The Iowa Learning Farms webinar for July will take a look at the progress being made toward reaching Iowa’s water quality goals. Anyone interested in this topic can tune in to this free program at noon to learn where the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy is headed.

How many acres of cover crops are planted each year in Iowa? Are extended crop rotations and the planting of perennials increasing? These and other key questions will be addressed.

Laurie Nowatzke, measurement coordinator for the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy at Iowa State University, will discuss the progress and challenges of Iowa’s water quality efforts by addressing these questions. Find out how progress is measured, where to find the data, and what questions remain about Iowa’s water quality improvement.

Tracking progress

“Water quality challenges are on the minds of many Iowans. In this webinar, I hope to shed light on where we’re currently seeing progress in conservation practice adoption and where there are still challenges,” says Nowatzke, who works for ISU’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. She evaluates Iowa’s progress in meeting water quality goals, researches farmers’ conservation practice adoption, and tracks statewide use of water quality improvement practices in agriculture.

Nowatzke says she hopes the webinar viewers will gain a better understanding of how soil and water conservation practice adoption in Iowa is tracked. Viewers will also learn about the “bright spots” and challenges of water quality progress, and where to find data and information about Iowa’s water quality improvement efforts.

A certified crop adviser board has approved continuing education unit credit, which is available for those who are able to watch the live webinar. Information for submitting your CCA, CPAg, CPSS or CPSC number to earn the credit will be provided at the end of the presentation.

To watch the webinar, go to iowalearningfarms.org/page/webinars and click the link to join the webinar shortly before noon to download the Zoom software and log-in option.

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