Iowans can expect next year to be bright and colorful – at least according to the images found within the 2021 Garden Calendar produced by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Read more about Iowa Native Plants Featured in the 2021 Garden Calendar
A recurring challenge every winter in Iowa is keeping the water you use from freezing. Keeping water thawed requires adequate heat to keep the temperature of the water above freezing. The three most common approaches are adding heat with a heating device, insulating to conserve heat, and adding heat by bringing in warmer water. Read more about Protecting Water From Freezing
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
