Resources

All of our resources are available from this page. You can also visit the specific pages for individual topics to get focused information on those areas.

Conservation

Conservation encompasses many areas - soil, water, and crop considerations all play a part. We offer a variety of practical resources to help you find the answers to your questions.

"How resilient are our lands here in the Midwest? What is our ability to retain productivity if we have another long drought or continual flooding? Will people still be farming in Iowa 1,500 years from now? Or even 200 years from now? The decisions we make today about our natural resources will affect agricultural production 50 years from now."
--from the video "The Work of Our Hands"

Conservation Resources

Cover Crops

Cover crops are a great way to improve soil health. Many Iowa farmers are adding cover crops to their crop rotations so soil stays covered when the fields are not growing other crops. Cover crops also improve soil organic matter and slow water runoff.

Farmers have many questions about incorporating cover crops. Most asked questions include: what kinds of plants can be used, when and how to seed and when and how to terminate. With field days and workshops, Iowa Learning Farms strives to help farmers, and other interested people, find the answers to these questions and more.

Cover Crop Resources

Edge of Field

Edge-of-field practices play a crucial role in meeting the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy goals of improving water quality through reducing nitrogen and phosphorus in Iowa's water bodies. Edge-of-field practices involve drainage water management, bioreactors, buffers, saturated buffers, denitrifying wetlands, terraces and sediment control.

Edge of Field Resources

Relay Intercropping

Relay intercropping is a multi-year, multi-species cropping system that allows for 3 harvestable crops (small grain, soybean, corn) in 2 years.

View recent webinars, blogs and publications from ongoing research farm and on-farm demonstrations.

Relay Intercropping

Field Day Toolkit

This Field Day Toolkit is the product of Iowa Learning Farms’ many years of planning and hosting field day events across the state of Iowa. While ILF utilizes many different outreach approaches, the importance of farmer-to-farmer interactions cannot be overstated. Field days do matter!

Field Day Toolkit

Recent Resources

Posts in Edge of Field

November 20, 2024: Trees and Tiles: 4 Years of Nitrate Removal and Root Intrusion Monitoring in a Saturated Riparian FOREST Buffer

November 20, 2024: Trees and Tiles: 4 Years of Nitrate Removal and Root Intrusion Monitoring in a Saturated Riparian FOREST Buffer

With Billy Beck

Conservation, Webinars, Edge of FieldAlena WhitakerNovember 20, 2024forestry, windbreak, saturated buffers, riparian forest saturated buffers, riparian buffer, buffer strip

Iowa Wetlands

Iowa Wetlands

Iowa is home to a diverse array of wetland ecosystems that provide multiple benefits to humans and the natural world. These wetlands are essential for the survival of plants and animals adapted to life in a wet environment, including many rare and endangered species.

Conservation, Water Conservation, Edge of FieldLiz RipleyNovember 14, 2024water quality, wetlands

Field Day Archive: Woodchips and Water Quality: Exploring Species and Chipping Methods to Maximize Bioreactor Efficiency

Field Day Archive: Woodchips and Water Quality: Exploring Species and Chipping Methods to Maximize Bioreactor Efficiency

Field Day Archive, Conservation, Water Conservation, Edge of FieldAlena WhitakerFebruary 9, 2024water quality, forestry, bioreactors, woodchips

Oxbow Restoration Toolkit

Oxbow Restoration Toolkit

Learn about the oxbow wetland restoration process with this toolkit.

Edge of FieldAlena WhitakerFebruary 1, 2024wetlands, oxbow, restoration

Field Day Archive: Pasturing Oxbows: Optimizing Benefits to the Farm, Water and Wildlife

Field Day Archive: Pasturing Oxbows: Optimizing Benefits to the Farm, Water and Wildlife

Field Day Archive, Conservation, Water Conservation, Soil Conservation, Edge of Field, LivestockAlena WhitakerJanuary 18, 2024livestock, grazing, wetlands, oxbow, native grasses, perennial, water quality

Whole Farm Conservation Best Practices Manual

Whole Farm Conservation Best Practices Manual

This publication provides best management recommendations for farmers and landowners getting started with conservation and water quality practices by helping select and incorporate in-field and edge-of-field conservation practices most appropriate to the decision maker's land and preferences.

Conservation, Edge of Field, Water Conservation, Soil ConservationLiz RipleyJuly 6, 2022

Oxbow Restoration - Iowa Watershed Approach

Oxbow Restoration - Iowa Watershed Approach

Restoring oxbows can be a low cost way to improve water quality. Learn more in this publication from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

Edge of FieldLiz RipleyJuly 6, 2022structures

Grade Stabilization Structures - Iowa Watershed Approach

Information on grade stabilization structures from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

Edge of FieldErin RollenhagenJuly 6, 2022structures

Sediment Control Basins - Iowa Watershed Approach

Sediment Control Basins - Iowa Watershed Approach

Learn about sediment control basins in this 2-page report from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

Edge of FieldErin RollenhagenJuly 6, 2022structures

Farm Ponds - Iowa Watershed Approach

Farm Ponds - Iowa Watershed Approach

Learn about the role farm ponds play in water quality in this quick read 2-page PDF.

Edge of FieldLiz RipleyJuly 6, 2022structures

Conservation Buffers and Water Quality

Conservation Buffers and Water Quality

Learn about how conservation buffers affect water quality in this 4-page report by Iowa State University.

Edge of FieldLiz RipleyJuly 6, 2022structures

Water Quality and Conservation Practices

Water Quality and Conservation Practices

Learn about water quality conservation practices you can implement in this 4-page quick read report.

Edge of FieldLiz RipleyJuly 6, 2022structures

Questions and Answers about Saturated Buffers for the Midwest

Questions and Answers about Saturated Buffers for the Midwest

Learn about saturated buffers from a panel of experts in this in-depth publication.

Edge of FieldLiz RipleyJuly 6, 2022saturated buffers

Cleaning Iowa’s Waters with Saturated Buffers

Cleaning Iowa’s Waters with Saturated Buffers

Learn about cleaning Iowa’s waters with saturated buffers in this Iowa State University Extension publication.

Edge of FieldLiz RipleyJuly 6, 2022saturated buffers

Infographic: Iowa Watershed Approach - Wetlands

Infographic: Iowa Watershed Approach - Wetlands

Learn more about wetlands in this informative infographic from Iowa State University Extension.

Edge of FieldLiz RipleyJuly 6, 2022wetlands

Infographic: Wetlands Implementation

Infographic: Wetlands Implementation

Learn about the unique aspects of wetlands in this infographic.

Edge of FieldLiz RipleyJuly 6, 2022wetlands