Water
Jump in on Water Quality
From drinking to recreating, agriculture to industry, water is essential to life in Iowa. Jump in and explore what influences water quality, evaluate the safety of water sources, and resolve to do your part to protect water quality in your watershed.
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Water Quality Resources
Recent Water Quality Blog Posts
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New Resource Helps Farmers and Landowners Test Nitrate Levels
December 19, 2025Content Author
To help farmers and landowners better understand and monitor nitrate levels in surface and tile drainage water, the Iowa State University Iowa Nutrient Research Center has released a new publication, Guide to Water Quality Testing for Nitrate. The publication is available for download at no cost from the ISU Extension Store...
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Planning for successful cover crops
August 29, 2025Content Author
Mid-August is the beginning of the seeding window for successful cover crop seedings of common cover crop species in a corn and bean rotation. Farmers who are wanting to incorporate cover crops into their rotation should be finalizing their cover crop plans to ensure successful cover crop stands are established. Good fall growth of cover crops is key to achieving cover crop goals. To maximize fall growth of cover crops, seed early to maximize warm growing weather, and increase seed contact with moist soil.
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Landowner Education Graduates Enhance Knowledge of Soil Health and Communication
July 30, 2025Content Author
Seventeen Iowans graduated from the second cohort of the Landowner Education Program in July. Organized by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, the program features five in-person and two virtual educational events to help landowners improve the environmental and economic resiliency of their land through soil health practices...
Continue reading this article on ISUEO News.
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Enhancing conservation professionals' connections, communications, confidence
July 30, 2025Content Author
One evening last April, 24 participants in the Land Stewardship Leadership Academy (LSLA) faced a massive tractor and sprayer, admiring its complexity. On their feet all day, they still eagerly leaned in to watch as a farm manager described the equipment's latest precision features. This was their last stop as they toured Iowa State University teaching farms around Ames where the cohort was continuing a weeks-long look under the hood of Iowa agriculture...