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Livestock can convert inedible plant waste like corn stalk residue and soy hulls into protein-rich food for humans like meat and dairy through upcycling.

It’s going to be a tremendous decade of progress, not only for Iowa farmers but for all of us who want to make strides toward protecting our natural resources, improving the quality of our food and providing farm animals with the best care possible.

Iowa farmers are adopting new technologies, including precision agriculture and cover crop plantings, to benefit water quality.

In my years of observing Iowa agriculture, I’ve learned to never underestimate farmers’ drive and resourcefulness to accomplish their goals.

With significant progress in reducing phosphorus losses, Iowa farmers and supporters are focusing on nitrogen.

There are 2 upcoming conservation field days under our Field Days & Events tab.

Mahaska County Farm Bureau members have noticed an improvement in soil biology along with other benefits after multiple years of planting cover crops.

Economists say productivity gains in U.S. agriculture have helped protect the environment.

There are 3 upcoming conservation field days under our Field Days & Events tab.

In this episode, Iowa State University researcher Dr. Mike Castellano shares the results of a new study about the environmental benefits of updating Iowa's 100-year-old drainage system.

There are 5 upcoming conservation field days under our Field Days & Events tab.

Updating Iowa's drainage systems leads to less fertilizer, better nutrient absorption, & improves water quality when water goes through conservation structures.

There are 6 upcoming conservation field days under our Field Days & Events tab.

There are 5 upcoming conservation field days under our Field Days & Events tab.

There are 5 upcoming conservation field days under our Field Days & Events tab.

Ag retailer group hires specialist to help farmers establish practices to improve water quality.

Iowa Department of Agriculture demonstration project offers incentives for farmers to plant additional cover crop acres for conservation.

There are 3 upcoming conservation field days under our Field Days & Events tab.

There are 2 upcoming conservation field days under our Field Days & Events tab.

In this episode, American Farm Bureau chief economist Dr. John Newton shares proof that agriculture's environmental footprint is shrinking, and representatives from Iowa Farm Bureau, the Iowa Association of Business and Industry, and the Greater Des Moines Partnership discuss the importance of the USMCA trade agreement on WHO Radio's The Big Show.

There are 3 upcoming conservation field days under our Field Days & Events tab.

2019 Conservation Farmer of the Year Jarad Weber is deeply invested in his land. It's his livelihood, and he wants to keep the soil where it belongs.

Other states see Iowa as a leader at developing innovative ways to improve water quality.

There are 6 upcoming conservation field days under our Field Days & Events tab.

African Swine Fever, water quality, and a celebration of livestock and Iowa-raised meat with Fareway. Listen in to episode 21 of The Spokesman Speaks Podcast.

There are 9 upcoming conservation field days under our Field Days & Events tab.

Threatened Iowa ash trees get a new life as an effective water quality solution.

There are 6 upcoming conservation field days under our Field Days & Events tab.

It always perplexes me when I hear or see comments from folks who say they never visit a beach, go kayaking or eat fish from Iowa’s lakes and rivers because they’re worried about water quality.

Manure is a source of nitrogen for fertilizer, and you might be surprised to learn just how valuable it is. Are claims that Iowa has too much manure overblown?

There are 7 upcoming conservation field days under our Field Days & Events tab.

In this episode, Dr. Dan Grooms, the new Dean of Iowa State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, talks about the shortage of rural veterinarians, preventing devastating diseases like African Swine Fever, and antibiotic use.

There are 7 upcoming conservation field days under our Field Days & Events tab.

HabiTally enables farmers, ranchers, landowners and private citizens to support monarch butterfly populations.

A new wetland project in the Middle Cedar watershed will help accelerate the state's water quality goals.

Jarad Weber, Conservation Farmer of the Year, carries on a tradition of caring for the land.

There are 9 upcoming conservation field days under our Field Days & Events tab.

Environmental activists continue to misinform Iowans about the progress our state’s farmers are making in improving water quality.

Iowa's drinking water quality is great. The Iowa Dept of Public Health says that the public water supply has been safe and clean since reports began in 1996.

Does Iowa really have too much manure, as livestock opponents claim? Or could the state actually use more manure to fertilize its crops?

There are 7 upcoming conservation field days under our Field Days & Events tab.

There are 9 upcoming conservation field days under our Field Days & Events tab.

There are 11 upcoming conservation field days under our Field Days & Events tab.

Farmers' conservation efforts have improved water quality and are helping rebuild mussel populations.

There are 12 upcoming conservation field days under our Field Days & Events tab.

There are 10 upcoming conservation field days under our Field Days & Events tab.

A new report published by USDA-SARE looks at the economics of cover crops.

There are 15 upcoming conservation field days under our Field Days & Events tab.

Iowa Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever is hosting 17 field days June 17-21 for farmers seeking info about monarchs, pollinators & wildlife habitat. Learn more about the field day details in this story.

There are 18 upcoming conservation field days under our Field Days & Events tab.

