Join Us for an Event Near You!

We have a full slate of events coming up and hope to see you at one near you! From in-field practices like cover crops and strip-till to practices looking at reducing nitrate coming from tile drainage systems like bioreactors and a Smart Agricultural Drainage System using a robot to measure nitrate concentration, we have an event for you.

Please RSVP to ilf@iastate.edu or call 515-294-5429.

Cover Crop and Precision Planting Field Day
May 30, 2024 | 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Location
Brandon McHugh Farm – Bin Site
1667 Racine Trail
Woodbine, IA 51579

Smart Agricultural Drainage Systems Workshop
June 4, 2024 | 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Location
Borlaug Learning Center
3327 290th St
Nashua, IA 50658

Smart Agricultural Drainage Systems Workshop
June 5, 2024 | 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Location
Northwest Research Farm
6320 500th Street
Sutherland, IA 51058

Smart Agricultural Drainage Systems Workshop
For Conservation Professionals and Crop Advisors
June 6, 2024 | 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Location
ISU Field Extension Education Laboratory (FEEL) Farm
1928 240th St
Boone, IA 50036

Strip-Till and Bioreactor Field Day
June 11, 2024 | 10:30am – 12:30pm
Location
Kristi Heffelmeier Farm
14745 Hammond Ave
Buckingham, IA 50612

Conservation On Tap
June 13, 2024 | 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Location
Confluence Brewing Company
1235 Thomas Beck Rd
Des Moines, IA 50315
In partnership with Des Moines Water Works

Pollinator and CRP Field Day
June 27, 2024 | 10:30am – 12:30pm
Location
Pete Tollenaere Farm
2497 Kelp Ave
Fairfield, IA 52556
In partnership with Pathfinders RC&D, Iowa DNR & National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

Using the Right BMPs in the Right Places

Within a watershed the climate, drainage systems, and landscapes can be vastly different, resulting in the need for different Best Management Practice (BMPs) recommendations. Watch Dr. Merrin Macrae discuss a 5-step process for determining BMP recommendations specifically geared toward phosphorus in the most recent Iowa Learning Farms webinar, One Size Does Not Fit All: Targeting Conservation Practices to Reduce Phosphorus Loss Risk in the Lake Erie Watershed.

Nonpoint sources are the dominant sources of phosphorus in Lake Erie. How and what type of phosphorus moves to the lake varies based on region. BMPs are a great way to remove phosphorus, and stacking them can provide many benefits, but the practices don’t always work well together or in a certain area. Because the watershed is so different based on snow cover, temperature, and soil type, the watershed was divided into four regions – two of which are transitional.

Dr. Macrae dives deeper into cover crops, no-till, and phosphorus application in her webinar, specifically how each practice could change based on region. I found her discussion on cover crops being affected by snow cover, species, and temperature variability throughout winter to be very interesting.

Watch Dr. Macrae’s and any previously recorded webinars from our archives by visiting our website. Join us this week with Timothy Rosen for more nonpoint source pollution reduction, on Wednesday, April 17^th at Noon C.D.T.

–Alena Whitaker

Throwback Thursday – Adding a Cover Crop to a Corn-Soybean System

Looking for tips for managing your cover crops this spring?

Check out this throwback Thursday video from 2011 featuring Sarah Carlson with Practical Farmers of Iowa with recommendations for terminating an overwintering cover crop like cereal rye.

For more cover crop and other conservation practice-related videos, visit our YouTube channel and subscribe to stay updated on virtual field days.

–Liz Ripley

No “One Size Fits All” Solution

Justin and Beth Jordan, Iowa Learning Farms farmer partners and Warren County residents, started farming in 2000. Justin grew up farming and working in construction alongside his dad and grandpa, saving up the funds to buy his first farm right out of high school. Today the Jordans raise corn, soybeans, and hay and rent pasture ground to a neighbor. In addition to farming, Justin works as a city building inspector and is a Marion County Soil and Water Conservation District Commissioner.

