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Science-based conservation and water quality education program now available to all Iowa high schools. High school students at two Story County schools were the first to try a new soil and water conservation education module in early 2020....
Water Rocks!, a uniquely Iowan, award-winning, statewide water education program based at Iowa State University, is well on its way to surpassing the 150,000 participant mark in 2020. At the end of 2019 the program eclipsed 130,000 students reached since the teams began visiting schools acro
Dr. Billy Beck
February 5, 2020 3:30 PM
The 25th edition of the Tri-State Forest Stewardship Conference will draw foresters and landowners from Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin to the Highland Community College in Freeport, Illinois, March 14.
How do we maintain productive, profitable farms in Iowa that protect soil resources, support biodiversity, and send cleaner water downstream? Tune in to the December Iowa Learning Farms webinar to learn
New research shows that “multi-purpose oxbows” can effectively reduce nitrate-nitrogen, earning them a spot in the Iowa Nutrient Research Strategy’s menu of conservation options.
Honey bees are facing tough times. Colonies of these pollinators are being lost at an unprecedented rate, and some are blaming farming practices, in particular, the intensive corn and soybean production systems in the Midwest.
Dr. Billy Beck
November 22, 2019 4:17 PM
Windbreaks and shelterbelts exemplify the value and functionality that trees and forests provide to Iowa agriculture - especially producers in our state's northwest corner.
Dr. Adam Janke
November 12, 2019 9:02 AM
This fall, over 100,000 Iowans will take refuge in the fields and forests of our state to participate in an annual ritual: deer season.
The South Skunk River Watershed Project celebrates its one-year anniversary in October. This project is a partnership between Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) to further Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy goals.
Farmers and landowners who want to increase pollinator habitat while also improving water quality should consider the benefits of saturated riparian buffers enhanced with native wildflowers.
Dr. Adam Janke
September 23, 2019 12:49 PM
Over 80% of Iowa’s landscape was once tallgrass prairie – an ecosystem comprising over 300 species of flowering plants maintained through regular fires and grazing by herds of elk and bison.
Dr. Billy Beck
September 20, 2019 12:00 PM
Hello Iowans! My name is Billy Beck - your new Forestry Specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
Dr. Adam Janke
September 17, 2019 9:43 AM
In keeping with a theme from my last blog titled “What the heck is habitat”, this month I explore another critical question within the language of conservation. What’s a wetland?
Dr. Billy Beck
September 13, 2019 9:41 AM
Iowans interested in the care of trees, forests and natural resources should consider attending a forestry field day this fall, held by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and various public and private partners.
Jamie Benning
July 23, 2019 9:00 AM
Many rural residents in Iowa rely on private wells as their source of water for drinking, cooking, washing clothes, and watering livestock. Even if your well and the area around it have remained unchanged, it is important to test water annually for indicators of contamination, including nit
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently announced an extension of the deadline to determine whether the monarch butterfly is warranted for listing under the Endangered Species Act. The new deadline, December 15, 2020, was originally June 30, 2019.
Dr. Adam Janke
July 19, 2019 12:00 AM
Wild turkey. Ring-necked pheasant. Trumpeter swan. Turkey vulture. Northern bobwhite. These are the remarkable birds of Iowa’s rural landscapes. They’re large, conspicuous, and broadly recognized.
Iowa’s pig farmers are collaborating with Iowa State University on a research project to discover ways to provide more habitat for monarch butterflies. The project is focused on the use and success of establishing habitat near pig barns....
Monarch butterflies receive a great deal of attention these days. While children chase the vibrant orange-black fluttering across yards and gardens, adults are paying attention and taking actions to increase milkweed stands and native plantings in hopes of rebuilding monarch populations.
Dr. Adam Janke
March 27, 2019 1:22 PM
As I write this, in the waning days of February, many of the wildlife that grace Iowa’s cities and farms during the spring and summer, are far away.
Dr. Adam Janke
March 17, 2019 10:12 PM
I have seen a wide gamut of responses to the question posed in the title of this post. While preparing for my Ph.D. candidacy exams, I was asked a version of this question as it related to ducks and agonized over the response for months (you’ll see elements of my answer below).
Dr. Adam Janke
February 6, 2019 8:31 AM
Grant Wall
February 6, 2019 8:31 AM
Taking Iowa State University resources and personalizing them for a specific area of the state can be a challenge. Researchers in Ames have knowledge and experience dealing with big-picture issues, while local conservationists are plugged into opportunities and challenges in their home area.
This week, the World Wildlife Fund released its 2018-2019 overwintering monarch population report. Adult monarch butterflies covered approximately 15 acres of forest canopy in Mexico, a doubling of last year’s population, and a level not seen since 10 years ago.
Dr. Adam Janke
November 14, 2018 8:20 AM
For many of us, conservation is our way of life. Finding ways to connect with and improve the land, the soil, the water, and wildlife consumes our thoughts and free time.
Dr. Adam Janke
September 20, 2018 11:40 AM
Liberty is at the heart of the American experiment: that fundamental concept that says the will of the majority should not supersede the rights of individuals. Emerging from this pillar however is a fundamental question: to what extent can one actor infringe on the rights of another?
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