All Resources — Iowa Learning Farms

Water Quality Matters To Us All provides insight into the attitudes and practices of agencies and stakeholders involved in protecting Iowa's water quality. Based on listening sessions between 2008-2011 with farmers, urban residents, Soil and Water Conservation District commissioners, and field staff from Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the book details the institutional, community, and individual impediments towards water conservation and curtailing nonpoint source pollution.

Conservation, Water ConservationLiz RipleyJuly 6, 2022

Where Does Your Drinking Water Come From?

Where does your drinking water come from? Two new infographics from the Conservation Learning Group take a closer look at that question and how nitrogen and phosphorus move on our landscape.

Conservation, Water ConservationLiz RipleyJuly 6, 2022drinking-water

A Closer Look: Stream Delivery of Nitrogen and Phosphorus

This illustration shows the relative stream delivery of nitrogen and phosphorus from each source, with the arrows sized proportionally.

Conservation, Water ConservationLiz RipleyJuly 6, 2022

A Closer Look: Iowa Farmland Ownership and Water Quality

Nearly 75% of Iowa’s landscape is farmland. Land management and conservation practices utilized by farmers and landowners play a key role in improving water quality by reducing loss of nutrients to waterways.

Conservation, Water ConservationLiz RipleyJuly 6, 2022

A Closer Look: Harmful Algal Blooms

Not all algae are harmful, but the most common harmful algal blooms in Iowa are comprised of blue-green algae—also known as cyanobacteria. Learn more in this infographic.

Conservation, Water ConservationLiz RipleyJuly 6, 2022

Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy - Frequently Asked Questions

The Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy is focused on reducing nitrogen and phosphorus in Iowa waters. Farmers, landowners, municipalities, agencies, conservation organizations and everyday Iowans are collaborating to make changes to help meet nutrient reduction goals. This publication addresses some frequently asked questions regarding the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy.

Conservation, Water ConservationLiz RipleyJuly 6, 2022

Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy - Aiming to Improve Water Quality

Nutrient pollution threatens our drinking water supply, diminishes water quality in lakes and streams, increases algal blooms that can cause beach advisories, decreases housing values, and diminishes enjoyment for residents and visitors. Learn more about the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy efforts to improve water quality in Iowa.

Conservation, Water ConservationLiz RipleyJuly 6, 2022

Watershed-Based Community Assessments

Assessing your watershed community's strengths and weaknesses is an important first step in planning and implementing an effective watershed improvement project. Without citizen "buy-in" to your watershed plan, it doesn't matter how much funding or technical support you may have, your project will not be successful. The toolkit can be downloaded by section in order to personalize your watershed's plan.

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.

Conservation, Cover Crops, Edge of Field, LivestockLiz RipleyJuly 6, 2022

Conservation Chat 51: Wade Dooley and Nathan Anderson

Both Wade Dooley and Nathan Anderson are a young farmers working to increase the resiliency of their farms using a combination of conservation practices, like cover crops, and livestock.

Talking With Your Landlord Series

Discussing a new conservation practice with your landlord can be challenging. To help begin the conversation, we created a new publication series with talking points and relevant research findings about specific conservation practices.

Sustainable Business Templates

A business model will help you stand out as a strong emerging farmer to potential landlords, lenders, and customers. It will also give you a pathway as you start your farming journey.

ConservationLiz RipleyJuly 1, 2022emerging-farmers-project, sheep, crp, business model

Video: The Work of Our Hands

View the Iowa Learning Farms video The Work of Our Hands (9:45) which discusses the relationship of societies and agriculture, historically and today.

Conservation, Conservation Crops, Soil Conservation, Water ConservationLiz RipleyJuly 1, 2022