The Forest-to-Farm effort is an interdisciplinary research-extension effort aimed at increasing denitrifying woodchip bioreactor adoption while simultaneously addressing a range of issues facing Iowa’s woodlands and forest products industry. Started in 2019 as a First Year Honors Mentor Program project (budget of $250), the effort has since expanded to ~$1.5 million through combined funding from the US Forest Service, USDA NIFA, NRCS, and the Iowa Nutrient Research Center – each award focusing on individual, yet interrelated, components of the bioreactor system and woodchip supply chain...

Conservation begins at home, and our gardens and landscapes offer some of the most immediate opportunities for the average gardener to support the environment. By working with local conditions, we create landscapes that thrive with fewer inputs and contribute (even if in a small way) to healthier ecosystems. These small actions add up, especially in the urban and suburban areas where many Iowans garden...

Owners of private wells can connect with local experts and access funding to test their wells by attending one of several workshops being held across the state in March and April. The Private Well Stewardship Program, offered by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, educates well owners about the responsibilities and risks of being a private well owner and connects them with additional resources to manage their wells.