There were three webinars announced during the week of January 4. For more information about recently announced field days, visit here.

Recently Announced

January 13 | Pollinator Plus: Creating a Buzz

Pollinators, as a group, are in decline. Jeff Jensen, a program manager and field coordinator for Trees Forever, will cover what pollinators are and why they’re important; how to establish trees, shrubs, and prairie for pollinator habitat; good stewardship for pollinators; soil and water improvements through perennials; and how to talk with landowners about starting a project.

January 14 | Miscanthus: what is the value for Iowa farmers?

Miscanthus has received widespread attention as a biomass crop for bioenergy in Europe, while bedding and bioproduct markets are developing faster than energy markets in the US. Dr. Emily Heaton’s team is exploring what it takes to successfully grow miscanthus in Iowa and measuring the impact on soil health and water quality. The team is also exploring converting areas of fields that produce low corn and soybean yields to miscanthus for improved long-term profitability.

January 21 | Returning Oxbows to Iowa’s Landscape

Restoring oxbows creates a multitude of benefits to the landscape including improving water quality, offering flood storage capabilities and providing crucial wildlife habitat to a wide range of creatures including endangered species like the Topeka Shiner. Join us for a virtual tour of a restored oxbow and live conversation with Karen Wilke, Iowa Freshwater Specialist & Boone River Project Director for The Nature Conservancy, Jeff Pudenz, Greene County landowner, Darrick Weissenfluh, private lands fish and wildlife biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Dylan Osterhaus and Sam Leberg, Research Assistants at Iowa State University.