Iowa Learning Farm

News

Read the latest Iowa Learning Farm article in Wallaces Farmer

Past issues (PDF format)...
June 2008 - Cover crops conserve N

May 2008 - Water Quality Issues are Real
April 2008 - Rainmaker has a story to tell
March 2008 - Group picks 10 to be stewards

February 2008 - No-till planter tune-up

January 2008 - Plan a switch to less tillage

See the Power of Rain at Des Moines Jazz in July Concert

The Iowa Learning Farm has the power to make it rain. The rainfall simulator—an educational tool used to illustrate the potential impacts of conservation and land management practices—is traveling Iowa this summer demonstrating at county fairs, field days, conferences and farmers’ markets.

The rainfall simulator will be at the Des Moines Metro Arts Jazz in July concert at the Botanical Center on Tuesday, July 22. Demonstrations of the simulator will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Educators will be on hand to explain and teach about various conservation practices and the outcomes that the rainfall simulator illustrates.

The rainfall simulator simultaneously distributes rain on five different surfaces via an oscillating nozzle. The runoff from these different scenarios is collected in glass jars so one can see the results. For example, the rainfall simulator can highlight how keeping various amounts of residue on the land surface can reduce sediment loss, or how grass buffers can be effective, or how much and how quickly rain runs off an urban parking lot.

Strip-till pointers featured at field day

The Iowa Learning Farm is hosting a field day at the Tom Wagner farmstead, rural Primghar, Iowa. The field day will be Thursday, July 10, from 5:30-8:00 p.m. The public is invited to attend. A complimentary dinner will be served.

Tom Wagner, an Iowa Learning Farm conservationist, will share his thoughts for those who are considering trying strip-tillage for the first time. He and Iowa State University Extension Agricultural Engineer Mark Hanna will discuss strip-till equipment issues. ISU Extension Water Quality Engineer Matt Helmers will demonstrate the ILF conservation systems rainfall simulator. Also on the agenda is Dave Nelson, an ILF farmer-cooperator who, with his father Gary, leases row-crop acres at the Smeltzer Trust Demonstration Farm in Webster County.

The July 10 field day will be held at Tom Wagner’s farmstead, 4236 Taft Avenue, Primghar. The farm is three miles east of Primghar on county road B-40, then 3.25 miles south on county road L-54 (Taft Avenue). An RSVP to the O’Brien County ISU Extension office is recommended, 712/957-5045. Read the full story

Iowa Learning Farm hosts field day in Webster County

The Iowa Learning Farm is hosting a field day in rural Webster County on Monday, June 16 from 9:00-10:30 a.m. The field day will be held at ILF Cooperator Dan Eklund’s demonstration plot located at the intersection of Highways 175 and 144, two miles east of Gowrie. Morning refreshments will be served.

Eklund noted some planting issues this spring in his no-till corn plot and was concerned about emergence and seedling establishment. Eklund and Iowa State University Extension Field Agronomist John Holmes kept close watch on the situation and the no-till plot has recovered well enough to no longer be considered in danger. The ILF team views this situation as the springboard for discussion about no-till issues. ISU Agricultural Engineer and ILF team member Mark Hanna and ISU Extension staff will be on-hand to answer questions as well as troubleshoot potential problems. Read the full story

Iowa Learning Farm hosts Field Day in Muscatine County

The Iowa Learning Farm is hosting a field day on the Doug Nolte farm, rural West Liberty. The field day will be held on Wednesday, June 11, from 6-8:30 p.m. A complimentary dinner will be served and the public is invited to attend. The field day location is approximately 4.8 miles west of West Liberty on Highway 6.

Iowa Learning Farm cooperator Doug Nolte will be talking about adopting strip-tillage on his farm and will offer a walking tour of some of his strip-tilled continuous corn acres. Other items will include discussion on the equipment and economics of strip-tillage. Iowa State University Extension Water Quality Engineer Matt Helmers will demonstrate the ILF conservation systems rainfall simulator. Read the full story

Learn About Improving Walnut Creek at June 3 Event

MALCOM - The Poweshiek Soil and Water Conservation District will host an event for Poweshiek County residents and landowners June 3 at 11:30 a.m. to kickoff the Walnut Creek Watershed Project. Read the full story

Northey and Leopold Recognize Seven Iowa Watershed Projected to Receive
$5.4 Million to Improve Water Quality
Event at Union Grove Lake in Tama County Highlights Partnerships
Working on the Issue

UNION GROVE LAKE – This summer, seven new projects are projected to receive $5.4 million in grant assistance over the next three years from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and local organization and land owners to improve water quality in Iowa lakes and streams. Read the full story

Operation Strip-till gets rolling

A couple of north central Iowa men put their heads together and created an opportunity for farmers interested in trying strip-tillage on their farms. Iowa Learning Farm cooperator Dave Nelson, owner of Brokaw Supply Company, and Doug Seltz, a Webster County Soil and Water District commissioner, conceived a way for area producers to get their toes wet in the strip-tilling world without taking the full plunge. They’re calling it “Operation Strip Till.” Read the full story

Changing to no-tillage or a reduced tillage system

Just what is conservation tillage? Officially, conservation tillage is any tillage system that maintains at least 30 percent residue cover after planting. No-tillage is defined as a system in which the soil is not disturbed between harvest and planting and planting to harvest except for planting seeds and surface application of nutrients.

Based on these definitions, are you a practicing conservationist? If not, how do you go about taking the plunge to conservation tillage? Now that harvest is over, it is the time to gather information and to make sound decisions about whether to adopt a conservation system on your land. Read the full story

Equipment for No-till or strip-till

As spring approaches, keeping the melted snow and topsoil from heading south may take some re-thinking of your farming system. Hopefully, you have already made the decision to stop or reduce tillage and you have mapped out your plan. Maybe you have already determined the steps for ultimate water and soil conservation - in addition to tillage reduction - such as adding grass waterways and riparian buffers along your creek. Read the full story

Introducing ILF Conservationists

“We all need to be aware of the gift that we have in the farms of Iowa. We need to maintain them and build them back to where they were.” Dave Ruden, Dubuque, is an Iowa Learning Farm (ILF) Conservationist who believes in the importance of our natural resources.

Ruden, farm manager for the Melleray Abbey located south of Dubuque, is one of 10 people across Iowa who are helping with the ILF project by serving as an ILF Conservationist. These spokespeople are champions of the conservation cause. They are community leaders and role models who practice, understand, and are willing to speak out about the need for a renewed commitment to a Culture of Conservation. Read the full story