The Iowa Learning Farms’ (ILF) February webinar, to be held Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 11:30 a.m. will feature Chad Hart, an economist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. The webinar is part of a series, hosted by ILF, held on the third Wednesday of each month through Adobe Connect.

A statewide program designed to build a “Culture of Conservation” in Iowa will be working closely with the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture over the next three years. The Leopold Center has strengthened its partnership with the Iowa Learning Farms (ILF), beginning in January and running through December 31, 2014.

Iowa Learning Farms is again hosting a series of webinars on the third Wednesday of each month in 2012. The webinars will begin at 11:30 a.m. and will run approximately 45 minutes. Please note that this is a new time from the 2011 webinars. The January webinar will be held Wednesday, January 18 at 11:30 a.m., and will feature Jacqueline Comito, an anthropologist with the Sociology Department at Iowa State University.

The Iowa Learning Farms’ (ILF) December webinar, to be held Wednesday, Dec. 14 at Noon, will feature Ryan Harr, who will discuss patch-burn grazing as part of the multi-state Restoration Ecology in Working Landscapes project.

The Iowa Learning Farms’ (ILF) November webinar, to be held Wednesday, Nov. 16 at Noon, will feature Wayne Petersen, urban conservationist with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS). The webinar is part of a series, hosted by ILF, held on the third Wednesday of each month.

Iowa Learning Farms is pleased to announce the publication of Water Quality Matters To Us All, a new book that provides insight into the attitudes and practices of agencies and stakeholders involved in protecting Iowa’s water quality.

Practical Farmers of Iowa and Iowa Learning Farms will co-sponsor a field day at Gustafson Farms near Boone on Thursday, October 27, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. A complimentary lunch will be provided, and the event is free and open to the public.

The Iowa Learning Farms’ (ILF) October webinar, to be held Wednesday, Oct. 19 at Noon, will feature Mark Hanna, who will present “ISU Farm Energy: Energy Conservation and Efficiency.” The webinar is part of a series, hosted by ILF, held on the third Wednesday of each month.

A new how-to video from Iowa Learning Farms and the Iowa Manure Management Action Group (IMMAG) offers suggestions, tips and reminders about manure application. The 20-minute DVD, “Manure Management and Conservation,” shows how to collect manure samples for nutrient analysis from different types of manure handling systems, reviews a manure analysis lab report and provides the basics for determining application rates.

“Out to the Lakes” is a provocative and engaging film that encourages viewers to think about water quality and their personal relationship with their local lake or water body.

Iowa Learning Farms and Practical Farmers of Iowa will co-sponsor a cover crops “open house” field day with Lyon and Sioux Counties Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), Iowa State University Extension Field Agronomist Joel DeJong and farmer Floyd Jansma on Friday, September 30, from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. The field day includes a complimentary lunch. The event is free and the public is invited to come and go as schedules allow.

A new children’s music CD from Iowa Learning Farms, “Dogs, Frogs, and Nature Songs,” has just been released. The CD is all about nature, conservation and learning.

The Iowa Learning Farms’ (ILF) September webinar, to be held Wednesday, Sept. 21 at Noon, will feature Ed Cox, who will share his work with the Sustainable Agricultural Land Stewardship (SALT) project. The webinar is part of a series, hosted by ILF, held on the third Wednesday of each month.

Iowa Learning Farms (ILF) is partnering with Pekin Community Schools and the Competine Creek Watershed Improvement Group for a day of conservation activities. On Wednesday, Sept. 14, a field day will be held for the public from 12:00-2:00 p.m. The field day is free and includes a noon hour barbecue prepared by the Pekin FFA chapter. The field day will be held at Pekin Community High School.

Iowa Learning Farms (ILF) is hosting a field day at Hickory Grove Lake, near Colo, on Thursday, Sept. 8, from 5:30-8:00 p.m. The field day is free, includes a complimentary dinner and the public is invited to attend.

Small prairie strips growing at key points in corn and soybean fields at the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge are yielding more than good crops; they’re improving soil and water quality as well as creating beneficial habitat for insects and birds. Research exploring this unique system that incorporates native prairie into working landscapes will be highlighted at a field day on Tuesday, Sept. 6, hosted by Iowa Learning Farms.

Iowa Learning Farms and Iowa State University Extension are co-hosting a field day that focuses on water quality of tile-drained landscapes on Thursday, Sept. 1 at 5:00 p.m. near Gilmore City in Pocahontas County. The field day is free, open to the public and includes a complimentary evening meal.

Iowa Learning Farms and Practical Farmers of Iowa will co-sponsor a field day at the Kelly Tobin farm near New Market in Taylor County on Tuesday, Aug. 30 from 4 to 7 p.m. The field day will feature discussion of cover crop management and includes a complimentary evening meal featuring beef grilled by the Taylor County Cattlemen. The event is free and the public is invited to attend.

Iowa Learning Farms (ILF) and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) are hosting a tour of a Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) wetland near Nashua in southeast Floyd County on Wednesday, Aug. 24, starting at 5:30 p.m.

