Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance

Iowa Learning Farms Webinar
2026-06-24 12:00 - 13:00 UTC | 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.

Iowa Cattlemen's Next Gen Day
2026-06-15 00:00 - 23:59 | Ames, Ames, IA
This fun event is for 6th through 12th-grade ICA Next Gen and Youth Beef Team members. Get registered today!
The day will be full of hands-on experiences to help participants deepen their understanding of the role of ICA, meet peers with similar interests, and build industry knowledge. If you are looking for a meaningful summer activity to keep learning going, join us for the Next Gen Day!

This event is reserved and free for ICA Next Gen and Youth Beef Team members. If you would like to participate and are not a Next Gen or Youth Beef Team member, get your Next Gen membership here. The day will include snacks, lunch, and transportation to and from the local industry tour.
We encourage parents and leaders to enjoy the day exploring Ames or the local area while we keep your kids entertained and learning!

Agenda:
*This agenda is tentative – final details will be emailed to registered participants prior to the event.
9:00 a.m. Welcome
9:45 a.m. Who Makes the Rules for Agriculture?
11:00 a.m. A Talk with Iowa’s Policy Makers
12:10 p.m. Exploring Careers – Lunch
1:00 p.m. Understanding the Beef Checkoff
1:45 p.m. Local Industry Tour
2:45 p.m. Growing as a Leader
3:40 p.m. Family Feud – ICA Style
4:30 p.m. Dismiss
This won’t be your typical classroom learning. We’ll incorporate engaging, interactive elements throughout the agenda. Our goal is to provide a fun and impactful experience for these future leaders of Iowa’s beef cattle industry.

ISA Summer Soy Series: Calmar
2026-06-15 00:00 - 23:59 | Calmar, Calmar, 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 of Hilltop Acres Farm. Hilltop Acres Farm is an eighth-generation family dairy in northeast Iowa ran by the Mashek family. The farm is home to 450 registered Brown Swiss cattle (milked three times a day), along with 1,100 acres of corn and alfalfa. Known for their aggressive genetics program, Hilltop Acres markets cattle and embryos around the world.

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.

ISA Summer Soy Series: Boone
2026-06-15 00:00 - 23:59 | Boone, Boone, 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 AgCertain. AgCertain is an Iowa-based food and agriculture company specializing in identity-preserved, traceable bio-based products and ingredient processing. The company produces specialty oils and refined glycerin for food, personal care and industrial markets.

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.

Cover Crop Field Day
2026-06-11 00:00 - 23:59 | Dayton
Join the Iowa Learning Farms, Iowa Soybean Association (ISA), and Iowa Corn for hands-on summer field days focused on practical conservation strategies that work on real farms. Field days will be held on Thursday, June 4, and Thursday, June 11, from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. These no-cost events are open to farmers and landowners and include a complimentary meal.

Hear from experts and fellow farmers about cover crop management, long-term use and how to mitigate potential yield risks. Attendees will get a closer look at long-term cover crop strips and real trial results to better understand what these practices mean for their own operations.

“For Iowa’s farmers, flexibility and embracing change are key to a productive, resilient and innovative operation,” said ISA President Tom Adam of Harper. “These field day opportunities, in partnership with Iowa Corn and Iowa Learning Farms, are proof of how ISA’s Research Center for Farming Innovation (RCFI) is working for Iowa farmers by delivering unbiased, innovative and data-driven programming every day.”

Mushroom Cultivation Workshop- Big Grove Brewery Iowa City
2026-06-10 17:30 | Big Grove Brewery – Iowa City
Join Iowa State University Extension and Outreach to learn how to grow mushrooms in buckets! Each participant will create a 2-gal bucket oyster mushroom grow kit to take home and nurture. We will discuss fungi basics, their roles in Iowa ecosystems, and common ways people cultivate mushrooms in their own homes and backyards.
Cost per participant is $35.
Mushroom Cultivation Workshop: Big Grove Brewery Iowa City 6/10/2026
Registration Link: https://go.iastate.edu/F9SN7Q

Iowa Learning Farms Webinar
2026-06-10 12:00 - 13:00 | https://www.iaagwater.org/event/iowa-learning-farms-webinar/2026-06-10/

Iowa Learning Farms: Cover Crop and Soil Health Field Day
2026-06-10 00:00 - 23:59 | Sumner, Sumner, Iowa
Iowa Learning Farms will host a cover crop and soil health field day as part of their “Beyond the Basics: Advanced Cover Crop Series” in rural Sumner on Wednesday, June 10, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The event is open to farmers and landowners at no cost and includes a complimentary meal.

“Cover crops not only reduce potential impacts of erosion but also play a critical role in maintaining healthy and productive soils. Understanding the effect that cover crops can have on soil health can be challenging, and results take time,” said Mitch Harting, water outreach specialist with Iowa Learning Farms. “This field day will help farmers better understand the benefits that cover crops can have on soil, which can help ensure productive land long into the future.”

The field day will feature Peter O’Brien, research agronomist, and Sabrina Ruis, research soil scientist, with USDA-ARS National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment, who will offer insights into the impact that cover crops have on protecting and building healthy soils. The agenda will also include a field tour with Jeff Pleggenkuhle, a local farmer who will share his experiences and management choices when using cover crops on his farm. Additionally, there will be a demonstration of Iowa Learning Farms’ Conservation Station trailer, which will show soil movement across different land management scenarios.

