An Iowa Learning Farms Virtual Field Field Day, Woodchips and Water Quality: Exploring Species and Chipping Methods to Maximize Bioreactor Efficiency presented by Iowa State researchers Billy Beck and Michelle Soupir highlights findings from a project supported by the LCSA and others (February 2024). 

Evidence from surveys in 2022 and 2023 indicate that widespread adoption of edge-of-field (EOF) practices—such as saturated buffers, bioreactors, and water quality enhancement wetlands—is vital to achieving the goal of 45% nutrient reduction outlined in the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy. However, few farmers in the state have embraced EOF practices on their land. Read the report Decoding Iowa Farmers’ Understanding of Edge-of-Field Conservation Practices, from a project conducted by the Conservation Learning Group, with support from LCSA, Iowa Nutrient Research Center and State Soil and Water Quality Committee,

Findings from a LCSA-supported grant were reported in the article Cover crop mixtures versus single species: Water quality and cash crop yield by Emily Waring, Mark Licht, Elizabeth Ripley, Ann Staudt, Sara Carlson and Matthew Helmers, published in the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation (December 2022). 

A 10-year field-scale study on the effects of winter rye cover crops on corn and soybean yields showed no significant impacts on cash crop yields attributable to cover crop use. The study by Iowa Learning Farms and Practical Farmers of Iowa was supported by state funders and LCSA.