Events Archive
The 43rd annual Shimek State Forest fall forestry field day will occur in-person on 10/5/21, in Lee County, IA. The morning sessions will allow partipants to experience first-hand the sites viewed during the 2020 Shimek State Forest virtual field day, which include a range of even-aged oak management treatments (e.g., shelterwood harvest). During afternoon sessions, participants will learn how forest management impacts birds, insect and disease threats to Iowa's forests, and identification and value of Iowa's forest understory species.
Iowa Learning Farms and the Upper Wapsipinicon River Watershed Management Authority will host a wetland field day on Wednesday, Sept. 29, from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at a wetland owned by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources near Coggon. The event is free, open to the whole family, and includes a complimentary meal.
At this field day, we will recognize Dennis and Rhonda Westergard with the Tree Farmer of the Year award. There will also be a tour of the farm where participants will learn about tornado damage and tree planting, pond management, buckthorn invasive species control, and more. Pre-registration is required by September 22nd. Download the event flyer for further directions on how to pre-register and for more detailed information about this event.
This virtual field day will be offered by Iowa Learning Farms. For information on how to register for this virtual field day, download the event flyer at this link.
A cover crop field day will be held Tuesday, Sept. 14 from noon to 2 p.m. at Roger Van Donselaar’s farm near Grinnell. The event is free, open to the whole family and includes a complimentary meal.
Cover crops continue to grow in popularity in Iowa due to their many benefits, including reduced soil erosion, weed suppression potential, reduced nitrogen and phosphorus loads entering water bodies, and increased soil organic matter. Cover crops and no-tillage work together to help increase water infiltration and reduce erosion during heavy rain events.
The Iowa Learning Farms conservation webinar will feature Catherine DeLong, water quality program manager with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. DeLong works statewide to bring people together to share resources, ideas, and perspectives about water quality, and to help Iowans understand the role they can play in the future of Iowa’s water resources.
The Iowa Learning Farms conservation webinar taking place Aug. 25 at noon will feature Mark Licht, assistant professor in agronomy and extension cropping systems specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Licht’s research focuses on corn and soybean cropping systems and management that includes integration of cover crops, no-till and strip-till practices.
This Free Event will focus on agroforesty (chestnut plantation with rotational sheep grazing), and the management and ecosystem goods and services benefits of open woodlands. No registration required. See contact information in flyer for questions. valverde_agroforesty_final_july_2021.pdf
The Iowa Learning Farms conservation webinar taking place July 14 at noon will feature Billy Beck, assistant professor and extension forestry specialist at Iowa State University. Beck’s research focuses on the impacts that trees, forests, and forestry have on water quality and hydrology within agriculturally-dominated Midwestern watersheds.
Come to Reiman Gardens for Pollinator Fest and join us as we celebrate National Pollinator Week. Visit a variety of fun and educational displays, including live pollinators and plants, and interactive pollinator-themed activities. This event will happen rain or shine.
Pollinator Fest Activities:
Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with the Iowa Nutrient Research Center, and Conservation Learning Group, is hosting a free virtual field day discussing lessons
Results from a 2019 survey about Iowans’ lake-based recreation will be shared during the Iowa Learning Farms webinar at noon on Wednesday, June 16.
The 2019 Iowa Lakes Valuation Project, funded by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, is the first statewide survey since 2014 that collects information on how, where, and when Iowans make use of the state’s recreational lakes.
The impact of prairie strips on soil health and crop yield is the topic of the Iowa Learning Farms webinar at noon on Wednesday, May 26.
AMES, Iowa – “Profiles in the Wonders of Iowa’s Wetlands” will feature 12 in-depth educational videos highlighting the diversity and benefits of wetland ecosystems throughout the state. The videos are being developed by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and the Iowa Nutrient Research Center.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach are launching an online training for the national award-winning Growing Up WILD activity guide.
Learn what impacts farmer decision-making when it comes to conservation practice adoption during the Iowa Learning Farms webinar at noon on Wednesday, May 19.
Learn more about beekeeper, farmer and landowner attitudes toward pollinator conservation in Iowa during the Iowa Learning Farms webinar at noon on Wednesday, May 12.
Succeeding with small grain, soybean relay intercropping in Iowa is the topic of an Iowa Learning Farms webinar at noon on Wednesday, May 5.
Small grain, soybean relay intercropping is the next step after using small grains for cover crops. Mark Licht, assistant professor in agronomy and cropping systems specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, will explain this practice and its benefits.
Research being done on where pheasants nest and how to better manage those areas for optimal nesting is the topic of an Iowa Learning Farms webinar April 28 at noon.
Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with the Iowa Nutrient Research Center, and Conservation Learning Group (CLG), is hosting a free virtual field day discussing spring cover crop management tips and the impact of cover crops on water quality as part of the Conservation Learning Labs project on April 15 at 1 p.m. CDT.
Iowa Learning Farms and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will host a webinar on Wednesday, April 7 at noon with Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig.
Soil erosion and how to control it is the topic of the Iowa Learning Farms webinar on Wednesday, March 31 at noon. Soil erosion negatively affects soil productively, water quality, economics, and food security. These impacts will be amplified as a less friendly climate evolves, making soil conservation today critical for a food-secure tomorrow.
To participate in the live webinar, shortly before noon on March 31:
Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with the Iowa Nutrient Research Center, and Conservation Learning Group (CLG), is hosting a free virtual field day highlighting the stream stabilization efforts in the East and West Nishnabotna Watersheds to improve water quality and reduce flooding on Thursday, March 18 at 1 p.m. CST.
The Iowa Learning Farms webinar on Wednesday, March 17 at noon, will focus on how to incorporate conservation practices into a farm lease agreement.
Charles Brown, a farm management specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, will discuss the importance of conservation practices and what landowners should include in their lease to protect their farmland. Participants will learn how costs may be shared for certain conservation practices.
Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with the Iowa Nutrient Research Center and Conservation Learning Group, is hosting a free virtual field day featuring the efforts in the Clear Creek Watershed to improve water quality and quantity issues on Thursday, March 4 at 1 p.m. CST.