Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance

PFI: Building a Seed Conditioning Business
2026-07-09 00:00 - 23:59 UTC | Carroll, Carroll, Iowa
Ryan Tiefenthaler grew up helping on his family’s row crop and hog farm near Carroll, Iowa. After college, he returned to the farm to help his dad and started a custom application business for area farms. When an opportunity to raise fish fell through in 2016, Ryan quickly pivoted his plans for the large facility he had purchased and started cleaning seed instead.

Over the past decade, Ryan has grown his operation to meet the interest and demand of his partners and customers. Now with an array of conditioning equipment for both organic and conventional seed, he has been able to step away from custom application and focus fully on cleaning seed from his own farm and from others. Come tour Ryan’s facility to get a close look at the steps for processing high-quality seed.

Iowa Learning Farms Webinar
2026-07-08 12:00 - 13:00 | https://www.iaagwater.org/event/iowa-learning-farms-webinar/2026-07-08/

ISU Research Farm Field Day
2026-07-08 00:00 - 23:59 | Northwest Research Farm, 6320 500th Street, Sutherland, IA, 51058, United States
Field Day

How Crop Diversification Becomes Product Innovation
2026-07-07 00:00 - 23:59 | St Paul, St. Paul, Minnesota
Join a dynamic group of retailers, ingredient companies, and brands for an interactive workshop and field tour featuring functional uses, compelling consumer storylines, and innovation opportunities for new food ingredients that support regenerative agriculture and resiliency goals.

See demonstrations of Kernza perennial grain, hybrid hazelnut, and American elderberry ingredients and functional uses.
Hear success stories of innovation with these crops, emphasizing the storylines most important to consumers.
Preview what’s coming next in Forever Green’s ingredient innovation pipeline (winter barley, silflower, alfalfa, and more).
Situate these ingredients within the frameworks of crop diversification and continuous living cover, including how these ingredients create agricultural transformation for both environmental and community benefits.

This workshop is multi-track, with something for everyone: sustainability, R&D, brand & marketing, procurement, and leadership teams!

Heartland: Soil Health Field Day
2026-07-07 00:00 - 23:59 | Randolph, Randolph, Iowa
7-7-26 Randolph Field Day Flyer

Join Heartland Co-op to learn about the economic and biological benefits of conservation and seed genetics. Grill-out lunch is provided. The agenda includes seeing a rainfall simulation of soils under different management systems, a seed demo plot walk, and a soil health field walk.

Time: 10 am – 1 pm
Date: Tuesday, July 7
Location: Heartland Co-op, 109 Depot St, Randolph, IA 51649

Please RSVP to Emma Slate at eslate@heartlandcoop.com or 515-238-3750.

ISA Shop Talk: Masonville
2026-07-07 00:00 - 23:59 | Masonville, Masonville, Iowa
Join the Iowa Soybean Association Research Center for Farming Innovation and farmer Sean Dolan for a social event focused on practical cover crop management.
Topics include establishment and drilling tips, equipment selection, grazing livestock on cover crops, seasonal management and termination strategies. Learn how to manage cover crops based on your goals — from holding soil and retaining nutrients to maximizing ROI.
Attendees will leave with practical ideas you can apply on your operation this season.
Coffee and refreshments provided.

Iowa Learning Farms Webinar
2026-07-01 12:00 - 13:00 | https://www.iaagwater.org/event/iowa-learning-farms-webinar/2026-07-01/

Athene Watershed 26: A convergence of ag and conservation
2026-06-30 00:00 - 2026-07-01 23:59 | Des Moines, Iowa, Des Moines, Iowa
About the Summit

The Upper Mississippi River Watershed stands at a crossroads. Agricultural runoff, public health risks, and recurrent flooding are converging into one of the most pressing environmental and economic challenges of our time. Addressing these issues requires a new model of collaboration between agriculture, conservation, public health, and private sector leaders. Watershed26 is a summit designed to drive change and chart our shared path forward.

Summit Details

Watershed26 is hosted by the Great Outdoors Foundation and its partners. It will be held at the Iowa Events Center on Tuesday, June 30 and Wednesday, July 1, 2026.