After making his first land purchase, Justin noticed erosion issues and knew he would need to make some changes to how he managed the land. He utilized different cost-share programs to build terraces and rebuild waterways. These practices helped start the transformation, but Justin knew more could be done. “A lot of my erosion was due to low organic matter in the soil,” said Justin, “I started no-tilling to preserve the soil, but noticed during big rains erosion was still happening.”

In 2007, all the acres Justin farms were switched to a no-till system, and he continued looking for more ways to boost the organic matter content. He started using cover crops under a Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) contract and changed the type of fertilizer used. Now his erosion issues are gone, and the land has great water infiltration. “I’ve learned how to take a farm and transform it; boosting its organic matter and making it more productive at the same time,” said Justin.

Another way Justin has added conservation to the farm is by rotating small areas in and out of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Not only does this help stop erosion and boost organic matter in the soil, but it also adds wildlife habitat. Something he initially wasn’t passionate about, but now can’t imagine not having an area for wildlife. “We want to create a place where we all work together,” said Beth and Justin. “There’s a balance between raising food, having wildlife, and preserving the prairie remnants.”

Justin walking through an Evergreen Grove the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) planted in 1957 in a contract with a previous landowner.

The Jordans have seen great success in the last 20 years and have learned a lot. In the last couple of years, Justin has started managing his dad’s land and implementing conservation practices. He has adapted his process and is adding grass strips instead of terraces this time around. He is making this switch because his focus is on fixing the soil health first resulting in less erosion issues. With this approach he will be able to mow and bale the grass strips instead of taking that land out of production.

Justin works to incorporate practices that meet his goal of zero erosion while watching the bottom line. He is cognizant of time requirements, cost of practices, and just what works best on that piece of land. “In farming there is no one size fits all and that is the same for conservation practices,” stated Justin, “What works for me might not work for someone in Kansas, Maine, or even my neighbor.”

–Alena Whitaker

Tips for Spring Grazing Cover Crops and Avoiding Soil Compaction

For many livestock producers, cover crops and winter grazing go hand-in-hand; however, perhaps the most valuable time for grazing cover crops is in the spring. Winter annual cereal grains such as rye, wheat, and triticale grow fastest and provide the most tonnage in the early spring, before cool-season grasses start to grow. With proper management, soil compaction from grazing cover crops can be minimized as demonstrated in two case studies evaluating impacts of grazing corn stalk residue with and without cover crops.

Check out these infographics for tips for spring grazing cover crops and avoiding compaction:

Spring Grazing Cover Crops

Grazing Cover Crops to Avoid Compaction

–Liz Ripley

March 2024 Webinar Rewind

You get a webinar! And you get a webinar! EVERYBODY GETS A WEBINAR!

Does Tile Drainage Pay if You Only Get 20 inches of Precipitation?: Learn about the impacts of tile installed at a research plot in Northern Minnesota that receives very little precipitation. In short, adding the tile did improve growing conditions and had very little or no yield impact in the dry years.

Winter Cover Crop Effects on the Optimum N Rate of Corn Across Multi-state Field Experiments: It is no surprise that managing nitrogen is difficult. Dr. Hanna Poffenbarger discusses how different cover crop mixes affect nitrogen availability. Mixing a legume in with cereal rye is proven to improve nutrient cycling, reducing the need to add more fertilizer each year.

Grazing Cattle on Covers: If you have cattle, cover crops, or both, this is the webinar for you! Patrick Wall discusses different cover crops species best suited for grazing, when to graze, and other resources needed like a water source. Most importantly, Wall emphasized having a plan and remaining flexible.

Motivating Conservation Action in the Upper Midwest: Linking Attention, Communications, and Land Management Decisions: What role do communications play in conservation practice adoption? Learn all about how farmers and landowners hear about different practices and if they are influenced to make changes.

Blast from the Past: March 2, 2022 – Women’s Farm Organizations: Protecting Status Quo or Transforming Agriculture?: Women are often overlooked in agriculture. This webinar is a great look at how organizations, not just for women but for any excluded group, can create structural change and opportunities for more people in the agricultural world.

