27Sep/24

Training helps Ag Educators Make Cents of the Economics of Conservation

September 27, 2024Conservation, Economics, grazing, Soil Health

n mid-September, agricultural and conservation educators came together for the Reginal Conservation Finance Ag Educator Training in Arlington, Wisconsin. Extension educators and partners from across the Midwest heard from agricultural economic experts about the financial benefits of conservation agriculture and how to tackle tough conversations around these topics. Attendees also got to see first-hand some of the research taking place at the US Dairy Forage Research Farm in nearby Prairie du Sac, and see how one farmer is taking a mob grazing approach to his operation on the shoes of Lake Wisconsin.

29Aug/24

University of Illinois Extension NLRS Team and Illinois NLRS Steering Committee Members pictured from right to left. Front row includes Emily Steele (Media Communications Manager), Joan Cox (Program Manager and NLRS Steering Committee Representative), Amanda Christenson (Outreach Coordinator), Nicole Haverback (Nitrogen-Priority Watershed Outreach Coordinator), Rachel Curry (Ag and Watershed Educator and NLRS Steering Committee Representative). Back row includes Dr. Shibu Kar (Co-PI leader, Extension Natural Resources, Environment, and Energy Program), Dr. Travis Burke (Co-PI leader, Extension Ag/Agribusiness Program), Layne Knoche (Stormwater Outreach Associate), Brian Rennecker (IDOA Division of Natural Resources, Manager), Trevor Sample (IEPA Bureau of Water Watershed Management Section, NLRS Coordinator). Not pictured: Emma Eldridge (Extension Phosphorus-Priority Watershed Outreach Coordinator), Eliana Brown (Extension Stormwater and Water Quality Specialist), and Christine Davis (IEPA Bureau of Water Watershed Management Section Manager).

Tackling Nutrient Pollution: Illinois’ Strategic Approach to Water Quality Enhancement

August 29, 2024nutrient loss, nutrient pollution, nutrient reduction, nutrients

Illinois plays a leading role in American agriculture and urban development. However, this contributes significantly to nutrient loss that affects water quality in the Mississippi River Basin and the Gulf of Mexico. In response, Illinois hasRead More…

29Aug/24

Someone in a soil pit giving a presentation

Regional Conservation Finance Ag Educator Training set to take place in Mid-September

August 29, 2024Agriculture, Conservation, conservation finance, cover crops, Nutrient Management, Tillage

There is still time to register for the Regional Conservation Finance Ag Educator Training coming up in just two and a half weeks in Arlington, Wisconsin. Hosted by the Soil Health Nexus, UW-Madison Division of Extension,Read More…

31Jul/24

Climate, Water and Equity Workshop, October 9-11, 2024

Climate, Water, And Equity Workshop Promises to bring together Extension professionals from across the region

July 31, 2024climate, equity, Extension

The North Central Region Water Network team is excited to announce the upcoming Climate, Water, and Equity Workshop, set to take place in Minneapolis, Minnesota from October 9-11, 2024. This in-person workshop will be held directly ahead of the First American Land-Grant Consortium Annual Conference, hosted from October 10-13, 2024, at the same venue. The event is a collaboration between the Network, The First American Land-Grant Consortium (FALCON), Extension Foundation and partners at Central State University, Lincoln University, University of Minnesota, MU Extension, Nebraska Indian Community College, OSU Extension, and UW-Madison Extension.

29Jul/24

Farmers and an extension educator standing in a farm field talking

Nebraska Extension Educator Focuses on the Connection between Water Quality and Health

July 29, 2024Public health, Water, Water Quality

Laura Nagengast grew up on a farm outside Bloomfield, Nebraska, a small farming community with a population of about 1,000 people. Surrounded by corn fields and livestock, as just a young girl Laura developed a strong interest in the environment and conservation practices. Little did she know her early years were so formative they would end up shaping her career. After high school, Laura attended college at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, where she studied Anthropology and Women Studies. She then advanced to graduate studies at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), obtaining a Master’s of Public Health degree. During her time at UNMC, Laura worked as a graduate assistant for the Water, Climate, and Health Program.

26Jun/24

A man kneeling in front of a well head collecting water

New Kansas State University partnership works to help locals know their water

June 26, 2024drinking water, Extension, private well water, Water Quality

Over 43 million people nationwide depend on private wells for drinking water. Kansas follows that trend, with more than 151,000 people sourcing drinking water from domestic private wells, according to the Kansas Geological Survey. Most citizens tout their well water as fresher and cleaner than chemically treated water from municipal water systems.

However, thinking your well water tastes better is very different than knowing your water is safe for consumption, according to Stacie Minson, an extension watershed specialist with the Kansas Center for Agricultural Resources and the Environment (KCARE) at Kansas State University.

05Jun/24

Man sitting in grass with a dog in front of a barn

Seven Recipients of Good Idea Mini-Grants to Implement Edge-of-Field Practices on Midwest Farms and Share Their Stories

June 5, 2024Agriculture, Conservation, farmer leadership, Water Quality

Seven teams of farmers and farm advisors have been awarded funding from Good Idea Mini-Grants, a program to encourage the implementation of edge-of-field conservation practices on farming operations in the Mississippi River Basin. Selected from amongRead More…

29May/24

Agriculture Applied Podcast highlights grassroots approaches to conservation across North Dakota

May 29, 2024Conservation, Extension, soil

When it comes to creating effective and meaningful educational programming Hannah Nordby has two core principles. First and foremost, consider the audience. Don’t expect people to come to you, meet them where they’re at. Secondly, cultivate engaging learning environments that inspire participants. If we aren’t having fun, why are we doing it? With these two principles in mind, she facilitates conservation leadership and planning programming for Soil Conservation District supervisors and employees across North Dakota.

29Apr/24

A New Extension-focused Conference focusing on Agriculture and Climate is planned for July 31-August 1st in Peoria, Illinois

April 29, 2024Agriculture, climate, Conservation, Extension, Water

This summer, the North Central Agriculture and Climate Conference will unite Extension and agricultural professionals from across the region to spotlight climate adaptation and mitigation research, outreach, and Extension programs. The conference is being hosted by the North Central Climate Collaborative, USDA Midwest Climate Hub, Extension Foundation, North Central Regional Water Network, and partners. The event – which will be July 31st – August 1st at the Peoria Civic Center – will provide ample opportunity for Extension professionals and technical service providers to share their work and gain valuable knowledge on the climate-related work happening across the region. It will also provide a much-needed opportunity to network with other extension professionals from your own institution and connect with extension colleagues from other land-grant institutions across the region.