Location
Iowa Events Center
730 3rd Street
Des Moines, IA 50309

PFI: Drainage Water Recycling and Double Cropping
2026-06-30 00:00 - 23:59 | Lytton, Lytton, Iowa
Mark and Melissa Schleisman and their family raise popcorn, field corn, soybeans, rye, wheat, oats, cattle and hogs at M&M Farms in Calhoun County, Iowa. Soil and water conservation are a priority for the family. They use cover crops on all their fields, grazing the covers whenever possible. Over the past five years, they have worked with local organizations to install two wetlands that filter tile drainage, which can then be used to irrigate fields.

The Schleismans are excited to show their newest wetland project, which will be used to irrigate popcorn in surrounding fields. To further explore soil-building practices that improve water infiltration, they also double-crop wheat and soybeans. Come see how they are working toward their goal of using conservation practices while making cash flow.

PFI: Managed Grazing 101
2026-06-27 00:00 - 23:59 | Ames, Ames, IA
Bassett Farms is a three-generation operation near Ames, Iowa, raising 1,500 acres of row crops alongside a 100-head cow-calf herd. Mike manages the grazing side and has spent the past seven years building an adaptive grazing system that increases productivity while fitting within the realities of a working family farm. This pasture walk will be a practical, step-by-step look at how that system works.

During the walk, we’ll focus on Mike’s low-cost setup, how he assesses forage, his fence deployment and lessons he has learned along the way. Come with questions and see how Mike is increasing diversity, carrying more cattle capacity per acre and extending the grazing season.

PFI: Overcoming Challenges and Finding Opportunities for Growth on an Organic Farm
2026-06-26 00:00 - 23:59 | Wesley, Wesley, Iowa
Bob and Sara Pearson grow organic corn, soybeans and oats on their farm in Kossuth County, Iowa. Sara started off with an organic vegetable farm in 2008 but gradually switched her focus to row crops as family rental acres became available. By 2015, Bob and Sara decided to fully focus their energy on transitioning their acres to organic row crops, choosing organic for its financial and environmental benefits.
Now operating on 420 acres, Sara and Bob have learned a great deal through years of organic transition and challenging weather years. Through it all, their crops show resilience in the face of poor weather conditions and bad pest and weed years. Come see how they are working with nature to build soil, retain water, support beneficial insects and improve nutrient cycling.

ISU Research Farm Field Day
2026-06-25 00:00 - 23:59 | Northern Research Farm, 310 S. Main St., Kanawha, Iowa
8:30 AM Registration and refreshments
9:00 Opening Remarks and Welcome – Greg Guenther, President of the North Central Iowa Research Association
9:15 Current Farm Updates and Projects – Matthew Schnabel and Ben Petersen
9:30 Load For Plot Tours and Demonstrations:
• Mid-season oat production practices with Dr. Margaret Smith, Forage Agronomist with Albert Lea Seed
• Herbicie Injury Plots with Meaghan Anderson, Extension Field Agronomist
• Current Agronomic Issues with Gentry Sorenson and Angie Rieck-Hinz, Extension Field Agronomists
12:00 PM Lunch

ISU Research Farm Field Day
2026-06-25 00:00 - 23:59 | Armstrong Memorial Research and Demonstration Farm, 53020 Hitchcock Ave, Lewis, Iowa
Field Day Agenda
Registration for the field day will start at 9:30 AM.

Welcome

Effects of sulfur on corn and soybeans
Richard Roth, Assistant Professor and Extension Nitrogen Specialist

Fungicide efficacy and disease pressure update
Alison Robertson, Professor of Plant Pathology and Microbiology and Extension Field Crops Pathologist

Soybean herbicide demo
Wesley Everman, Assistant Professor and Extension Weed Scientist

Lunch

A systems approach to adopting cover crops
Mark Licht, Associate Professor and Extension Cropping Systems Specialist

Best herbicide management practices
Bill Backhaus, BASF Ag Solutions Senior Agronomic Service Representative, and Nate Quam, BASF Ag Solutions Technical Service Representative

Iowa Learning Farms Webinar
2026-06-24 12:00 - 13:00 | https://www.iaagwater.org/event/iowa-learning-farms-webinar/2026-06-24/

ISU Research Farm Field Day
2026-06-24 00:00 - 23:59 | Northeast Research Farm, 3321 290th St, Nashua, Iowa
Complimentary lunch at 12 p.m., sponsored by Five Star Cooperative.
The first session will start in the meeting room of the Borlaug Learning Center beginning at 11:00 a.m., followed by outdoor sessions ending by 3:00 p.m.

