25Apr/24

Dr. Mallika Nocco flying a drone used for mapping evapotranspiration near an Eddy Covariance tower over a potato field in Wisconsin

The Conservation Irrigation Lab launches agricultural water management research and extension program at UW-Madison

April 25, 2024Agriculture, climate, Conservation, Extension, Irrigation, watershed management

Save water. Renew Soils. Support Farms. This is Dr. Mallika Nocco’s vision for the Conservation Irrigation Lab, her research and extension program that recently moved from California (UC-Davis) to Wisconsin (UW-Madison). Dr. Nocco’s mission is to provide science-based information for growers, managers, and policy makers to navigate the ever-changing terrain of sustainable agricultural practices and implement water-saving measures that advance production goals. Her group collaborates across disciplines and believes deeply in the power of applied research and cooperative extension.

26Mar/24

Addressing Irrigation Innovation in Agriculture

March 26, 2024Agriculture, climate, Irrigation, soil, technology, Water

Michigan’s agricultural landscape, while fertile and diverse, grapples with unique challenges including climate variability and evolving concerns around irrigation water use. Irrigation plays an important role in Michigan agriculture. Given the impacts of climate change such as temperature variability and erratic precipitation, it is more important than ever that farmers have the tools to make informed decisions about irrigation water use.

28Feb/24

Iowa State Program Helps Urban and Suburban Homeowners Practice Conservation In their Own Backyard

February 28, 2024Conservation, native vegetation, rain barrels, woodlands

As Iowa becomes a more urbanized state, conservation is needed in the cities and towns just as much as the agriculture fields! Folks at Iowa State University are working hard to expand the resources available for those that want to practice conservation in their own backyards. Backyard conservation practices can make a big difference for wildlife diversity in the cities, help stabilize soil, and help improve water quality in urban areas.

07Feb/24

Three men standing in a soybean field and talking

Survey of Agricultural Lenders Reveals Opportunities for Collaboration with Conservation Professionals

February 7, 2024ag lending, Agriculture, Conservation, conservation finance

Cross-posted with The Human Capital blog on The Confluence for Watershed Leaders Agricultural lenders are often farmers’ closest financial partners, and they have significant influence on a farmer’s financial decisions, including whether to invest in conservationRead More…

30Jan/24

People standing under a tent in a farm field

Soil Health Nexus Team looks to expand economic and livestock integration resources for ag professionals

January 30, 2024Economics, education, Nutrient Management, Soil Health

We are excited to announce that the Network’s soil health team, the Soil Health Nexus, has recently received a North Central Region SARE Professional Development Grant to expand their outreach and education efforts. The grant, which started this month, will allow the team to enhance its Soil Health Toolbox, a resource hub for research-based soil health resources throughout the North Central Region, and create two new resources for ag professionals.

26Jan/24

Diverse Corn Belt Project Maps a Road to a More Prosperous Future

January 26, 2024Agriculture, corn, diverse corn belt, resiliency

Few people would accuse Dr. Linda Stalker Prokopy of Purdue University of thinking small. As project director of the Diverse Corn Belt (DCB) project, the professor of natural resources social sciences is combining her lab’s research on motivation and persuasion with the work of more than 30 other investigators who bring their expertise in agronomy, entomology, soil science, economics, computer modeling, marketing, Extension, education and policy. Their goal for the five-year, USDA NIFA-funded project: nothing less than creating concrete, viable, evidence-based frameworks that can guide America’s Corn Belt toward a more diverse, resilient, prosperous future.

27Dec/23

Virtual Harmful Algal Bloom Symposium Returns January 4th

December 27, 2023algae, algal blooms, harmful algal blooms, Water

Returning for its fourth year, the Algal Bloom Action team will be hosting its Harmful Algal Bloom Research Symposium next week! The symposium, which will take place virtually on January 4th, will highlight the latest research on harmful algal blooms (HABs) from researchers across the North Central Region.

22Dec/23

Ohio Water Resources Center works with collaborators to help provide resources and eliminate misinformation in the face of East Palestine train derailment

December 22, 2023East Palestine, Emerging Contaminants, Extension, Water, Water Quality

The Ohio Water Resources Center is the federally authorized Water Resources Research Institute for Ohio. Components of our mission are (1) to enable and conduct state-relevant water-related research, (2) foster collaboration among academic investigators, governmental bodies, and water professionals, (3) train the next generation of water scientists, and (4) to educate the public on water resources.

30Nov/23

Two men talking while standing in front of a truck

Marrying Data and Relationships to Boost Farmer Recruitment in Conservation Outreach Programs

November 30, 2023Agriculture, farmer leadership, outreach, watershed leadership

The bread-and-butter approach many Extension professionals take to outreach, particularly with agricultural producers, is relationship building – and for good reason. Relationships tend to play a strong role in motivating someone’s decisions, such as deciding toRead More…

27Oct/23

Climate, Water, Equity, and Opportunity Workshop Recap

October 27, 2023climate, equity, Extension, Water

The North Central Region Water Network, The First American Land-Grant Consortium (FALCON), and partners across the North Central Region hosted The Climate, Water, Equity, and Opportunity Workshop in October 2023 in Denver, Colorado. This event brought out nearly 70 professionals from land-grant institutions committed to integration, inclusion, and interconnection to explore strategy-based solutions to address climate-related vulnerabilities and inequities in marginalized communities.