Rye the Right Crop for "Nabbing" Nitrates, Capturing Carbon and Generating Bioenergy
August 10, 2023
Winter rye is prized for its versatility. It is a source of grain and also a forage and ground cover that protects the soil from erosion by wind and rain. But the benefits of winter rye don't stop there.
Iowa State University, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 and the University of Iowa have announced an upcoming conference: Anaerobic Digestion on the Farm: Optimizing Environmental and Economic Outcomes for Rural Communities and Beyond. The conference will be November 6-8, 2023, at the Scheman Building at the Iowa State Center in Ames, Iowa. Anaerboic digestion is the natural process in which microorganisms break down organic materials. "Anaerobic digestion offers many environmental and economic benefits," said EPA Region 7 Administrator Meg McCollister. "This conference will bring together government, academic, and private-sector experts, stakeholders, and interested parties to advance understanding of anaerobic digestion and policy implementation."
Environmental Protection Agency Region 7 (EPA), Iowa State University and the University of Iowa will co-host a multistate focused conference on anaerobic digestion (AD) in agriculture.
Mark your calendars for November 6-8 at the Scheman Building if you are interested in:
facilitating information exchange on AD in agriculturefocusing on solutions for challenges faced by operators of AD facilities or prospective owner/operators.engaging at the nexus of agriculture, energy and policy
Climate change provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act have spurred developers to build ambitious renewable energy projects that turn corn into ethanol and manure into methane. Our partners Bryan Sievers, Roeslein Alternative Energy and Gevo are featured in this New York Times article.
Sociological water quality research: quantifying factors at multiple scales that influence farmers to shift from being potential to actual adopters of conservation practices.
Ellen Audia was funded by C-Change as a Master's student at ISU, which she completed in May 2021. She just published a second paper from her thesis: "Measuring changes in financial and ecosystems service outcomes with simulated grassland restoration in a Corn Belt watershed" was published in the journal Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. Ellen is now a PhD student at Southern Illinois University. Congrats, Ellen! We're glad but not surprised you're doing so well!
Infographic provides essential information about why, how and when to establish perennial plantings on farms in Iowa, and the benefits that can be expected
The Iowa State University Office of the Vice President for Research announced Robert Brown and Lisa Schulte Moore will serve as co-directors of the nationally renowned Bioeconomy Institute (BEI).
The purpose of the survey is to learn about collaborating landowners’ experiences with the establishment and management of prairie strips to help project staff understand (1) what positive and negative experiences they have had, (2) what information and technical assistance needs they may have, and (3) to learn from their ideas about how the STRIPS team can improve outreach and promotional efforts. The 2021 survey consisted of 10 open-ended questions and three yes/no questions.
AMES, Iowa – Iowa soil is good at growing crops. In fact, it’s probably the best agricultural soil in the world. And, while Iowa’s farmland has proven itself to be a powerhouse for producing cash crops like corn and soybeans, Iowa State University scientists are dreaming up innovative ways to grow new value, new markets and new revenue streams from Iowa soils.
Advancing local leadership and creating private incentive structures for perennialization of working landscapes can help improve conservation practices on millions of acres across the Midwest.
