AMES, Iowa — The 17th annual Drainage Research Forum will provide results and updates on drainage research and farm projects on Nov. 15 at the Iowa State University Alumni Center.
“The Drainage Research Forum is an important event for stakeholders to hear about the latest research and have an opportunity to discuss projects with the foremost experts from the nation and the region,” said Matt Helmers, professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering and extension agricultural engineer. “We hope attendees learn about research being conducted to better understand the role of drainage in our agricultural landscapes as well as learn about methods to reduce downstream nutrient loss from drainage systems.”
Registration will be at 9 a.m. and the program runs from 9:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. The forum is jointly sponsored by Iowa State and the University of Minnesota, in partnership with the Iowa Soybean Association.
The program is intended for all drainage stakeholders, including state and federal agency staff, county supervisors, crop consultants, academics, contractors, farmers and anyone interested in drainage research issues in the Upper Midwest. Presentation topics include research updates on the performance of bioreactors and wetlands in Iowa and Minnesota; edge-of-field subsurface drainage monitoring results from the Iowa Soybean Association; and drainage water recycling.
The drainage water recycling presentations will discuss establishment of a system, sizing of the on-farm storage of a system and evaluating the benefits of a drainage water recycling system. This portion of the program highlights working being done by the Transforming Drainage project, a multi-state effort examining the performance of various drainage water management practices.
“This year’s program combines results of drainage water quality monitoring, updates on edge-of-field practices to reduce nutrient losses and the latest from the Transforming Drainage project that is advancing water storage in drained landscapes,” said Chris Hay, senior environmental scientist at the Iowa Soybean Association.
Online registration is available online. Early registration is $50 and must be completed online by midnight, Nov. 8. Late or on-site registration is $75. Students receive a $25 discount off the registration rate. Registration includes lunch and conference materials. Cancellations requesting a refund must be received by midnight, Nov. 8. For registration questions, contact ANR Program Services at anr@iastate.edu or 515-294-6429.