The Iowa Learning Farms’ (ILF) August webinar, to be held Wednesday, August 17 at Noon, will feature Rick Cruse, who will discuss the report “Losing Ground.” The webinar is part of a series, hosted by ILF, held on the third Wednesday of each month. The webinars are held over the noon hour through Adobe Connect. All that is needed to participate is a computer with Internet access.

Iowa Learning Farms (ILF), Iowa State University (ISU) Research and Demonstration Farms and ISU Extension are hosting a field day at the ISU Agricultural Engineering and Agronomy Farm, near Ames, Aug. 25, from 9 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. The field day will feature strip-tillage and precision agriculture technology.

Iowa Learning Farms (ILF) is sponsoring a field day at the Iowa State University (ISU) Neely-Kinyon Research and Demonstration Farm near Greenfield, Adair County, on Wednesday, July 27, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. The field day will include a complimentary dinner, and information about strategies for no-till as well as information about incorporating perennial vegetation to enhance no-till. Attendees will be able to see and learn about Giant Miscanthus and other perennial energy crops. The event is free and the public is invited to attend.

The Iowa Learning Farms’ (ILF) July webinar, to be held Wednesday, July 20 at Noon, will feature Emily Heaton, who will present “Giant Miscanthus and other perennial energy crops.” The webinar is part of a series, hosted by ILF, held on the third Wednesday of each month. The webinars are held over the noon hour through Adobe Connect. All that is needed to participate is a computer with Internet access.

Iowa Learning Farms (ILF) will sponsor a strip-tillage and cover crop management field day at the Ann Smeltzer Charitable Trust Farm, south of Otho in Webster County, on Wednesday, July 20, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. The field day is free, includes a complimentary dinner and the public is invited to attend.

Iowa Learning Farms (ILF) is sponsoring a field day at the Craig Embretson farm in Clayton County on Wednesday, July 13, from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. The field day will include a complimentary lunch, information about strategies for no-till and also cover crop management. The event is free and the public is invited to attend.

Harold and Kay Whipple, along with Iowa Learning Farms, will co-host an event “Conservation Conversations on the Prairie” at the Whipple’s farm in rural Lacona on Tuesday, July 19, beginning at 3:00 p.m. The event is free and the public is invited to attend, but registration is required. The Warren Soil and Water Conservation District is a sponsor for the event as well.

Iowa Learning Farms (ILF) is sponsoring a “field day” at the Lake Park, Iowa, community center on Wednesday, July 6, from 5:00-7:30 p.m. The field day will include a complimentary dinner and information about strategies to reduce soil erosion and limiting nutrient losses into water bodies. The event is free and the public is invited to attend.

Iowa Learning Farms (ILF) and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) are hosting a bus tour of Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) wetlands in Kossuth County on Tuesday, June 28, from 1:30-3:30 p.m.

Iowa Learning Farms (ILF) and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) are hosting a bus tour of Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) wetlands in Dallas County on Thursday, June 23, from 9:00-11:00 a.m.

Iowa Learning Farms (ILF) will sponsor a strip-tillage management field day with Iowa State University (ISU) Extension Field Agronomist Virgil Schmitt and ILF farmer-partner Doug Nolte in Muscatine County on Wednesday, June 22, from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Iowa Learning Farms and Practical Farmers of Iowa will co-sponsor a field day with Iowa State University Extension Field Agronomist Paul Kassel and farmer Jeff Joyce in Palo Alto County on Friday, June 17, from 12:00-1:30 p.m.

The Iowa Learning Farms’ (ILF) June webinar, to be held Wednesday, June 15 at Noon, will feature Michelle Soupir, who will talk about the “fate and transport of pathogens from agricultural landscapes.”

Iowa Learning Farms and Key Cooperative will co-sponsor a strip-tillage field day at the Mike Hermanson farm and at Key Co-op S14 Office strip-till plots in northern Story County on Tuesday, June 21, beginning at 10:00 a.m.

Iowa Learning Farms will sponsor a strip-tillage “Open House” at the Arlo Van Diest farm in Hamilton County on Tuesday, June 14, from 5:00-8:00 p.m.

Iowa Learning Farms and Practical Farmers of Iowa will co-sponsor a Cover Crop field day at the Rob Stout farm in Washington County on Wednesday, June 1, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

The Iowa Learning Farms’ (ILF) May webinar, to be held Wednesday, May 18 at Noon, will feature Laura Christianson, who will talk about the benefits and challenges of bioreactors.

The Iowa Learning Farms’ Conservation Station travels the state teaching people of all ages about the importance of soil and water. ILF staff members demonstrate the rainfall simulator and Enviroscape model to participants at Running Wild in Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge near Wapello last summer.

There is a river that flows through the lives of everyone. Rivers are the veins of the land and an indicator of the health of its people.A new Iowa Learning Farm (ILF) video, “Troubled Waters,” explores rivers and the human relationship with them. Winner of an Iowa Motion Picture Association (IMPA) award for excellence in educational production, “Troubled Waters” calls attention to human attitudes and treatment of rivers, both good and bad.