Blog
Dr. Adam Janke
September 21, 2023 7:52 AM
Picture a weed. Or better yet, a mess of them.
Now, what if I told you to turn to a stranger contemplating the same question and share your imaginings: do you think you’d have pictured the same place or plants?
My guess is no.
Kaycie M Waters
August 21, 2023 12:57 PM
Ames, Iowa – Graduates of Iowa State University’s Master Conservationist Program are invited to gather in the Loess Hills this September for the first-ever statewide meetup.
Dr. Billy Beck
August 21, 2023 11:20 AM
If you’re considering establishing a new tree planting in spring 2024, late summer 2023 is the ideal time to start planning.
Dr. Adam Janke
August 21, 2023 9:39 AM
High schoolers representing 15 states from across the United States visited the Iowa Lakeside Laboratory on the shores of West Lake Okoboji near Milford to compete in the 2023 4-H and FFA Wildlife Habitat Education Program National Contest, July 30 to August 2.
Nicole E Shimp
June 12, 2023 11:48 AM
In a world where the delicate balance of nature is increasingly threatened, each one of us has the power to be a hero. We often think of heroes as those with superhuman abilities, but sometimes, the simplest actions can have a profound impact.
Catherine DeLong
June 9, 2023 12:00 AM
Working directly with farmers and community leaders, watershed coordinators are the “boots on the ground” of water quality improvement in Iowa. Coordinators meet people where conservation decisions happen – farm fields, dinner tables, and community events – and work hand-in-hand with these d
Kaycie M Waters
May 26, 2023 12:45 PM
Flowers are starting to bloom, trees are leafing out, and the grass is greening up again; Spring has sprung! Many folks like to celebrate the beginning of Spring by spending time in the garden and working to beautify their lawns.
Dr. Adam Janke
May 24, 2023 10:17 AM
Known for singing their own name, the bobwhite quail is an iconic bird in Iowa and the Midwest.
Aaron Steil
May 2, 2023 12:55 PM
No Mow May is a conservation initiative started by the UK-based organization, Plantlife. Over the last couple of years, this effort has gained a lot of attention in the United States.
Dr. Billy Beck
April 27, 2023 11:41 AM
“Drab” displays of early spring hold great value
Nicole E Shimp
April 17, 2023 11:41 AM
The last year was a difficult one for the eastern monarch butterfly, according to a report just released that indicates monarchs occupying forest canopy in their wintering grounds in Mexico decreased by 22%, down from approximately 7 acres in 2021 to a little under 5 ½ acres during the winter of
Dr. Billy Beck
March 31, 2023 9:05 AM
I had seven years of pent-up tree planting desire and it all erupted in spring of 2022. After years of apartment living (as an adult graduate student) and then derecho cleanup, I was finally able to get some trees in the ground at our new place in central Iowa.
Catherine DeLong
March 16, 2023 3:29 PM
As outdoor temperatures warm and ice begins to thaw, ponds can provide an outdoor retreat for many Iowans. In this article, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach water quality program manager Catherine DeLong discusses best practices when treating or preventing common pond problems.
Liz Ripley
March 6, 2023 9:09 AM
The award-winning Conservation Station educational trailers provided by Water Rocks! and Iowa Learning Farms are now available for request. Both programs are part of Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and are committed to conservation and educating Iowans about water quality.
Julia Baker
February 27, 2023 2:10 PM
As I sat at home watching a webinar in October of 2020 about an Oregon State University Extension and Outreach program that supported female woodland owners through educational and networking opportunities, I thought
Catherine DeLong
February 20, 2023 12:46 PM
Last year I invited Dr. Tom Isenhart to speak at a field day about saturated buffers.
Dr. Billy Beck
January 23, 2023 8:44 AM
The Iowa Master Woodland Steward Program (MWSP) is primarily intended to serve woodland owners, stewards, and land managers, but may also be of interest to school teachers, loggers, and government employees.
“It’s like weeding your garden,” Billy Beck said. “But instead of throwing the weeds into the yard, you are chopping them up and using them to clean water.” Think of a garden, but bigger.
After graduating from St. Andrew’s University in Scotland with a degree in international relations, Catherine DeLong decided to try something different. For two years, she worked as a ski lift operator in Colorado, and enjoyed spending time outside on a beautiful mountain.
When the Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium was formed seven years ago, Iowa State University researchers faced two big questions about reestablishing the milkweed and other wildflowers needed for the iconic butterfly’s survival: How can
Dr. Billy Beck
November 28, 2022 9:23 AM
Iowa’s windbreaks have lost functionality
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.
Pages
