Farm Webinar Series Begins Tomorrow

Posted on November 12, 2018 by Taylor in Farming Resources, Webinar // 0 Comments

The Farm Webinar Series from Practical Farmers of Iowa (Farminars) Begins Tomorrow!

First Webinar in the Farm Webinar Series: Understanding and Managing Impacts of Farmed Prairie Potholes

November 13, 2019 7 p.m. CST

Leaching of nitrate and emissions of nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas, are key environmental impacts of Corn Belt agricultural systems. Intermittent flooding of former prairie pothole wetlands (that are now farmed) can contribute disproportionately to these nitrogen losses at the landscape scale. These potholes may also flood often enough to hamper crop development – and in many cases, can pose logistical challenges to farm or farm around. Land management changes such as reduced tillage, or even more radical moves like retiring land, may provide a number of environmental benefits at relatively low cost.

Amy Kaleita is a professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering at Iowa State University. Her research is in the area of information technology for precision conservation, with particular attention to hydrology and soil and water quality.
Steven Hall is an assistant professor in the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology at ISU. His group’s research focuses on soil biogeochemical processes in managed and natural ecosystems.

Read a recap from Jerry Peckumn’s field day in 2017, when Amy and Steven offered insight on Jerry’s perennially-wet spots.

To participate, join in here prior to the farminar start time: practicalfarmers.org/farminars

Note: we’ve changed farm webinar series platforms and will now be using Zoom. Never used Zoom before? Test your computer here. There is a simple, one-time download on whichever device you plan to use.

2018 Fall Farm Webinar Series (Farminar) Schedule

All farminars are held on Tuesday evenings from 7-8:30 pm CST

Nov. 13 –

“Understanding and Managing Impacts of Farmed Prairie Potholes”

Presented by Amy Kaleita & Steven Hall, ISU, Ames, IA

Nov. 20 –

“Getting Started Growing and Marketing Unusual Fruits”

Presented by Tim Clymer, Threefold Farm, Mechanicsburg, PA

Nov. 27 –

“Where to Begin with Winter Wheat Production”

Presented by Kristy and Bob Walker, Walker Homestead, Iowa City; Paul Ackley, Bedford

Dec. 4 –

“Grazing Cover Crops with Sheep”

Presented by Richard Ehrhardt, Michigan State University Extension, East Lansing, MI

Dec. 11 – “Organic Seedling Production”

Presented by Paul Betz, High Ledge Farm, Montpelier, VT

Dec. 18 – “Managing Disease in Organic Vegetable Crops”

Presented by Beth Kazmar, Tipi Produce, Madison, WI

Click here for all the farminar descriptions and speaker bios

Missed a farminar in the Farm Webinar Series? Find it in our archive!

Practical Farmers’ 2018 Fall Farm Webinar Series are made possible with funding from the Ceres Trust, EPA Region 7 Wetlands Program, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s Water Quality Initiative, and USDA’s Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program.

Find more farm production information and resources at https://www.beginningfarmers.org/production-resources/

Get more great farming resources at https://www.beginningfarmers.org/additional-farming-resources/