Environment

Local Highlights

May 20, 2013

Too much water from the sky recently created many challenges. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach (ISUEO) has much to offer in dealing with these challenges.

Mitchell County Extension Office Offers Water Quality Test Kit for Small Livestock Producers

April 11, 2013

Osage, Iowa – After an extended dry period in Iowa, recent rains remind us this is a good time for beef and dairy farmers with open lots and cow yards to evaluate if runoff from their cattle yards affects waters below the yard.

As part of the Water Quality Initiative for Small Iowa Beef and Dairy Feedlot Operations, a cooperative education and outreach program, the Iowa DNR has made water quality testing kits available through twenty Iowa State University Extension and Outreach County Offices. These kits help producers evaluate the impact of potential feedlot runoff from their livestock operation. In addition to the test kits, resource materials for dairy and beef operations are made available through the Small Feedlot and Dairy Operations Web page at Iowa State University, http://www.agronext.iastate.edu/immag/smallfeedlotsdairy.html.

These kits are quick and simple to use, are free, and the program is confidential. The only person that knows the results of the ammonia test is the livestock producer. The test kits come with an instructional video and a fact sheet on water quality impacts. These materials, used in conjunction with the self assessment worksheets and producer guides available on the above web page, can help a livestock producer determine if their manure control structures are operating correctly and can guide producers to cost-effective ways to change control structures or management practices to protect water quality.

The time to inspect and test is during or shortly after a rainfall, when water is running off the cattle yard. The water quality testing kit is available from the Mitchell County Extension office. Please contact the Mitchell County Extension by calling 641-732-5574 to determine the availability of the kit for use on your farm.

Educational and testing materials are part of the Water Quality Initiative for Small Iowa Beef and Dairy Feedlot Operations, a two-year plan to provide resources for farmers with small or mid-sized open lots. Partners in the project include the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Iowa State Dairy Association, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which has provided partial funding through a Section 319 grant.

Submitted by MigrateGroup3 on Wed, 09/01/2004 - 00:00

ISU Extension Agricultural and Natural Resources

Agriculture and Natural Resources has to many resources to help Iowans. Get a list of them all here.

Statewide Resources

Forestry Extension

Tree identification, care and maintenance, and timber management resources.
Wildlife Extension

Educating people about Iowa's wildlife resources so that Iowans can make informed decisions that impact wildlife and their habitats.
Fisheries and Aquaculture Extension

Publications and resources covering fish farming to pond management.
Leadership and Performance-Based Watershed Management

Establishing watershed groups in impaired sub-watersheds throughout Iowa implemented through partnerships of farmers, extension specialists, Iowa State University Extension and agencies at the state and local level.
Iowa Water Center

Providing Iowans with an independent, authoritative voice on water resource issues affecting Iowa.
Heartland Regional Water Coordination Initiative

Building institutional partnerships and increasing the capacity of citizens, educators, agencies and community leaders to better address water quality concerns.
Riparian Management Systems

A management approach for environmental enhancement of intensively modified agricultural landscapes.
Iowa Learning Farms

Iowa Learning Farms is building a Culture of Conservation, calling attention to the importance of improved water and soil quality through conservation farming practices.
Extension Soil Management & Environment

Research-based information and current Extension and Research projects on tillage and cropping systems, soil carbon sequestration, residue management, and cover crops.
Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture

Developing new ways to farm profitably while conserving natural resources.
Pest Management and the Environment

Information on Pesticide Applicator Training, Integrated Pest Management, and related environmental programs.
Iowa Manure Management Action Group

Comprehensive information on manure management, research and application for Iowa.
Water and Environmental Stewardship Engineering

Providing extension services on topics such as water quality and pollution control, hydrology and drainage, and remote sensing and modeling.
Soil and Land Use

The Iowa Soil and Land Use site provides data related to the agricultural and non-agricultural uses of Iowa land to help you determine the right use for your soil.
Soil Fertility

Find resources on soil nutrients, nutrient management, soil sampling and testing, interpretations and recommendations.
Recovering from Disasters

Specialists have compiled a list of resources to help you prepare for and recover from natural disasters. Remember to take care of yourself and your family first; then deal with the things lost to the disaster.