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

Expanding the Role of Denitrification Bioreactors in Nutrient Reduction 

Wednesday, June 1 (12pm)

Live Webinar

The Iowa Learning Farms (ILF) conservation webinar taking place June 1 at noon CDT will feature Iowa State University Ph. D. candidate, Lindsey Hartfiel. Hartfiel is recognized for her work with engineered systems for water quality, with a particular focus on denitrification bioreactors for nitrate reduction. Her research goals focus on engineering of conservation systems to maximize positive impacts, identify new benefits, and reduce the risk of unintended byproducts or outcomes.

In the webinar, Hartfiel will provide an overview of how denitrification bioreactors function and how they can be utilized for treatments beyond the typical use with subsurface drainage. She will also present highlights from a case study of a pumped bioreactor in Iowa. Details about site selection, the modified design of the bioreactor, expected performance improvements, and the monitoring and further study plans for the site.

For more information and how to join, click here.


Redefining the Field Edge 

Wednesday, June 1 (5:30-7:30pm)

Brent Johnson Farm 

1811 Ralston Ave, Manson, IA 50563

 Iowa Learning Farms and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will host a field day Wednesday, June 1 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Brent Johnson’s Farm near Manson. The free event is open to farmers and landowners and includes a complimentary meal.

A project led by Mark Licht, extension cropping systems specialist and assistant professor, Iowa State University, and funded by North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education, is working with Iowa farmers to convert marginal land areas prone to flooding to perennial vegetation to evaluate the profitability and explore the potential benefits to water quality, soil health, wildlife habitat and overall aesthetics.

Following a complimentary meal, the field day will begin with a demonstration of the Conservation Station rainfall simulator. Licht and farmer partner and host, Brent Johnson will discuss the process of redefining the field edge from site selection to seeding and management, as well as highlight the research findings to date across the demonstration sites. Weather permitting, there will be a short tour of the perennial vegetation site following the program.

The field day will be held at the Johnson Farm, 1811 Ralston Ave, Manson. From Manson, head west on IA-7 for 2 miles. Turn right to head north on Ralston Ave for 0.9 miles. The farm is located on the west side of the road and field day signs will mark the driveway to enter.

The event is free and open to farmers and landowners, though we require reservations to ensure adequate space and food. For reasonable accommodations and to RSVP please contact Liz Ripley at 515-294-5429 or ilf@iastate.edu.  Attendees will be entered in a drawing for ISU Prairie Strips honey.


Continuum Ag: Stacking Profits With Soil Health

Monday, June 6 (8am-8pm)

Washington County Fairgrounds 

2223 250th St, Washington, IA 52353

To learn more about this field day on stacking profits with soil health and to register click here.