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IOWA
Activities and research
The Agronomy Department at Iowa State University and the USDA-ARS National Soil Tilth Lab conduct research and outreach focused on cover crops. Cover crop research projects address their effectiveness in improving soil and water quality and their potential for biomass production in bioenergy feedstock systems. Other field and greenhouse studies are being conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of cover crops in reducing nitrate loss utilizing chemical tracers. Agronomy Extension faculty in collaboration with the National Soil Tilth Lab scientists and other state and federal agencies are currently involved in a statewide effort to promote the use of cover crops in areas affected by the 2008 flood.
Along with these research and extension projects, significant outreach and on-farm demonstration projects are being conducted by the Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) and the Iowa Learning Farm (ILF) across the state of Iowa. The PFI is a non-profit, educational group that was established in 1985 to address issues facing Iowa farmers. Since 1988, the PFI has conducted 27 on-farm studies looking at cover crops. The ILF is a statewide initiative, begun in 2005, involving farmer cooperators, agency partners, and university personnel. Together the PFI, ILF, ISU Agronomy Faculty, and the Leopold Center are conducting a statewide project with the core mission of promoting conservation practices to improve soil and water quality in the state using various measures, including the use of cover crops.
Learn more about cover crops programs at the ISU Agronomy Department and the National Soil Tilth Lab here.
Learn about the Iowa Learning Farm (ILF), the Leopold Center and the Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) here.
State representative
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Tom Kaspar |
Tom has been with ARS since 1981 and at the National Soil Tilth Laboratory (NSTL) since its opening in 1989. The overall objective of his research has been to minimize the environmental impacts of agriculture, while maintaining soil productivity and crop yields. Specifically he has worked on crop root growth, no-till, planting systems, compaction, N management, and small grain cover crops. Recently, his work has focused on documenting the water quality and soil productivity benefits of including winter cover crops in corn-soybean cropping systems and developing new cover crop management practices to make that more feasible.
Click here for links to Tom Kaspar's projects and publications.
Other important contacts and programs in Iowa
Mahdi Al-Kaisi
Associate Professor
Iowa State University
2104 Agronomy Hall
Ames, IA 50011
Phone: 515-294-8304
E-mail: malkaisi@iastate.edu
Carol Brown
Communications Specialist
Iowa Learning Farms
Iowa State University
2401 Agronomy Hall
Ames, IA 50011-1010
Phone: 515/294-8912
E-mail: cbrown1@iastate.edu
Sarah Carlson
Program Specialist
Practical Farmers of Iowa
137 Lynn Ave, Suite 200
Ames, IA 50014
Phone: 515-232-5661
E-mail: sarah@practicalfarmers.org
Matt Liebman
Professor
Iowa State University
Department of Agronomy
3405 Agronomy Hall
Ames, IA 50011-1010
Phone: 515-294-7486
E-mail: mliebman@iastate.edu
John Lundvall
Field Coordinator
Iowa Learning Farms
Iowa State University
2505 Agronomy Hall
Ames, Iowa 50011-1010
Phone: 515/294-5429
E-mail: jlundval@iastate.edu
Jeri Neal
Ecological Systems Research Program Leader
The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture
Iowa State University
209 Curtiss Hall
Ames, IA 50011-1050
Phone: 515-204-5610
E-mail: wink@iastate.edu
Jeremy Singer
Agronomist
United States Department of Agriculture
Agricultural Research Service
National Soil Tilth Laboratory
2110 University Blvd.
Ames, Iowa 50010-3120
Voice: 515-294-5502
FAX: 515-294-8125
E-mail: Jeremy.Singer@ars.usda.gov
MCCC Report
Links
Iowa State University
NEWS - Field Tours to Show Iowa State's Biomass Research Aug. 25 & 29
- Small Grain Cover Crops for Corn and Soybean by Jeremy Singer and Tom Kaspar, USDA-ARS National Soil Tilth Laboratory
- Iowa State University researchers study ground cover to reduce impact of biomass harvest (SeedQuest News July 9, 2008)
- Intercropping Winter Cereal Grains with Red Clover by Jeremy Singer, L.R. Gibson, and Steve Barnhart
- Legume Living Mulches in Corn and Soybean by Jeremy Singer (USDA) and Palle Pedersen, Iowa State University; PM 2006, 2005
- Iowa Learning Farm
- Small Grain Cover Crops (module) - A review of the benefits of using small grain cover crops. It also discusses small grain species selection, management, and impact on main crop yields. (Click on the "Available" link by "Free Online Module". You need to sign up as a CAI member which is available free.)
- Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture
- Cover Crop Resources of the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture Website
- Environmental benefits and management of small grain winter cover crops in corn-soybean rotations Presentation that summarizes work in Iowa, developed by an Iowa group that includes Iowa State University, the Leopold Center, Practical Farmers of Iowa and the National Soil Tilth Laboratory. March 2007
- Cover crops in the Corn Belt: Survey finds underused potential as conservation tool article from the Winter 2006-07 Leopold Letter newsletter
- Learn-as-you-go lessons about cover crops article in Winter 2005 Leopold Letter newsletter
- Ecology Initiative
Other links
- Iowa Practice Standard for
Cover Crops (Code 340)
- Rye Cover Crop and Gamagrass Strip Effects on NO3 Concentration and Load in Tile Drainage by T.C. Kaspar, D.B. Jaynes, T.B. Parkin and T.B. Moorman (Technical Report - Surface Water Quality)
- Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Corn–Soybean Systems in the Midwest by Timothy B. Parkin and Thomas C. Kaspar
- Examining Changes in Soil Organic Carbon with Oat and Rye Cover Crops Using Terrain Covariates by T. C. Kaspar, T. B. Parkin, D. B. Jaynes, C. A. Cambardella, D. W. Meek and Y. S. Jung
- Consider Planting Cover Crops This Fall (NRCS)
- Practical Farmers of Iowa
- Protecting the Soil and Environment Using Small Grain Cover Crops presentation given by Tom Kaspar on 5-21-08 at an NRCS workshop at the National Soil Tilth Laboratory in Ames, IA
- Environmental Benefits and Management of Small Grain Winter Cover Crops in Corn-Soybean Rotations Presentation by Tom Kaspar (9-17-07)
- Cover crop effects on the fate of N following soil application of swine manure by T. B. Parkin, T. C. Kaspar, J. W. Singer (Plant Soil, 289:141-152, 2006)
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