Below is a listing of upcoming conservation field days around the state. For a complete listing of future conservation field days, click here.  

Upcoming Field Days

Creating a Diverse Silvopasture Farm on Former Crop Ground 

October 8 (2pm-4pm) 

Thriving Farm 

1620 Davidson Ave, Clemons, IA 50051

Tim Swinton will share how he’s turning his 11 acres of former row crop farmland into a highly diverse farm that encompasses a variety of food crops and conservation practices. Newly established tree and shrub species, such as chestnut, apple, pear, honeyberry, black currant and oak, will create a functional silvopasture system to support fruit and nut production and provide grazing space for goats. Joseph Klingelhutz will share how SILT’s landowner consultation program can help other landowners like Tim explore their land’s potential and provide tangible ideas for tapping into that potential.

For more information and to register, click here by October 3.

Iowa Learning Farms Conservation Webinar 

Wednesday, October 12 (12pm) 

Live Webinar 

The Iowa Learning Farms will be hosting a live webinar featuring Laura Alt with Iowa State University. 

For more information, click here.

Iowa Learning Farms Conservation Webinar 

Wednesday, October 19 (12pm) 

Live Webinar 

The Iowa Learning Farms will be hosting a live webinar featuring Prashant Jha with Iowa State University. 

For more information, click here.

Iowa Learning Farms Virtual Field Day Exploring Pumped Bioreactor System for Improved Water Quality 

Thursday, October 20 (1pm-2pm) 

Virtual Field Day

Iowa Learning Farms, in partnership with the Iowa Nutrient Research Center and Conservation Learning Group, will present a virtual field day on Thursday, October 20 at 1 p.m. CDT. Join us for a live conversation with Iowa State University Ph.D. candidate, Lindsey Hartfiel, Michelle Soupir, professor, department of agricultural and biosystems engineering, Iowa State University and Natasha Hoover, water quality research scientist at Iowa State University.

In recent years, bioreactors have shown themselves to be efficient and dynamic tools for improving water quality through denitrification. Now, a new innovation suggests an additional use for these bioreactors, even when water isn’t flowing from the field tile drainage. This new design is a pumped bioreactor system with a pilot project installed just outside Ames. Pumping water through a bioreactor allows it to be used beyond the seasonal patterns of subsurface drainage, extend its use to new applications, and very possibly extend the life of the bioreactor itself. This virtual field day will explore the results of the design and discuss future plans for the project.

Participants in Iowa Learning Farms virtual field days are encouraged to ask questions of the presenters. People from all backgrounds and areas of interest are encouraged to join.

For more information, click here.