Farmers' conservation efforts have improved water quality in the eastern Iowa watershed and are helping rebuild populations of mussels and other wildlife.

There are 20 upcoming conservation field days under our Field Days & Events tab.

Mussels are back at Lime Creek, thanks in part to the work of local farmers.

Iowa farmers can access a new round of cost-share funds for conservation and water quality practices

There are 18 upcoming conservation field days under our Field Days & Events tab.

This free webinar will make the case for establishing habitat adjacent to working farmland

And thanks to efforts from locals—including farmers—the water this year is ready to enjoy.

There are 12 upcoming conservation field days under our Field Days & Events tab.

It’s becoming common to spot cover crops, no-till, wetlands and a range of other conservation practices when you travel around Iowa these days.

There are 11 upcoming conservation field days under our Field Days & Events tab.

Private agronomy advisors work with farmers to implement conservation practices.

Farmers, retailers and others collaborate to boost conservation practices and water quality in the North Raccoon watershed.

There are two upcoming conservation field days under our Field Days & Events tab.

Nominations are now being sought to find the 2019 Iowa Conservation Farmer of the Year, a prestigious honor with a substantial prize; the winner receives use of a new John Deere 6E utility tractor for a year.

I guarantee if you sat in on one of their conversations about agriculture sustainability, you too would be impressed.

Here are three basic rules Laurie Johns learned this past year, while studying to become a Master Gardener.

Leading food companies are stepping up to offer cash incentives to help Iowa farmers offset the cost of planting cover crops and adopting other conservation measures.

In this Earth Day episode, we reveal the most extensive survey of Iowa's conservation progress and discuss laser technology that actually quantifies the conservation structures on Iowa's landscape.

There are two upcoming conservation field days under our Field Days & Events tab.

Cover crops are relatively new to most of Iowa’s landscape, so (naturally) Iowans have lots of questions. We’ve answered some of the most commonly Googled questions about cover crops with help from some Iowa experts.

From cover crops to terraces, Iowa farmers use many techniques to protect the water and soil, and Iowa is the only state to thoroughly track those practices.

There are two upcoming conservation field days under our Field Days & Events tab.

There are four upcoming conservation field days under our Field Days & Events tab.

The Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium, launched in 2015, is a community-led initiative with a goal to enhance monarch habitat in the state through collaborative efforts of farmers, citizens and organizations.

There are six upcoming conservation field days under our Field Days & Events tab.

The Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium will continue efforts in 2019 to enhance monarch habitat through partnerships.

Iowa biofuel producers join efforts to establish more pollinator habitat.

Delaware County's Kevin Glanz finds conservation can reduce costs and build soil health.

As a longtime observer of agriculture in Iowa, I’ve never seen anything quite like the way farmers and others in the state have embraced the challenge of improving water quality and reducing soil loss.

INREC, a private-public partnership that uses ag retail data to measure conservation practices, finds tremendous progress on phosphorus goals.

LiDar system documents conservation structures using airplanes and lasers.

Building a bioreactor on his Poweshiek County farm is latest example of Roger Van Ersvelde’s commitment to conservation and water quality.

Farmers in the Silver Creek watershed in northeast Iowa are stepping up to improve water quality.

Matt Schelling of Sioux County saw conservation practices, such as cover crops, pay off in a difficult year.

Roger Edwards of Columbus Junction has continually made improvements to protect water quality and improve soil health.

Farmers like Brian Hoffman are making a positive difference in the Elk Run Creek watershed.

Shane Wulf, the state’s new edge-of-field project coordinator, is helping farmers find ways to install structures to improve water quality.

There are 12 upcoming conservation field days under our Field Days & Events tab.

The Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy (NRS) annual progress report released last week identified $512 million in private and public sector funding for NRS efforts during 2018

There are 11 upcoming conservation field days under our Field Days & Events tab.

There are 2 upcoming conservation field days under our Field Days & Events tab.

Nominations are open for the 2019 Iowa Conservation Farmer of the Year award. Iowans are encouraged to nominate a deserving farmer by June 1.

There are 2 upcoming conservation field days under our Field Days & Events tab.

Nominations are now open for the 2019 Iowa Conservation Farmer of the Year award, which has been co-sponsored by the Iowa Department of Ag and Land Stewardship and the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) since 1952.

There are 3 upcoming conservation field days under our Field Days & Events tab.

As a Nuffield Scholar, Iowa’s Rose Danaher plans to learn about water quality efforts around the world.

There are 6 upcoming conservation field days under our Field Days & Events tab.

By planting cover crops, farmers are able to reduce soil loss, improve weed control and build soil health.

There are 8 upcoming conservation field days under our Field Days & Events tab.

In the past 24 hours, it seems like every outside-the-home activity in Iowa has been cancelled – classes, businesses, and even the U.S. Mail. Everything – except for a cover crop workshop in Ankeny last night and the round-the-clock livestock care I’m seeing all over social media.

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