Oct. 20 Virtual Field Day: Exploring a Pumped Bioreactor System for Improved Water Quality

Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with the Iowa Nutrient Research Center and Conservation Learning Group, will present a virtual field day on Thursday, October 20 at 1 p.m. CDT. Join us for a live conversation with Iowa State University Ph.D. candidate, Lindsey Hartfiel, Michelle Soupir, professor and associate chair for research, department of agricultural and biosystems engineering, Iowa State University and Natasha Hoover, water quality research scientist at Iowa State University.

Lindsey Hartfiel stands near the pumped bioreactor system at the ISU Uthe Farm.

In recent years, bioreactors have shown themselves to be efficient and dynamic tools for improving water quality through denitrification. Now, a new innovation suggests an additional use for these bioreactors, even when water isn’t flowing from the field tile drainage.

This new design is a pumped bioreactor system with a pilot project installed just outside Ames. Pumping water through a bioreactor allows it to be used beyond the seasonal patterns of subsurface drainage, extend its use to new applications, and very possibly extend the life of the bioreactor itself. This virtual field day will explore the results of the design and discuss future plans for the project.

Participants in Iowa Learning Farms virtual field days are encouraged to ask questions of the presenters. People from all backgrounds and areas of interest are encouraged to join.

Virtual Field Day Access Instructions:
To participate in the live virtual field day, shortly before 1:00 pm CDT on October 20, click HERE or visit http://www.iowalearningfarms.org for the registration link.

Or, join from a dial-in phone line:
Dial: 1.312.626.6799     
Meeting ID: 914 1198 4892

The field day will be recorded and archived on the ILF website so that it can be watched at any time. The archive will be available at https://www.iowalearningfarms.org/virtual-field-day-archive.

Participants will be eligible for a Certified Crop Adviser board-approved continuing education unit (CEU). Information about how to apply to receive the credit will be provided at the end of the live field day.

Liz Ripley

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