News

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. That experience still informs her work today, as it helped inspire a passion for the environment and the natural landscape.

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 habitat be restored and where should it be located? 

Continue reading this article on the ISU News Service website.

Windbreaks are critical farm infrastructure, providing Iowa producers with crop yield increases, livestock protection and gains, reduced soil erosion, diversified income sources, energy savings, wildlife habitat, recreation, and aesthetics (Photo 1). As I travel the state, however, I frequently observe windbreaks with a complete loss of functionality.

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. To many of us they’re a welcome sight, a glimpse of life on a cold winter day or an opportunity to spend time afield with family and friends each fall in their pursuit.

Forests and the invaluable products they provide (tangible and non-tangible) are often an afterthought in Iowa. However, efforts such as the recent Governor’s proclamation declaring October 17-21 as “Iowa Wood Products Week” seek to change this. During this week, we highlight the significant contribution that forests and forest products provide to the Iowa economy. Significant is an understatement – just consider the facts from a 2017 economic report:

Iowa’s Monarch Conservation Strategy seeks to add 160,000,000 new stems of milkweed to Iowa’s landscape by the year 2038. What if I told you we could double that and help farmers save money while we’re at it? That’s the lesson from a recently finished project at Iowa State University where we dispatched armies of water resources interns to a few small patches of grasses and wildflowers in the middle of crop fields south of Ogden to count milkweed stems...

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.

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. Despite the availability of forestry programs and organizations to all people, women are still less involved in these opportunities than men, and a new program in Iowa is seeking to change that.

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. In this article, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach commercial horticulture specialist Patrick O’Malley explains the process of collecting tree nuts in Iowa...

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. As Iowa State University Extension and Outreach commercial horticulture specialist Patrick O’Malley explains, locally collected tree seeds can be replanted, donated, or even sold...

On Thursday, August 25^th, Master Conservationist Program history was made with the first ever Master Conservationist Program Graduate Reunion. A warm meal was enjoyed under the shade of an old barn, with the cool summer evening breeze blowing through. Folks of all ages shared experiences and ideas, while DNR and County Conservation professionals answered questions and shared resources. The setting sun could not stop the conversations that went well into the evening.

The beauty and diversity of pollinators can be enjoyed within the home garden or landscape if some basic steps are taken to assure their habitat. In a recent publication called “Gardening for Butterflies and Pollinators,” horticulture specialists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach explain the life and role of common pollinators and actions Iowans can take to increase their numbers...

The Conservation Learning Group, a think tank based at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and dedicated to addressing conservation and environmental challenges, recently published “What to Expect: Establishing Prairie Vegetation on Your Farm,” an infographic designed to inform farmers and landowners about the process and benefits of creating perennial vegetation areas that aid in soil health and water quality improvement and offer habitat for a diversity of wildlife...

Spring storms can pose a serious risk to trees, which have the potential to damage property and even cause injury if left untended. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach horticulture specialist Jeff Iles suggests best practices for hiring an arborist who will safely tend and manage trees to protect property. When contemplating whether to hire an arborist, Iles recommends prioritizing safety.

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. Although the primary goals of the study focus on how dams influence sediment, nitrate, and phosphorus levels in waterways, our time in the field has generated numerous ancillary observations on the additional impacts of these unique creatures.

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. 

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. This series of five videos can be found on YouTube, or through the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach video website. Beck also encourages the use of the online Tree Identification Key as a helpful tool to identify various Iowa Trees...

When Sue Kuennen was named the Iowa Conservation Woman of the Year in 2016, she was surprised by the recognition.

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. This produced an extensive series of YouTube videos focusing on wood, timber harvest, storm damage, and the roles of loggers, timber buyers, and foresters – check out the videos at the link below.