In the summer, the high temperatures can result in management issues for pond owners with excessive aquatic vegetation being the most problematic. It is important to remember that some aquatic vegetation is important to a pond fishery. Read more about Pond Management in the Summer
With color photos and descriptive characteristics, this new publication from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach guides mushroom foragers. Read more about Mushroom Guide Helps Foragers Identify and Understand Iowa's Bounty
The Integrated Pest Management team has published three new videos on common tree diseases in Iowa. Read more about Videos Provide Education on Unsightly Tree Diseases
Looking to understand agroforestry topics you may have heard about? A Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) grant helped develop these fact sheets. Read more about Agroforestry Fact Sheets
Many rural residents in Iowa rely on private wells as their source of water for drinking, cooking, washing clothes, and watering livestock. Even if your well and the area around it have remained unchanged, it is important to test water annually for indicators of contamination, including nitrate and bacteria, to ensure the water is safe to drink. Read more about Maintaining Safe Drinking Water in Your Private Well
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently announced an extension of the deadline to determine whether the monarch butterfly is warranted for listing under the Endangered Species Act. The new deadline, December 15, 2020, was originally June 30, 2019. Despite the delay, conservation efforts to help the monarch survive and thrive are important as ever. Read more about Despite Delays, Monarch Conservation Efforts Continue in Iowa
Wild turkey. Ring-necked pheasant. Trumpeter swan. Turkey vulture. Northern bobwhite. These are the remarkable birds of Iowa's rural landscapes. They're large, conspicuous, and broadly recognized. These species, and a few more, are those most associated with rural life and synonymous with our experience on the farm. However, I submit that to the trained eye, and ear, the bird that most symbolizes Iowa's countryside is not these charismatic familiar species, but rather, the unremarkable yet fascinatingly remarkable Dickcissel. Read more about An Ode to the Dickcissel: Rural Iowa's Most Unremarkable Remarkable Bird
Are you interested in taking a beekeeping class this winter? The Iowa Honey Producers Association offers classes throughout the state. Read more about Winter Beekeeping Courses
Minimizing the potential for barn fires is good risk management for small farms and acreages with livestock, hay, straw, etc., stored in a barn. Read more about Protection from Barn Fires
For many of us, conservation is our way of life. Finding ways to connect with and improve the land, the soil, the water, and wildlife consumes our thoughts and free time. If you have someone in your life that shares that same passion, here’s a few ideas for brightening their holiday season. Read more about A Conservationist's Christmas List
