Iowa State University Extension and Outreach - Agriculture and Natural Resources

Sometimes all it takes to make a plan work is good communication and networking. Those have been the keys of success for the Marshall County food access program, which relies on cooperation among businesses and nonprofits to operate free food pantries in nearly all of the county’s communities. Faced with a devastating tornado in 2018, plus a derecho and the COVID-19 epidemic of 2020, the county has experienced setback after setback from disaster. As of 2022, the county was also listed in the top third of Iowa counties in poverty. https://lnkd.in/gmJMTvhv

Paul Martin has spent his career educating Iowans about the dynamics of ag business and farm management. For 32 years, he taught ag classes at Muscatine Community College in southeastern Iowa. Now, he is educating Iowa farmers about farm management and decision making. Martin joined Iowa State University Extension and Outreach on Aug. 1 as the new farm business management field specialist for a 12-county region in southeast Iowa. “I look forward to giving back to the people I grew up with,” he said. “The mission of extension and outreach is far-reaching, and it means a lot to me to be able to help those in farming and in other walks of life.” https://lnkd.in/gvjcdhRF

Those who want to gain a better understanding of soil organic carbon – what it is, why it matters, and how it is measured – can do so at the organic soil carbon display inside Iowa State University’s exhibit at the Farm Progress Show near Boone, Aug. 27-29. Mary Tiedeman, a soil scientist with the Department of Agronomy at Iowa State, is developing multiple interactive features to translate the science of organic soil carbon. Her team’s exhibit will also showcase how management choices shape soil health – or ability to support life - and soil organic carbon. https://lnkd.in/gr9sndja

Ethan Thies has joined Iowa State University Extension and Outreach as the program’s first conservation field specialist. He previously served as a watershed coordinator with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and has first-hand experience dealing with water quality issues in Iowa. “In my past role, I enjoyed getting to work directly with producers and landowners in northwestern Iowa,” he said. “Now I get to expand to the whole state and even farther across the Midwest – even outside of the state – all practices I’m passionate about as I serve Iowans.” https://lnkd.in/gYCsymy7

Helping rural communities thrive is a passion for Sam Mindes, a rural sociologist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. He joined extension in the fall of 2021 and has already led numerous projects aimed at helping make rural communities more resilient. His research focuses on issues such as self-employment, underserved communities, rural infrastructure and water justice. Currently, he is pursuing projects to help improve broadband usage among small businesses, as well as issues related to water justice. “I like learning about rural communities and thinking about ways to help them become more resilient,” he said. “As a sociologist, I get to look at issues with a broad perspective and with a holistic view. We need to look at more than just economics to make a difference.” https://lnkd.in/gitT5jRx

Visitors to this year’s Farm Progress Show near Boone will get a chance to visit the prairie – at least in essence. Prairie plants will be featured inside the exhibit booth operated by Iowa State University, where visitors can wear headsets and listen to the sounds of nature – as recorded from actual Prairie Strips located in Iowa crop fields. There will also be an opportunity to taste the prairie, by sampling honey produced by bees from some of these same prairie strips. https://lnkd.in/gKjpDhDN

The 2023 wines from the Iowa State University Winery have recently been honored with prestigious awards from international, regional and state wine competitions. The 2023 wines — La Crescent, Rosé, and Marquette — were bottled in March 2024 at Iowa State's winery, located in the Food Sciences Building on campus. These wines embody the resilient spirit of the Midwest, crafted from two acres of cold-hardy grapes grown at Iowa State’s Horticulture Research Station and various off-campus locations across the state. The vines’ unique ability to endure Iowa’s harsh winters reflects the strength and character of the region. https://lnkd.in/gfw5HAkf

Not all crops in the Midwest are grown in the field, at least not in 50-plus acre fields. In fact, some crops in this part of the country are not grown in a field at all. Helping to illustrate that fact, the horticulture team from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will show how crops can be grown in greenhouses, on acreages, on lawns and on water (known as hydroponics). A team of specialists will be on site all three days of this year’s Farm Progress Show Aug. 27-29 near Boone, and their display will have something for everyone. https://lnkd.in/gpQGKAP2

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