The field day will be held at the Cheryl Niewoehner Farm, located at 22183 X Avenue, Sumner, IA 50674. The event is open to farmers and landowners, though reservations are required to ensure adequate space and food. For reasonable accommodations and to RSVP, please contact Harting at 515-294-8912 or ilf@iastate.edu by June 3. Attendees will be entered in a drawing for ISU Prairie Strips honey.

PFI Field Day: Prairie for People & Wildlife
2026-06-10 00:00 - 23:59 | Zearing, Iowa
Host Tim and Mandy Youngquist, will help you explore ways to turn cropland into spaces into thriving habitat that supports critical insect populations. Tim will share practical steps for preparing low-diversity land for this transition. He’ll also share ways to build diverse and resilient native plant communities. On this walking tour, learn how prairie supports pollinators and wildlife, improves water quality and creates strong ties between healthy farms and vibrant rural communities.

Cover Crop Field Day
2026-06-04 10:00 - 12:00 | Waverly, Waverly, Iowa
Mueller Farm
1/4-mile West of 1043 190th Street
Waverly, IA 50677
In partnership with the Iowa Soybean Association and Iowa Corn

Iowa Learning Farms Webinar
2026-06-03 12:00 - 13:00 | https://www.iaagwater.org/event/iowa-learning-farms-webinar/2026-06-03/

Relay Intercropping Field Day
2026-06-03 10:30 - 12:30 | Coggon
Bretz Farm
3162 Washington Ave
Coggon, IA 52218
In partnership with Northeast Iowa RC&D and American Flood Coalition
RSVP: ilf@iastate.edu or 515-294-5429

2nd Annual Spray Drone Essentials
2026-06-02 08:30 - 15:00 | Alliant Energy Agriculture Innovation Lab, 3800 University Blvd, Ames, Iowa
Join us for our second annual Spray Drone Essentials Workshop. Designed for a wide range of attendees, from curious farmers to licensed spray drone applicators and agtech startups. This full-day workshop will provide both foundational knowledge and advanced insights into the world of agricultural drone spraying, including compliance and regulatory for personal versus custom applicators, general operations, and set up and safety. Workshop includes hands on demonstrations from multiple spray drone providers.

Extension Staff Natural Resources Professional Development Day - 2026
2026-05-28 08:30 - 15:30 | Iowa
This one-day event brings Extension professionals together from across Iowa — and across many program areas — to explore, connect, and learn. We’ll dig into natural resource issues, discover new opportunities, and build relationships — all while enjoying the great outdoors. This year’s program is on Thursday, May 28, 2026.

Please join us the night before, May 27, for an informal gathering at West O’ Beer (503 Terrace Park Blvd, Milford, IA 51351). We will gather around 6:30pm for anyone who is interested in hearing from Joe Tiefenthaler who leads West O’s water quality and conservation efforts. West O’ will have live music from 7-9pm and food and beverages available for purchase.

There will also be an optional tour of Brooks Golf Course (1201 Brooks Park Dr, Okoboji, IA 51355) at 7:15am on May 28. Owned by Conservation Foundation of Dickinson County, Brooks is a certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Golf Course and leads a monthly “Birding on the Greens” tour.

On May 28, the morning program will start at the Iowa Lakeside Laboratory (1838 IA-86, Milford, IA 51351). Lakeside Lab is owned by the state of Iowa and its mission is twofold: 1) to provide science classes and research opportunities for university students, and 2) to offer Outreach Programs and provide services through the state universities.
Lakeside’s 147-acre campus is located on scenic West Okoboji Lake, on Little Millers Bay. The bay and adjacent natural areas are used as outdoor classrooms for Lakeside’s university courses and Outreach Programs.

We’ll spend the morning learning about the history of the lab, its work on water quality sampling, and how it connects, cares for and supports the natural areas that surround it.
We will also have a special session on county innovations on natural resources programming! What creative, impactful and informative natural resources education are you offering? We’d love to highlight your work with a 5-minute lightening. If you’re interested in giving a short talk, please reach out to the organizers (listed at the bottom of the page).
We will have lunch together, then in the afternoon we will have two tour options.

Tour #1: Explore Kettleson Hogsback, a 2,040 acre DNR-managed site that includes a never-been-plowed native prairie. It is one of the most bird-rich of any areas of Iowa with more than 270 species identified. Then, we’ll visit the Wallace and Bowers Nature Area, where the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation maintains a diverse native prairie buffer and alfalfa buffer to protect Big Spirit Lake. The site also includes cover crops, no-till and a wetlands restoration.

Tour #2: Experience conservation in action on a guided tour that highlights both public stewardship and grassroots innovation. At the Dickinson County Conservation Board’s Nature Center, enjoy a hike to an active osprey nest and hear from the director about the land they manage—and how Extension is partnering to support their work. Then visit Monarch Cove, an inspiring example of urban conservation where concerned citizens transformed runoff problems into a privately funded community solution.

Registration
Registration is open to all ISU Extension employees. Educators from county offices and campus across all four program areas are welcome and encouraged to attend this unique professional development event!
Please use this link to register by May 24th: https://go.iastate.edu/E2NZQZ
Funding for the annual Natural Resources Professional Development Day is provided by the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Iowa mini-grants. This funding allows us to offer this event at no cost to participants.
