Blog
Dr. Adam Janke
November 15, 2022 11:30 AM
White-tailed deer are as synonymous with the ‘acreage living’ experience as fences and ragweed. We find them everywhere in Iowa, thriving in urban forests and remote sections of cropland with little more than a ditch for cover.
Dr. Billy Beck
October 21, 2022 11:47 AM
Forests and the invaluable products they provide (tangible and non-tangible) are often an afterthought in Iowa.
Dr. Adam Janke
September 30, 2022 10:17 AM
Iowa’s Monarch Conservation Strategy seeks to add 160,000,000 new stems of milkweed to Iowa’s landscape by the year 2038.
Catherine DeLong
September 23, 2022 7:23 AM
As fall temperatures arrive, pond owners have an opportunity to assess the quality and condition of their ponds before winter. Many Iowa pond owners have reported issues with algae and sedimentation this summer, with some saying this is the first year they’ve had issues with their ponds.
Julia Baker
September 14, 2022 9:34 AM
National Woodland Owner Survey data shows that female woodland ownership in Iowa is increasing. In 2013 approximately 12% of primary woodland owners were women, and by 2018 that number had risen to approximately 20%. Women also made up nearly 50% of co-owners in 2018.
Several species of trees in Iowa produce edible nuts, which can be cheaply and readily harvested. Walnuts, chestnuts, pecans and hazelnuts can be collected and eaten. These nuts, when harvested locally, may offer a unique flavor distinct from their grocery store counterparts.
Tree seeds serve as a sometimes inconvenient fact of life during the fall. However, collecting these seeds is an excellent way to promote native biodiversity and even make extra cash.
Spring storms can pose a serious risk to trees, which have the potential to damage property and even cause injury if left untended.
Dr. Billy Beck
April 26, 2022 11:46 AM
An Iowa Nutrient Research Center-funded study that seeks to quantify beaver dam impacts on water quality, hydrology, and stream morphology (i.e., how dams shape the stream itself) has reached the one-year mark.
Dr. Billy Beck
April 23, 2022 4:08 PM
Prescribed Woodland Fire resource compilation
Prescribed woodland fire is an effective tool that woodland stewards may utilize to achieve a wide range of management goals - from oak regeneration and inceasing wildlife habitat, to controlling pests and invasive species.
Dr. Billy Beck
March 31, 2022 5:07 PM
As nature begins to awaken from its winter slumber, those looking to identify backyard Iowa trees can consult a new video resource from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach forestry specialist Billy Beck.
Dr. Adam Janke
March 31, 2022 1:00 PM
Kaycie M Waters
March 31, 2022 1:00 PM
When Sue Kuennen was named the Iowa Conservation Woman of the Year in 2016, she was surprised by the recognition.
Dr. Billy Beck
February 23, 2022 8:14 AM
Timber harvest season has me reflecting back on one of my woodiest years to date, 2021. For starters, in late winter my ISU Extension colleagues and I were able to film an active salvage harvest in Linn County – the epicenter of the 2020 Midwest Derecho.
Dr. Billy Beck
January 6, 2022 9:48 AM
Iowa needs a Windbreak Renaissance!
Dr. Billy Beck
December 13, 2021 5:27 PM
Winter is a hot time for forestry. While a flurry of activity occurs in our woodlands during this time of year (pun intended), timber harvest and storm damage are often at the top of a forester's mind.
Kaycie M Waters
December 2, 2021 12:11 PM
In Iowa, we are lucky to have a unique system of County Conservation Boards doing land management and natural resources education in every county!
Dr. Adam Janke
November 23, 2021 9:10 AM
The Master Conservationist program is a comprehensive educational opportunity through Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
Cover crops can enhance soil health by capturing nutrients, slowing erosion, and reducing the need for herbicides.
Kaycie M Waters
October 29, 2021 10:27 AM
Agriculture and natural resources have a lot in common and Kaycie Waters, the newly named natural resources field specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, looks forward to exploring the ways the two intersect. Waters, who grew up in a farm family from Arizona, began her
Dr. Adam Janke
October 18, 2021 10:47 AM
AMES, Iowa – As deer hunters head to the woods this fall, they are again reminded to be vigilant and active participants in the state’s efforts to fight chronic wasting disease.
Dr. Matt Helmers
October 1, 2021 8:30 AM
A new study underway by economists at Iowa State University aims to better understand nutrient impacts through the lens of local recreation and tourism, with a focus on assessing the economic impacts of water quality improvement on rural and lower-income communities.
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