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Iowa Nutrient Research Center Director Matt Helmers will be one of the hosts at the upcoming Conservation on Tap event, sponsored by Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with the Des Moines Water Works and Conservation Learning Group, Thursday, Oct. 19, from 6-7 p.m. at Big Grove Brewery & Taproom in Des Moines. Staff from Big Grove Brewery will join in the conversations as to why water quality matters for brewing, along with Ted Corrigan, CEO and General Manager of Des Moines Water Works, and Mark Licht, associate professor and extension cropping systems specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

 A new educational opportunity, the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy and Your Farm Workshop, is available to interested local Iowa State University Extension and Outreach staff or other farm and community leaders. The new workshop is available to provide farmers, landowners and conservation professionals with information on the purpose, need, action items, and benefits of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy and provide tools to create a basic nutrient reduction plan for their farm operation.

A digital toolkit of related resources to use individually or in association with the workshop is also available. Follow this link to access the digital toolkit with presentation slides, handouts, advertising materials, and evaluation materials. 

The materials are based on a half-day workshop conducted in 2023. They utilize modeling tools like the Nitrogen Load Estimate Calculator and Nutrient Tracking Tool to provide tailored estimates of nutrient losses from row crop acres under current operating conditions and after  incorporation of nutrient management practices.

To inquire about planning a workshop in your area -- or for other questions -- contact Kay Stefanik, assistant director of the Iowa Nutrient Research Center. 

A study published by the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development at Iowa State University presents findings from INRC-supported research on the views of landowners and farmers regarding edge-of-field conservation practices and the barriers to scaling up these practices to significantly reduce nutrient loss. Using two rounds of survey responses among over 1,000 landowners and farmers residing in five watersheds in Iowa, conducted in summer 2022 and 2023, this study provides informative updates for EOF practices on current adoption rates and adoption willingness, perceived environmental benefits, and barriers to adoption and puts forward suggestions on effective education strategies embraced by landowners and farmers.

AMES, IA – A one-day Drainage Research Forum will bring experts from the upper Midwest to Ames, Thursday, September 5, to discuss agricultural drainage research projects and related issues.

The forum is jointly sponsored by Iowa State University and the Iowa Nutrient Research Center, the University of Minnesota and South Dakota State University.