Soil and Water Management
Equipping Yourself for Cover Crop Success: Cover Crop Equipment Considerations
Ethan Thies, conservation field specialist, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
Wednesday, 10:50 AM – 11:40 AM in Skinner C
Wednesday, 12:50 PM – 1:40 PM in Skinner B
Equipment decisions affect the success of cover crops, just as it does with cash crops. This session will discuss various equipment choices for seeding cover crops, as well as year-long equipment set up considerations to set up for successful cover crop adoption.
Drainage Water Recycling for Economic and Environmental Benefits
Matthew Helmers, professor and extension agricultural engineer, Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University
Thursday, 9:00 AM – 9:50 AM in Bishop AB
Thursday, 10:20 AM – 11:10 AM in Bishop AB
Capturing drainage water for use as supplemental irrigation has potential to not only reduce downstream nutrient export but also enhance crop production and improve yield stability. This presentation will discuss the potential but also challenges with this practice.
Back to Basics: Iowa’s Water Quality and Agriculture
Laurie Nowatzke, research scientist in the Human Dimensions of Conservation, Natural Resources Ecology and Management, Iowa State University, Ames, IA; and Catherine DeLong, manager, water quality program, Natural Resources Ecology and Management, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Wednesday, 12:50 PM – 1:40 PM in Altoona
Wednesday, 1:50 PM – 2:40 PM in Altoona
Has the conversation around Iowa’s water quality left you feeling overwhelmed, confused, or even a little annoyed? Join this interactive discussion to revisit the original science behind the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy, including a deep dive on the practices that do (and do not) have a big impact on nitrogen loss. We’ll also give an overview of what we’ve learned about Iowa’s water quality in the last ten years, including the biggest wins and challenges, and the latest science exploring soil and water conservation practices.
Exploring Relay Intercropping in Iowa: Impacts on Diversity, Soil Health, Water Quality, Economics, and Social Norms
Elizabeth Ripley, conservation and cover crop outreach specialist, Iowa Learning Farms, Iowa State University; Mark Licht, associate professor and extension cropping systems specialist, Agronomy, Iowa State University; and Matthew Helmers, professor and extension agricultural engineer, Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University
Wednesday, 3:10 PM – 4:00 PM in Skinner B
Wednesday, 4:10 PM – 5:00 PM in Skinner B
Curious about growing cover crops or extending rotations while still growing corn and soybeans? Relay intercropping is a multi-year, multi-species cropping system that produces three harvestable crops (small grain, soybean, corn) in two years. This innovative project is exploring the potential for this system in Iowa and the impacts on soil health, water quality, profitability, and the social norms around the adoption of the system.
Managing Soil and Water: Where and When to Use Cover Crops
Rick Cruse, professor and director, Iowa Water Center, Agronomy, Iowa State University
Thursday, 11:20 AM – 12:10 PM in Skinner B
Thursday, 1:20 PM – 2:10 PM in Skinner B
Cover crops conserve soil, reduce nutrient loss, improve soil health, and cost money. Returns on using cover crops are farming system, land ownership, and topography dependent. This presentation will address how navigating these variables determines the long- and short-term economics of cover crop use.
Perennial Groundcover for Corn and Beans: Risk Factors, Groundcover Selection, Equipment Needs, and Operational Impacts
Raj Raman, professor, Ag and Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University; Daniel Andersen, associate professor and extension specialist, Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University; Brent Wilson, agronomist, Corteva Agriscience; and Sara Lira, research scientist, Corteva Agriscience
Thursday, 2:20 PM – 3:10 PM in Skinner B
Thursday, 3:10 PM – 4:10 PM in Skinner B
Perennial groundcover (PGC) systems have proven to provide significant protection to soil and water resources. This talk will begin with a quick overview of PGC practices and benefits, discuss what we know about the five key risks facing famers who implement PGC, explain the risk profiles of two candidate groundcovers, and discuss key equipment and operational implications of deploying PGC. We’ll leave plenty of time for open Q&A with the audience.