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THE DROP
A monthly e-newsletter from the North Central Region Water Network
January 2025
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Network News
It is still January but it feels like 2025 started a while ago with everything going on! At the North Central Region Water Network, we have three webinars in February for you to attend to get the latest research and professional development. We are also excited to share a save the date for the 2025 Regional Soil Health Training. The Soil Health Nexus is teaming up with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach to host a workshop in Ames, Iowa focusing on soil health, livestock and the below ground benefits of having livestock on the land. Be sure to mark October 22-23rd on your calendar and plan to join us!
And be sure to join us at one of our 3 webinars coming up next month
-The North Central Region Water Network team
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Join us for the February edition of The Current Webinar Series as we explore conservation drainage and drainage water recycling – a topic of interest for many as more of us are dealing with either too much or too little water. This webinar will feature research from Kelly Nelson with the University of Missouri and Chris Hay with Iowa Soybean Association and provide an overview of the Conservation Drainage Network. Register
Photo courtesy of Ten Ways to Reduce Nitrogen Loads from Drained Cropland in the Midwest.
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The 5th Annual Harmful Algal Bloom Research Symposium took place earlier this month. This free virtual event brought together over 700 water professionals from across the North Central Region and beyond to hear the latest research on HAB monitoring and detection, prevention, prediction and treatment and more.
The presentation slides and recordings are now available for those who missed it, or who want to refer back. Learn more
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In The News
Upcoming Events
Michigan Agriculture Advancement's 7th Annual Underground Innovations
February 4-5, 2025
Network with producers from across Michigan and beyond to help take ideas home to implement on your own operations. Speakers will share how they’ve come to adopt new practices on their farms, how they’ve gotten to this point, and where they are looking to go in the future. This year’s speakers will focus on conservation topics such as cover crops, prairie plantings, grazing, and strip-till. They’ll also discuss emerging crop markets in Michigan and growing food-grade grains. Learn More
Turning Weather-related Challenges into Agronomic Management Opportunities
Monday, February 24th at 1pm CT
Recent growing seasons have presented both weather-related challenges and opportunities for field crop growers in Michigan and across the north central region. Early season drought, late season rains, large rainfall events, and warmer winters are some of the challenges growers have dealt with. This discussion will focus on management strategies in response to weather incidences that can lead to increased yield and reduced input costs while also minimizing production risks, ultimately resulting in consistent and improved farm profitability. Learn more
A look at the Kansas Healthy Watershed Program
Wednesday, February 26th at 2pm CT
Join the Soil Health Nexus for the next edition of the Soil Health Nexus Digital Cafe where we will discuss the Kansas Healthy Watershed Project. Scott Satterthwaite with the Kansas Department of Health and the Environment, Candy Thomas with NRCS, and Brian Rast with the US Army Corps of Engineers will discuss this innovative state-federal partnership that is helping bridge the gap between regenerative agriculture and soil health practices and nonstructural flood reduction measures. Learn more
35th Annual Great Lakes Day Conference: A Celebration of Progress and Promise
March 3rd, 2025
You are invited to the 35th annual Great Lakes Day conference: A Celebration of Progress and Promise! This in-person conference will feature presentations on key Great Lakes issues. They have an exciting lineup of speakers, including:
- Kris Dey, fisheries (Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians hatchery manager)
- Don Uzarski, wetlands (Central Michigan University, Director of Institute for Great Lakes Research)
- Jane Elder, policy (author of Wilderness, Water & Rust: A Journey Toward Great Lakes Resilience)
- Meag Schwartz, education (Great Lakes Great Responsibility founder and Northeast Michigan Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative network coordinator)
This event is free, but online registration is required. Learn More
Funding and Opportunities
Open Position for Assistant/Associate Professor at Kansas State University
The Division of Biology at Kansas State University is inviting applications for a tenure-track, nine-month position at the Assistant/Associate Professor level. This position will focus broadly on the ecohydrology of grassland systems. Potential areas of expertise could include: riparian ecosystem function, linking groundwater to climate change mediated by biota, watershed ecosystems, or hydrology and biogeochemistry. Learn More
Applications Now Open For Midwest Regional Advanced Soil Health Training
American Farmland Trust’s Advanced Soil Health Training (ASHT) program is designed for corn, soybean, wheat, cotton, and dairy farmers and farm advisors who share an interest in improving soil health. ASHT is excited to bring you the best in soil health education, and we are seeking applicants who want to become soil health advisors and share their expertise with their clients, communities, and the next generation of farmers. The training is a deep dive into soil health practices tailored to the Midwest region and will include a mix of classroom time and farm visits to local demonstration farms. They will be holding 4 training sessions over the course of 2025, with the first session booked for June in Ames, Iowa. In addition to a certificate of completion, participants will also graduate with a completed Soil Health Impact Plan and guidance/resources for mentoring others in soil health practices. Learn More
Illinois Extension Seeks Candidate for Associate Dean and Director of Extension and Outreach Position at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
The Associate Dean and Director of Extension and Outreach provides leadership, vision, and strategic direction for statewide public outreach and research-based education to advance the land-grant mission of the University of Illinois. Learn more
The University of Minnesota Water Resources Center is Seeking its Next Water Resources Director
The director will provide strong intellectual leadership and guidance for the WRC and will work to advance the Center’s research, extension, and education to the very forefront of Water Resource Centers worldwide while maintaining a strong emphasis on water issues of importance to Minnesota. The director will be expected to work closely with the non-profit and for-profit sectors, government, and other educational organizations to shape and foster the outreach programs of the Center. This will include leading teams that translate scientific findings to application and practice and articulate water science and policy findings in public forums as well as to industry and individuals. It is expected that the director will form an external advisory committee and will be responsible for developing comprehensive five-year strategic plans for the WRC. Final application deadline is March 17th. Learn More
News
This Robot Could Find Nitrate Hot Spots by Crawling Through Tile Drainage
Researchers from Iowa State University have partnered with Michigan State University to develop a robot that would detect nitrates and monitor tile health to help farmers keep their land productive. Nearly half of Iowa’s harvested cropland has tile drainage, according to ag census data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The underground drainage systems help to boost crop productivity, but environmental and water groups have pointed out they can also deliver excessive amounts of nitrate and other nutrients downstream. Learn More
Drought Status Update for the Midwest
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, 40% of the Midwest region is in Moderate to Severe Drought (D1-D2), which is 9% less than this time last year. Areas in Severe Drought (D2) include southeast Ohio, northern Indiana, the northern half of Lower Michigan, northern Minnesota, and far northwest Iowa. Learn More
Helping Small Towns Meet Wastewater Needs, Affordably
Craig Just at the University of Iowa has sought an affordable wastewater solution for small towns. Now, through Just’s research, partnerships, and persistence, a pilot system in Dow City appears poised to meet federal wastewater treatment regulations. The technology would then be available for hundreds of small towns in Iowa. Learn More
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