This is a chat with Iowa’s Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Naig, as a part of the Iowa Learning Farms monthly webinar series. We talk about water quality, conservation and Secretary Naig fields questions from folks who attended both on-line and

CC 51: Wade Dooley and Nathan Anderson: Farms, Faith and Climate Change

Jan 21st, 2020 38m 45s

Farmers Wade Dooley and Nathan Anderson bring a joy and humility to their work on the land. Both men are striving to make their farms more resilient in the face of climate change and other environmental challenges.

CC 50: Increasing Wildlife Habitat in the Next Decade with Dr. Adam Janke

Dec 30th, 2019 51m 57s

Adam Janke is an assistant professor and an Extension wildlife specialist at Iowa State University. With research and outreach, Adam hopes to increase wildlife populations in agricultural landscapes in Iowa for generations to come.

CC 49: Ben and Andy Johnson: Saving Time with Conservation

Nov 22nd, 2019 19m 38s

Ben and Andy Johnson farm in northeast Iowa where conservation is at the heart of their production. While they appreciate the soil and water quality benefits of the different practices, the brothers say they do conservation because it saves the

CC 48: A Passion for Prairies: David Stein of Prairie Rivers of Iowa

Oct 31st, 2019 30m 4s

As Prairie Rivers of Iowa’s Watershed Program Coordinator, David Stein’s job (and passion) is to help establish “corridors” of habitats throughout central Iowa with a goal of increasing pollinators, wildlife, improving water quality and soil he

CC 47: ISU's Daniel Robison, Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Sep 30th, 2019 31m 39s

Daniel Robison is Iowa State University’s new dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Robison comes to ISU from West Virginia University and has degrees in forestry, silviculture and forest influences and forest entomology.

CC 46: Soil Health, Listening and Legacy with Marty Adkins

Aug 22nd, 2019 34m 57s

Marty Adkins spent decades with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service working to leave Iowa’s natural resources in better shape than when he started. He did this by listening and connecting with all the major conservation stakeholder

CC 45: Farmers, Faith and Climate Change with Matt Russell

Jul 29th, 2019 40m 2s

Matt Russell is the Executive Director of Iowa Interfaith Power & Light and a fifth generation Iowa farmer. Matt is traveling around Iowa having conversations with farmers about faith and climate change.

CC 44: Iowa Environmental Council: Striving for Cleaner Water for All Iowans to Enjoy

Jun 27th, 2019 32m 44s

Ingrid Gronstal Anderson is the new Water Program Director for the Iowa Environmental Council. Jennifer Terry is the Executive Director. Both Ingrid and Jenn are passionate about the state and dedicated to restoring Iowa’s waters so all can enj

CC 43: Conservation and Climate Change with Pat Boddy

May 30th, 2019 34m 21s

Pat Boddy is a Renaissance woman: an agricultural engineer, water resources expert, accomplished harpist and respected community leader. Pat is driven by a love of science and nature, particularly water and the impact of climate change on our w

CC 42: Identity, conservation and Hope for the Future with Ingrid Gronstal Anderson

Apr 24th, 2019 35m 7s

Ingrid Gronstal Anderson, environmental lawyer, chats with Jacqueline Comito, anthropologist and director of the Iowa Learning Farms, about identity issues and hope for the future.

CC 41: Increasing Iowa's Wildlife Habitat

Mar 15th, 2019 38m 48s

Kelsey Fleming, Pheasants Forever's Senior Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist, and Brian Hickman, IDNR's Private Lands Coordinator for the Wildlife Bureau, chat about the opportunities and challenges as they work to increase wildlife habitat on priva

CC 40: Improving Iowa's Water Quality

Feb 19th, 2019 36m 22s

Matt Helmers, director of the Iowa Nutrient Research Center, and Jamie Benning, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Water Quality Program Manager, discuss the research, opportunities and challenges facing the state as they work to impr

CC 39: Iowa's Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig

Jan 22nd, 2019 57m 24s

Newly elected Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig discusses his vision for scaling up Iowa’s Nutrient Strategy during his first full term in office.

CC 38: Earthworms and Cover Crops with Ann Staudt and Dr. Tom Kaspar

Jan 25th, 2018 40m 52s

Researchers Ann Staudt and Dr. Tom Kaspar chat about earthworms and cover crops and their connection to soil health and water quality.

CC 37: Farmer Ben Johnson: Voluntarily Doing Conservation

Nov 29th, 2017 29m 40s

Ben Johnson purchased his first farm in northeast Iowa with his brother Andy when he was a sophomore at Iowa State University and has been farming his own land for 20 years. Conservation saves him one of his most valued resources on the farm: t

CC 36: Sean McMahon and Creating Win-Win Situations for Water Quality Improvement

Oct 31st, 2017 33m 20s

Sean McMahon is the Executive Director for the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance. With 20+ years of experience in conservation and agriculture, Sean works with key partners to champion farmer engagement and adoption of practices that improve wate

CC35: Clare Lindahl: "Preaching" Conservation

Sep 30th, 2017 29m 24s

Clare Lindahl was recently selected as the chief executive officer for the Soil and Water Conservation Society—the first woman ever to lead this national organization. Prior to this, Clare was the Executive Director for Conservation Districts o

CC 34: A Whole Farm Approach to Conservation: Farmers Chris Foss and Kristi Heffelmeier

Aug 31st, 2017 36m 16s

Chris Foss and his daughter Kristi Heffelmeier farm together in Northeast Iowa. The family is dedicated to improving the soil health of their land and putting in practices that will improve the local creek.

CC 33: Creative Watershed Improvement Projects with Shane Wulf and Joshua Balk

Jul 31st, 2017 38m

Shane Wulf and Joshua Balk chat about their creative approaches to watershed improvement projects in their jobs as watershed coordinators for Black Hawk County Soil and Water Conservation District in northeast Iowa.

CC 32: Dr. Eileen Kladivko, Midwest Cover Crops Council

Jun 29th, 2017 37m 14s

Eileen Kladivko is a professor of agronomy at Purdue University in Indiana and a founding member of the Midwest Cover Crops Council. Her specific research areas have included tile drainage, cover crops and earthworms.

CC 31: Dr. Bob Hartzler Chats Weeds and Conservation

May 30th, 2017 29m 33s

Dr. Bob Hartzler is an ISU agronomy professor and an extension weed specialist. After years of removing milkweed from agricultural fields, he is encouraging its re-establishment in strategic locations to help stop monarch butterfly decline as a

CC 30: Sharon Krause, Owner and Operator of Dalla Terra Ranch

Apr 24th, 2017 37m 34s

Sharon Krause is the owner and operator of Dalla Terra Ranch, a grass fed organic lamb operation in Madison County, Iowa. A native Iowan, Sharon is passionate about lambs, healthy lands and her local community.

CC 29: Adam Janke: ISU Extension Wildlife Specialist

Mar 31st, 2017 29m 27s

In this episode, I chat with Dr. Adam Janke, Assistant Professor and Extension Wildlife Specialist at Iowa State University. His focus is on strengthening wildlife conservation in working landscapes in Iowa.

CC28: Nathan Anderson: Taking the Whole Farm Conservation Approach

Feb 24th, 2017 36m 8s

This episode features a chat with Nathan Anderson, a young Iowa farmer who is passionate about minimizing the off-farm ecological impact of his farming practices so that future generations of his family can continue to farm.