Morning session
11:00 a.m. – Managing Crop Diseases in 2026 – Alison Robertson, extension plant pathologist

Other Topics & Speakers (Outside):
1:00 p.m. – Nitrogen and Sulfur Management for corn and soybeans – Richard Roth, extension nitrogen science specialist
2:00 p.m. – Maximizing Weed Control with Pre and Post-Emergent Herbicide Strategies – Wes Everman, extension weed management specialist

SWISH: Summer of Soil Health Tour June 2026
2026-06-23 00:00 - 23:59 | Redfield, Redfield, Iowa
See the flyer for SWISH Summer Tour Stop 3

Join the South West Iowa Soil Health group as they meet with farmers! You’ll learn about practices that farmers across SW Iowa are using on their land. This includes diverse cover crop plantings like flax, buckwheat, and camolina. Make sure to bring a lawn chair and questions for your host!

The farmer host is Ruth and Robert Harvey.
Event time: June 23 from 9 am-11 am
Event address: 3047 York Ave. Redfield, IA 50233

Coffee and pastries provided

Please RSVP by texting or calling 319-541-2969 or emailing rarolling@gmail.com
Learn more about SWISH by following them on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/SouthWest-Iowa-Soil-Health/

Heartland Coop: Above the Canopy
2026-06-23 00:00 - 23:59 | Minburn, Minburn, Iowa
See the event flyer.

The Heartland Co-op Conservation Team is partnering with the Beaver Creek Watershed Management Authority for a soil health presentation by Jeremy Gustafson, Hagie High Clearance Seeder demonstration and saturated buffer demonstration! Lunch will be provided by the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association. Please RSVP for the meal by contacting Nolan Grove at ngrove@heartlandcoop.com or 515-971-8278.

Time: 10:30 AM-12:30 PM
Date: Tuseday, June 23rd
Location: The Luellen’s Shed, 18591 N Ave, Minburn, IA

Agenda topics include:

Cover crop benefits
Cost share opportunities
On-farm Hagie interseeder demonstration
Beaver Creek saturated buffer demonstration

PFI: Habitat Restoration & Nature Inspired Grazing
2026-06-23 00:00 - 23:59 | Lovilia, Iowa, Lovilia, Iowa
Mike DeCook and his sons, Joshua and Wyatt DeCook, operate DeCook Ranch in Monroe County, Iowa. Over the last 30 years, they have managed 800 acres of pasture, custom-grazing 600 head of cattle. One of their goals has been to create a welcoming habitat for grassland birds. They use fire to mimic grazing and have restored prairie, oak savanna, woodlands and wetlands. Much of that land is protected through a permanent easement with Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation.

Today, Mike and his family have protected over 2,700 acres across three counties, and their land is home to birds such as sandpipers, turkeys, trumpeter swans and songbirds. Join Mike and partners from Audubon Society as they share practical ways to improve habitat for native and migratory grassland birds.

PFI: Targeted Grazing
2026-06-22 08:00 - 17:00 | Turin, Iowa, Turin, Iowa
Prairies evolved with periodic disturbance from drought, fire and grazing. Without these pulsed “setbacks,” woody encroachment or grass threatens to diminish the robust diversity that’s the hallmark of the tallgrass prairie. Over the last few years, Stennie Nelson has been working with Doug Chafa, land manager and biologist with the Iowa DNR, as part Doug’s effort to reintroduce grazing into local wildlife management areas. Stennie raises sheep for meat and wool and grazes the Turin Preserve Wildlife Area.

Join Stennie, Doug and the sheep for a prairie-pasture walk to discuss how managed grazing aims to meet both wildlife and prairie goals alongside wool and meat production. Bring your walking shoes! This field day will involve hiking up and down rough terrain.

