Muskegon Lake and its wetlands in Michigan. The presentation will cover water quality, ecosystem restoration, and socioeconomics. Muskegon Lake is a coastal river mouth lake with a history of environmental issues. Many restoration efforts reconnecting wetlands have improved water quality and lake habitat. A wetland restoration project reduced phosphorus concentrations from over 0.8 ppm (mg/L) to 0.03 ppm (mg/L), wow! Research efforts provided a sound basis for restoration design and implementation. These restoration efforts also showed a 5.8:1 return on investment with $1 billion in increased in shoreline development. The region experienced unexpected issues about public access and “blue gentrification.” A water [success!] story from which we all can learn here in Arkansas and across the USA.
SPEAKERS: Dr. Alan Steinman, PhD, Allen and Helen Hunting Research Professor, Robert B. Annis Water Resources Institute, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Michigan

HABs/Algae 101 Webinar
2024-07-25 18:00 - 19:30
Join Michigan Sea Grant and partners for a FREE webinar all about algae, the tiny living things at the foundation of aquatic food webs. Learn about algae’s vital role in aquatic ecosystems and get to know cladophora, didymo, and other types of algae that cause problems.
Topic speakers will include:
Algal Ecology: Julianne Heinlein, Great Lakes Environmental Center
Cladophora/Green algae: Marcella Domka, Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council
Didymo: Jordyn Stoll, Trout Unlimited
Golden brown algae: R. Jan Stevenson, MSU (retired)

ILF Webinar: “Phosphorus Exchanges Between a River and its Floodplain”
2024-08-14 12:00 - 13:00
In the webinar, “Phosphorus Exchanges Between a River and its Floodplain,” Pete Moore will provide highlights and data from an ongoing study aimed at quantifying the inputs and outputs of sediment and sediment-borne phosphorus in the Nishnabotna River watershed located in southwest Iowa. He will present key results to date and what they suggest about opportunities and constraints for phosphorus management. Moore will also discuss the processes by which phosphorus is transported between water and floodplains. Streambank erosion is a significant source of phosphorus in waterways.
Moore is adjunct assistant professor, natural resource ecology and management at Iowa State University, and a geomorphologist who studies the erosion, transport, and deposition of sediment across the landscape.

Iowa Nutrient Research Center's Fall 2024 Seminar Series: Trends
2024-11-13 15:10 - 16:10 | 1306 Elings Hall, 605 Bissell Road, Ames, Iowa, United States
Nutrient and Sediment Loads Measured from the Chesapeake Bay River Input Monitoring Network
Presenter: Jimmy Webber, hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey
Nutrient and sediment loads are changing over time in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. This presentation will describe how the USGS uses a river monitoring network to assess these water-quality trends. Recent load and trend results from this monitoring network will be presented and discussed in context with Chesapeake Bay water-quality goals.
In person: Elings Hall
Online: https://iastate.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0rduuhqzIsHNKqy1wf-NG2YvduKoOhzStH#/registration
