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Cover Crop and Wetland Field Day

Wednesday, September 11, 2019 - 5:30pm to 7:30pm

AMES, Iowa — Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, and Iowa Corn, will host a cover crop and wetland field day near Gilmore City on Wednesday, Sept. 11. The 5:30-7:30 p.m. event will be held at the ISU Drainage Research and Demonstration Project, owned by the Pocahontas Soil and Water Conservation District. The event is free, open to the whole family and includes a complimentary meal. Read more about Cover Crop and Wetland Field Day

Nashua Cover Crop and Wetland Field Day Is Nov. 7

Thursday, November 7, 2019 - 12:00pm to 2:00pm

Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with Natural Resources Conservation Service, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, will host a cover crop and wetland field day near Nashua on Thursday, Nov. 7. The 12-2 p.m. event will be held at the Borlaug Learning Center. The event is free, open to the entire family and includes a complimentary meal. Read more about Nashua Cover Crop and Wetland Field Day Is Nov. 7

Invasive Species in Iowa

Invasive species are a significant challenge affecting the health of Iowa's natural communities. Most invasive species are exotic but some native species can become invasive as well. When species become invasive they often reduce biodiversity by out-competing native species, which can disrupt entire ecosystems. Invasive species are introduced in various ways.

Webinar: Wetland Ecosystem Services - How Wetlands can Benefit Iowans

Wednesday, May 20, 2020 - 12:00pm

To participate in the live webinars, shortly before 12:00 pm:
Click here, or type this web address into your internet browser: https://iastate.zoom.us/j/364284172
Or, join from a dial-in phone line: 1-312-626-6799 or 1-646-876-9923 and use meeting ID: 364 284 172

The webinars will also be recorded and archived on the ILF website, so that they can be watched at any time. Read more about Webinar: Wetland Ecosystem Services - How Wetlands can Benefit Iowans

Whole Farm Conservation Best Practices Manual

https://store.extension.iastate.edu/product/15823
Whole Farm Conservation Best Practices Manual
Improving water quality, soil health, and wildlife habitat while remaining productive and profitable is the focus of many conservation efforts in Iowa. Confidence in practice selection and management is essential for implementing conservation practices. This publication provides best management recommendations for farmers and landowners getting started with conservation and water quality practices by helping select and incorporate in-field and edge-of-field conservation practices most appropriate to the decision maker's land and preferences.

Wetlands in Iowa

Approximately 25% of Iowa’s land area was once in some form of a wetland ecosystem, a number that today has been reduced by upwards of 95%. Although extensive efforts have been made to restore these vital ecosystems, substantial work remains to regain the ecological function they once provided. These ecological functions include flood abatement and attenuation, water purification, ground water recharge, and provisioning of habitat for a rich diversity of plants and animals endemic to the state and often tied closely with wetland ecosystems.