CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCE ISSUES CONFERENCE

Show agriculture’s support for Iowa’s soil and water resources – get involved in conservation.

If you’re like most farmers, you know that preserving our land benefits you, agriculture and all of Iowa. After all, farmers were conservationists long before it was popular to be ‘green.’ But keeping up on the latest conservation strategies and technology can be a challenge. Where do you start?

Farm Bureau’s 2009 Conservation & Natural Resources Issues Conference can help. At this one-day conference, you’ll learn about the latest strategies, techniques and policy issues tied to conserving and preserving our natural resources. Topics include: Iowa’s water supply: past, present and future, a pilot program for integrated drainage and wetland landscapes, conservation wildlife planning and the costs and benefits associated with climate change.

Click here to download the brochure.

Turn on your speakers and click the windows below to hear what Rick Robinson, Iowa Farm Bureau Environmental Policy Advisor has to say about the conference.

8:00 a.m.	Coffee & Registration
9:00 a.m.	Welcome Craig Lang - IFBF President Craig Lang IFBF President
9:05 a.m.	Water Supply in Iowa: Past, Present, and Future Chris Jones - Laboratory Supervisor, Des Moines Water Works Chris Jones Laboratory Supervisor, Des Moines Water Works
9:55 a.m.	Pilot Program: Integrated Drainage & Wetland Landscapes Dean Lemke - Chief, Water Resources Bureau, Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship Dean Lemke Chief, Water Resources Bureau, Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship
10:45 a.m.	Break
11:00 a.m.	Sioux Center Watershed Nitrate Monitoring Project Matt Schuiteman - Sioux County Farmer Matt Schuiteman Sioux County Farmer
11:30 a.m.	The Cost & Benefits of Climate Change* Bill Hohenstein - Director, USDA Office of Climate Change Bill Hohenstein Director, Global Change Program Office, Office of the Chief Economist
12:00 p.m.	Lunch - Displays of Available Resources, Latest Research on Storm Water Runoff
1:15 p.m.	Farm Energy Audits** Denny Harding - Bio-Economy Manager, Iowa Farm Bureau Denny Harding Bio-Economy Manager, Iowa Farm Bureau
2:00 p.m.	Break
2:30 p.m	Pheasant Population Trends & Habitat Opportunities Todd Bogenschutz - DNR Upland Game Biologist Todd Bogenschutz DNR Upland Game Biologist
3:00 p.m.	Reload Iowa – Conservation Wildlife Planning David Van Waus - Regional Biologist, Pheasants Forever David Van Waus Regional Biologist, Pheasants Forever
3:30 p.m.	Adjourn

*Bill Hohenstein will participate via web conferencing. **Denny Harding’s topic is tentative and may change. Watch the web site for final program details.

This program has applied for continuing education credits under the Certified Crop Advisor Program.