If you were wondering, yes I do feel like Oprah telling you about all these awesome webinars.

–Alena Whitaker

Spring Cover Crop Termination Tips & More!

The Whole Farm Conservation Best Practices Manual offers great tips for spring management of cover crops – from termination to planter settings and more!

Cover crops that survive the winter, like cereal rye, must be terminated in the spring ahead of planting, to avoid affecting corn and soybean crop yields. There are four methods of termination approved by RMA to fully insure the upcoming corn and soybeans. Their success rate and the confidence in that success is illustrated in the graphic below.

Timing is also an important factor in successful termination.

• With corn, terminate the cover crop before it is 8 inches tall, and 10 to 14 days before planting corn.
• With soybean, terminate the cover crop before it is 12 inches tall, and 3 to 7 days before planting soybean.
• If spring weather conditions are abnormally dry, terminate cover crops earlier than otherwise recommended.

Planting corn or soybean after a cover crop requires minimal change. Follow best management practices for the corn or soybean crop, and the fundamental principles that maximize production efficiency:

• Plant based on soil conditions, but realize that suitable soil conditions may be a day or two later than without cover crops.
• Wait for conducive field conditions with a soil temperature at 50ºF and rising. At a soil temperature of 50ºF or warmer, there is robust seed germination, and vigorous seedling emergence, growth, and establishment.

Nitrogen management is also important to consider when corn is following cereal rye.

• Move nitrogen application to the spring close to the time of corn planting.
• Starter fertilizers may be beneficial to minimize impact of nitrogen immobilization due to cover crop root and residue decomposition.
• There is no need to adjust nitrogen rates following winter cereal grain cover crops.

Four more tips for managing cover crops successfully.

Wishing everyone a safe and successful planting season!

–Liz Ripley

Utilizing Cover Crops for their Maximum Benefits

Jason Russell, Iowa Learning Farms farmer partner, started farming 20 years ago on his family’s farm outside of Monticello, in Jones County, Iowa. He attended Kirkwood Community College with no plans for farming and worked for a few years in the tool and die industry. Shortly after graduating, an uncle reached out and asked if Jason would want to join the farm.

Jason’s farming operation has changed over the years and today he raises corn, soybeans, cereal rye, and pigs. He also has a few cattle, timber, and custom farms for landowners in the area. He not only enjoys farming, but also enjoys sharing his knowledge with fellow farmers, students of all ages, and his own kids. His wife Sarah is a teacher, and they routinely have classes out on their farm to see and experience the crops and animals. 

Conservation agriculture is important to Jason, and he applies a variety of practices to his farm such as no-till and strip-till, cover crops, buffer strips, CRP (Conservation Reserve Program), and wind and solar energies. Some have been an easy transition and others had a learning curve for Jason. Cost-share greatly reduced the risks of trying new practices. In addition, employing precision agriculture like GPS guidance and grid soil sampling has enabled Jason to maximize yield while remaining conservation focused. “Precision ag will pay for itself on a few acres and across many levels,” said Jason.

Jason first started using cover crops in 2010 after reading an article about their ability to store nutrients. On his farm, hog manure is the sole source of fertility. Jason injects manure in the fall to prevent spring compaction. “It’s a place for the nitrogen to go with the large influx from the manure and keep it until later in the year when the cover crop decomposes, and the corn needs it,” said Jason. “We’ve been able to eliminate a sidedressing pass which takes the stress off of spring activities.”

“As a hog farmer, having small grains expands the opportunity for applying manure,” said Jason. Using cover crops allows Jason to apply hog manure every fall and provide enough nutrients to grow corn on corn, as much as pests allow. “In traditional corn-on-corn systems farmers worry about yield loss,” said Jason. “As long as you provide enough nutrients and get the pH right, your yields won’t suffer.”