ISA Summer Soy Series: Pella
2026-06-22 00:00 - 23:59 | Pella, Pella, Iowa
Get the inside scoop on global trade, biofuels, ag policy and other factors shaping the future of the soybean industry. You’ll find practical, farmer-driven discussions on how these topics impact your operation.
This event includes a tour of Lely North America.
Lely North America is an Iowa-based agricultural technology company specializing in robotic and automated solutions for dairy farms across North America. As part of the global Lely Group, the company designs and manufactures robotic milking, feeding and barn management systems.

This meeting is valued at $75. Registration is available to soybean farmers at no additional cost courtesy of their soybean checkoff. Registration cost for industry members to attend is $40. After hitting submit, industry members will be directed to a payment link to finalize registration.

ISA Summer Soy Series: Muscatine
2026-06-22 00:00 - 23:59 | Muscatine, Muscatine, Iowa
Get the inside scoop on global trade, biofuels, ag policy and other factors shaping the future of the soybean industry. You’ll find practical, farmer-driven discussions on how these topics impact your operation.

This event includes a Bayer Crop Science tour. The Bayer Crop Science facility in Muscatine focuses on the production and formulation of herbicides, seed treatment products and other agricultural chemicals used by farmers worldwide. Located along the Mississippi River, the site supports Bayer’s broader mission of advancing sustainable agriculture through crop protection, seed innovation and modern farming.

This meeting is valued at $75. Registration is available to soybean farmers at no additional cost courtesy of their soybean checkoff. Registration cost for industry members to attend is $40. After hitting submit, industry members will be directed to a payment link to finalize registration.

For additional information or assistance, contact Kennady Henry at 515-491-3539 or khenry@iasoybeans.com.

PFI: Cover Crops
2026-06-19 00:00 - 23:59 | Earlville, Earlville, Iowa
John and Margaret Hogan have farmed together near Earlville, Iowa, for over 40 years. They raise corn, soybeans, hay and cattle. Conservation has been a long-standing value across generations for both. As their farm grew, programs like the Conservation Stewardship Program helped John and Margaret adopt cover crops and no-till, manage pasture with native plants and add buffer strips and pollinator plots. The improvements they saw from these practices motivated them to continue even through years without funding.

Join the Hogans at this field day to see conservation practices in action. We’ll hear about their successes, challenges and how the couple overcame them. We’ll also see fields following cover crops, John and Margaret’s latest work terminating cover crops using a roller-crimper and more.

Batch & Build Contractor Workshop - Hiawatha
2026-06-18 00:00 - 23:59 | Hiawatha, Hiawatha, Iowa
There are two available dates and locations for this workshop. Both days are identical in content.

The first workshop will be held at the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Webster County office in Fort Dodge on June 16.
The second workshop will be held at the ISU Extension and Outreach Linn County office in Hiawatha on June 18.

The full-day event “Installing Drainage Water Quality Practices: An Iowa Batch and Build Contractor Workshop” will offer a detailed overview of bioreactors, saturated buffers, oxbows, wetlands and other water quality improvement practices. Installation best practices and construction requirements will be discussed, along with how to submit online bids for batch and build projects.

Kapil Arora, field agricultural engineer with ISU Extension and Outreach, said the workshops will feature a panel discussion and a farm visit where these practices are installed.

“Drainage contractors, watershed coordinators, technical service providers, agency staff, drainage consultants, producers, landowners and others interested in the planning and installation of water quality practices for the improvement of farmland drainage will all benefit from attending these workshops,” said Arora.

Discussions during the workshops will be led by Chris Hay with Hay Water Solution LLC, Jeremy Bril and Tanner Puls with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Sarah Anderson with the United States Department of Agriculture – Natural Resources Conservation Service, Keegan Kult with the Agricultural Drainage Management Coalition and Arora. The workshops are sponsored by Agri-Drain, the Great Outdoors Foundation and the Drain Tile Safety Coalition.

To attend, participants should register for one location only. Pre-registration is required, and walk-ins will not be accepted. The registration fee is $75 per participant if registered by June 9 and $100 thereafter. Workshop materials, morning and break refreshments and lunch are included in the registration fee.

ISA Summer Soy Series: Milford
2026-06-18 00:00 - 23:59 | Milford, Milford, Iowa
Get the inside scoop on global trade, biofuels, ag policy and other factors shaping the future of the soybean industry. You’ll find practical, farmer-driven discussions on how these topics impact your operation.

