Extension Fisheries and Aquaculture Specialist
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Allen Pattillo
Articles by this author
The warm, early spring weather soon will encourage vegetative growth in the nutrient-rich waters of Iowa ponds. Pond owners need to know that wherever there is sunlight, water and nutrients, there will be some sort of plant growing. Effective management involves manipulating one or more of these elements to reduce or eliminate aquatic plants.
A Webster City business, Iowa’s First, has taken a proactive approach to circumventing the economic losses in livestock production by moving into fish farming. Mark and Jeff Nelson are producing hybrid striped bass in their unused hog facility. With the assistance of ISU Extension and Outreach they hope to create an aquaculture hub in central Iowa.
Having 2 percent of the total pond surface open throughout the winter will help pond owners avoid fish kills, according to ISU Extension and Outreach fisheries and aquaculture specialist Allen Pattillo.
Fish producers can stay current on the areas of fish health, feeding practices, water quality and water treatment by referring to the standard operating procedures for aquaculture outlined in new Iowa State University Extension and Outreach publications.
Recent weather conditions may have pond owners battling an abundance of aquatic plants. While the plants are a necessary and beneficial component of a natural ecosystem, too many can cause issues for pond owners, says an Iowa State University Extension and Outreach fisheries specialist.
Rainy periods like this fall test the integrity of ponds and there isn’t much you can do solve problems in the middle of a downpour. The best course of action is proper construction.
Iowa pond owners have available to them a series of three video lectures designed to provide pond management strategies.
Traditional gardens require planting in the spring and attention in the summer before yielding a harvest. But gardening in January? It’s possible through aquaponics. Learn how at a workshop from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
Aquaculture professionals have developed a series of webinars making learning about many aspects of aquaculture easily accessible.
As spring approaches, precautions should be taken by those using Iowa's frozen bodies of water.