Iowa Learning Farms, housed at Iowa State University, celebrates 15 years of service in 2019. Established in 2004, ILF is building a “culture of conservation” by encouraging adoption of conservation practices.

Farmers, researchers and ILF team members work together to identify and implement best management practices to improve water quality and soil health while remaining profitable.

Throughout 2019, ILF will be sharing stories about the contributors, history and successes of ILF and its partner program Water Rocks!

Mark Licht

How was Iowa Learning Farms established and what was its mission? Oftentimes significant things come from simple, casual conversations. I think the real seed that grew into ILF was planted during conversations between Dr. Mahdi Al-Kaisi and I as we drove across Iowa visiting research sites. The study involved manure runoff management and impacts on waterways. Our conversations led to a much broader discussion, which encompassed many more people.

ISU Extension was already conducting field demonstrations, and researchers were working with farmers and conservationists, but there was a need to knit these activities into a better way to deliver education and put resources in the hands of growers.

The simple mission for what was to become Iowa Learning Farms was, “Increase awareness and promote conservation practices.” It’s very simple to say, but much more complicated to realize.

Moving from concept to reality took a lot of legwork and cooperation. Engaging partners that could help provide funding and expert advice was an initial step. We were fortunate to be able to work with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Farm Bureau, soil and water conservation districts, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and a host of dedicated individuals.

What were the early years at ILF like? We were already doing field demonstrations through ISU Extension, and this continued as ILF was formed. The outreach and education goals were well-formed by March 2004 when we were ready to start working with growers.

We were breaking new ground, and as a result, some of the things we did were not as effective as we had hoped. But we learned and adjusted to fine-tune what we were delivering. A key part of the long-standing success of ILF has been the team’s openness to work with and rely on expert partners in understanding how to best engage audiences to help us achieve desired results.

Another fundamental part of ILF’s success has been the comprehensive evaluation and feedback processes from field days and other public interactions. The processes have expanded and matured over time, but the data and results have been invaluable in demonstrating change in farming practices — a key element in obtaining ongoing funding.

What is your role with the organization? At the start, as an ISU Extension program specialist, I was the only ILF staff member. When Jackie Comito joined the team to help build the organization, she focused on starting the evaluation program, and I continued to develop demonstrations and outreach events. In 2006, I left campus and ILF to work as an ISU Extension field agronomist. I still maintained contact with the program and saw some of impacts the education was having on working farms. Upon returning to ISU in 2014 as an Extension cropping systems specialist, I re-engaged with ILF as a collaborator and adviser.

How did you change the program, and how did it change you? I was there at the start, so I was deeply involved in helping ILF get off the ground. We worked through the organizational details and established our mission to build a “culture of conservation” for Iowa. But to be successful, I knew it was crucial to get farmers deeply involved, and particularly to have them share how and what they were doing, with ILF and other farmers.

The first rainfall simulator was an engaging tool for showing an important concept that is hard to see in the field. The visual element is something that I pushed the organization to embrace in all interactions. Academics seem to like hefty detailed reports, but infographics and other visual media are much more effective in capturing interest and delivering messages to non-academic audiences.

On a professional level, as a corn and soybean production specialist, I’m focused on efficiency and yield. Collaborating with ILF helps me think through the ramifications of production side decisions and balancing them against what we need to do from a nutrient reduction and conservation standpoint.

And finally, on my small acreage, I’ve gained perspective and knowledge about what I can do with my land, and how it can make a difference to the environment.

What are your fondest memories of working with ILF? One of my favorite things from the early years was working with the rainfall simulator. I’m not an engineer, and not accustomed to working with building things, but we worked it out and got the program rolling.

Watching the evolution from humble beginnings of a basic rainfall simulator trailer to the comprehensive Conservation Stations has been amazing and rewarding. What we have out around Iowa today is much more powerful and influential than I imagined when we started.

I also love working with the cooperating farmers. They were very gracious to do what we were asking, but they also have a passion for conservation and maintaining water quality. It has given me great opportunity to learn and grow. Their instantaneous and frank feedback really grounds what we are doing.

Why are water quality and conservation outreach important to you and to Iowa? For me, conservation is important for the same reasons it’s important for Iowa. I enjoy our natural resources for recreation, such as spending time on a lake or fishing. These resources are threatened, and we need to pay attention to them for everyone’s sake.

For Iowa, we must look at how much of the state’s economy is tied to agriculture and understand that as we improve our soil and water health, we can continue to drive our agricultural economic growth. It does take years to turn around, but there is progress.

If you could look 15 years into the future, what one thing would you like to see as a result of ILF activities? Increased adoption of conservation practices. Seeing more cover crops integrated into the corn-soybean system [and] greater diversification of crops, including targeted uses and niche market crops. And substantial movement toward soil health and less nutrient losses into our water bodies.

ILF is a wonderful group and a great resource for Iowa, I hope they will continue to make an impact in Iowa for the next 15 years and beyond.

Partners of Iowa Learning Farms include Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Iowa Department of Natural Resources (USEPA Section 319), ISU’s Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa Natural Resources Conservation Service, Conservation Districts of Iowa, Iowa Farm Bureau, Practical Farmers of Iowa and Growmark Inc.

Source: ILF, which is responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and its subsidiaries aren’t responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.