This event includes a Jones Family Dairy Tour. Jones Family Dairy is a fifth-generation family-owned dairy farm near Spencer, Iowa, operated by the Jones family since 1903. The farm combines a long tradition of dairy farming with modern agricultural practices, focusing on high-quality milk production, strong family values and community involvement.

This meeting is valued at $75. Registration is available to soybean farmers at no additional cost courtesy of their soybean checkoff. Registration cost for industry members to attend is $40. After hitting submit, industry members will be directed to a payment link to finalize registration.
For additional information or assistance, contact Kennady Henry at 515-491-3539 or khenry@iasoybeans.com.

Summer Soy Series: Diagonal
2026-06-18 00:00 - 23:59 | Diagonal, Diagonal, Iowa
Get the inside scoop on global trade, biofuels, ag policy and other factors shaping the future of the soybean industry. You’ll find practical, farmer-driven discussions on how these topics impact your operation. We encourage you to bring your questions and farm perspectives to the event. Your involvement helps us ensure we are best serving Iowa farmers.

This event includes a tour at Excel Engineering. Excel Engineering is an Iowa-based testing and engineering company specializing in powertrain, engine, battery and emissions testing for automotive and industrial OEMs. Founded in 2002, the company provides certification, durability and performance testing services for traditional and emerging propulsion technologies.

PFI: Cutting Nitrogen, Grazing Cattle, and Cultivating Flowers
2026-06-18 00:00 - 23:59 | Chariton, Iowa, Chariton
Ben and Hannah Offenburger of Open Gate Acres farm in southern Iowa, raising corn, beans, alfalfa and cattle. They are part of PFI’s nitrogen rate trial and are using that data to lower their nitrogen inputs where they can. They practice intensive rotational grazing on 40 acres of pasture, where they have used the Environmental Quality Incentives Program to add water and fencing. Ben plants short-season soybeans so he can plant a rye cover crop early for grazing. Always trying new things, the Offenburgers have started a cut-flower enterprise this year.

Come to this diverse field day to hear what the Offenburgers have learned from this new endeavor. We’ll also hear how they use data from the nitrogen rate trial to reduce their inputs and see how they practice intensive rotational grazing with their cattle.

Iowa Learning Farms Webinar
2026-06-17 12:00 - 13:00 | https://www.iaagwater.org/event/iowa-learning-farms-webinar/2026-06-17/

Iowa Water Environment Association Annual Conference
2026-06-16 00:00 - 2026-06-18 23:59 | Iowa
The Iowa Association of Water Environment Association (IAWEA) is pleased to announce the 2026 IAWEA Annual Conference, taking place June 16–18, 2026, at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines, Iowa.
Mark your calendar and plan to join water professionals from across the state for three days of education, networking, and industry updates.
More details, including registration and program information, will be shared in the coming months.
We look forward to seeing you in Des Moines!

Batch & Build Contractor Workshop - Fort Dodge
2026-06-16 00:00 - 23:59 | Fort Dodge, Fort Dodge, Iowa

ISU Research Farm: Cover Crops, Nitrogen, and Pest Management
2026-06-16 00:00 - 23:59 | Southeast Research Farm, 3115 Louisa-Washington Rd, Crawfordsville, Iowa
Research Farm Updates
Cody Schneider, Southeast Research and Demonstration farm superintendent

Role of AI in Integrated Pest Management
Wes Everman, assistant professor and extension weed scientist, agronomy and Arti Singh, associate professor, agronomy

A Systems Approach to Adopting Cover Crops
Mark Licht, associate professor and extension cropping systems specialist, agronomy

Does your Corn have Enough Nitrogen?
Sotirios Archontoulis, professor, agronomy
Open to the public at no cost, and no pre-registration is required. Check-in for the field day will begin at 1 PM. This field day is supported by ISU Extension and Outreach, ISU Research Farms, and the Southeast Iowa Agricultural Research Association.

Certified Crop Advisers can earn 1.0 Crop Management, 0.5 Pest Management, and 0.5 Nutrient Management CCA CEUs.