Now with over a decade of experience using cover crops, Jason grows his own cereal rye seed and is starting to experiment with relay intercropping, letting cereal rye grow alongside soybeans. Conservation practices work for Jason and the differences are noticeable. “Some of what I custom farm is not cover cropped, and it is reassuring to see how the acres I farm with cover crops have better soil structure, water infiltration, and yield,” said Jason. He shared this bit of advice for those looking to implement conservation on their own land. “No-till and cover crops work for me but they might not for your land. Experiment with different practices,” said Jason.  

–Alena Whitaker

Why should you consider cover crops as livestock forage?

Not only are cover crops beneficial for preventing erosion and improving water quality, but they can act as a food source for livestock, especially cattle. Patrick Wall, ISU Beef Extension Specialist, gave an overview of grazing cattle on cover crops in the most recent Iowa Learning Farms webinar, Grazing Cattle on Covers.

There are many things to consider for the best success when grazing cover crops such as species, establishment, a water source for the cows, and extra labor from moving the cows or cutting/raking/baling the forage. For species selection, Patrick recommends winter cereals like cereal rye or winter wheat; turnips and radishes are also great options.  

A plan is needed, but the plan should always remain flexible. There could be some years when grazing just doesn’t work and other years, like this year, it might be 3 weeks earlier than you had planned.

Finally, if you don’t have your own land or need more land for grazing, consider renting a neighbor’s row crop field for fall and/or spring grazing. (If you don’t have cattle but you have land that you cover crop or are interested in cover cropping, offer a rental agreement to a neighbor with cattle!)

Find this webinar and any of our previous webinars in the archives on our website.

–Alena Whitaker

Importance of Hearing from Farmers

Recently I have been reflecting on my work related to implementing the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy. Honestly, I get impatient and a bit discouraged that we are not seeing practices installed faster. Yes, we need to see the adoption of nutrient reduction practices scale up tremendously and perhaps faster than they are. That was my mindset as I’ve traveled around Iowa, listening to farmers across the state. These meetings reminded me of the cool and interesting things happening around agriculture.

Over the last month, I’ve participated in the Iowa Learning Farms (ILF) Cover Crops and Relay Intercropping—What’s the Difference? workshop series. In addition, I also attended the ILF farmer partner appreciation dinners.

During these events, the new practices that farmers were either doing or considering were exciting to hear. There are farmers interested in summer annuals for grazing in Western Iowa. There was interest in relay intercropping to provide local cover crop seed across the state.  When we asked our farmer partners for new research topics or areas, a number of individuals brought up grazing sheep on mixed cover crops in 60-inch corn rows. We also heard about farmers who grow cover crops and work with their neighbors to graze them. Many of these farmers were midsize to smaller farmers who understood that it was only in working with their neighbors that they all could succeed. Not all individuals want cattle, but are there opportunities to work together to benefit many?

These conversations invigorated me and they also are challenging me to think about how we can facilitate these new ideas and emerging areas of practice and research. There is room for all these types of practices and systems within Iowa agriculture. I certainly don’t have the answers, but I look forward to hearing the questions and engaging in discussions on how we implement new ideas.

As I reflect on the last five weeks, I am thankful for the opportunity to get out of Ames and hear from so many around the state. I would encourage all of us to take that time to engage in discussions and listen to what people are thinking about and doing. Twenty years ago, the Iowa Learning Farms started with the notion that farmers talking to other farmers could increase conservation and improve our environment. Today, it was exciting to see these farmer-to-farmer discussions in action and all the creativity and curiosity of many men and women we count as farmer partners.  We go out and listen and engage with farmers so that we can better serve them. After 20 years, you would think I would be tired but the last month reminded me of why I got into this field. Do we need to do more, faster?—absolutely! Our new and old farmer partners are leading this charge and share the sense of urgency.

There are a lot of exciting things happening around agriculture right now. I look forward to how the Iowa Learning Farms, with the leadership of our farmer partners, helps scale up these pilot practices and demonstrate new ideas.

–Matt Helmers