Iowa State University Extension and Outreach publishes comprehensive On-Farm Forestry Field Guide for Iowa
Iowa Learning Farms (ILF), a conservation education and outreach program from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, has published the On-Farm Forestry Field Guide for Iowa, which is available at no cost. The guide covers tree-centric topics and provides detailed advice on approaches to forest management. It also highlights on-farm benefits ranging from windbreaks and erosion control to crop trees and high-value timber production.
Billy Beck, assistant professor and extension forestry specialist at Iowa State, collaborated with ILF to prepare the guide for use by farmers and landowners. It provides easy access to practical and actionable advice on planning forestry activities that support land use, conservation, crop production and water quality goals.
“Iowa lost some four million acres of woodlands over the past two centuries,” said Beck. “Our goal with this guide is to clearly outline the steps farmers and landowners can take to reclaim, reestablish and maintain healthy forested areas in beneficial ways that achieve their goals. Forestland can deliver financial value through direct impacts on soil, water and crop health, as well as through the potential for timber income. It can also enhance recreational and aesthetic value. There is no single solution that addresses every landscape and farm, but no matter the goals, it is imperative to start with a plan that involves input from forestry professionals.”
Incorporating feedback from professional foresters as well as two dozen farmers and landowners across the state, the guide is designed to assist landowners in finding the information, people and resources that will help them develop a forest plan that fits their goals and their land. Beyond facilitating goal and plan development, the guide helps users take the next steps in implementation and maintenance, with sections on species selection, planting and pruning.
Additionally, the guide includes links to detailed how-to and resource guides from leading researchers and practitioners that offer best practices in woodland management. Key topics of the On-Farm Forestry Field Guide for Iowa include:
• Planning and goal setting
• Woodlots and woodlands
• Windbreaks
• Streambank protection and riparian forest buffers
• Pasture trees
• Landscape connectivity
• Providers and resources.
“Whether in pastures, along waterways or included in existing windbreaks, trees on the farm are sometimes considered a nuisance and often left to a low priority for attention from busy farmers,” said Beck. “We are hopeful that the guide will help users see the potential benefits these areas can bring to the farm and offer exposure to simple and achievable actions that can increase the lifetime value of the property and help achieve operational, conservation and land management goals.”
To download the On-Farm Forestry Field Guide for Iowa, visit the ISU Extension Store. To request a printed, pocket-sized copy of the guide, visit Iowa Learning Farms. Funding for this guide was provided by the United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture under Award Number 2024-68016-42660.
Established in 2004, Iowa Learning Farms is building a Culture of Conservation by encouraging adoption of conservation practices. Farmers, researchers and ILF team members are working together to identify and implement the best management practices that improve water quality and soil health while remaining profitable. Partners of Iowa Learning Farms include the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and Iowa Department of Natural Resources, EPA Section 319 Grant Program, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Iowa Nutrient Research Center and GROWMARK Inc.
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