Role of conservation and policy in farming success

June 26, 2025 | Kriss Nelson

Farmers learned about recent developments in conservation practices, policy and research during the most recent Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) Innovation to Profit meeting held in Winneshiek County on Tuesday.

“I came to the local Innovation to Profit meeting because I wanted to learn more about what the Iowa Soybean Association had to offer," says Chad Bushman, ISA farmer member from Fort Atkinson. “I didn't know they did so much with conservation. It was nice getting to learn more about a state organization at an event close to where I farm.”

The event was held in the Turkey River Watershed and featured comments from Evan Brehm, ISA research agronomist, who presented on the benefits of in-field cover crops. ISA Research Agronomist Shane Beck provided an update on crop conditions in northeast Iowa and Alex Schaffer, ISA senior research agronomist, spoke on the work ISA’s Research Center for Farming Innovation is doing with relay crop trials.

“Interest was particularly high in edge-of-field conservation practices, including bioreactors and oxbow restorations,” says Brehm. “These practices are gaining traction in northeast Iowa as farmers look for effective ways to improve water quality while maintaining productivity.”

Experts Matthew Frana, Turkey River Watershed project coordinator and Gregg Pattison U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service private lands biologist, gave participants an update on local conservation efforts, including work to preserve and protect monarch butterflies.

Katie Hall, ISA senior director of advocacy, provided a policy update that sparked thoughtful questions and engagement from the audience.

Farm tour

The Highland Farm, a family farm in Winneshiek County owned by the Bouska sisters, Peg Bouska, Carol Bouska, Sally McCoy and Ann Novak, also offered attendees a firsthand look at a restored wetland.

“They discussed how being a part of their family farm ties them to their roots and connects them to their family, even though they are spread out hours apart,” says Brehm. “This farm showcased nature and agriculture working together to connect people to the land.”

Pattison walked the group through a process of wetland development, the plants that are growing there, where the water drains and why the area of unproductive ground was perfect for wetland restoration.

“The land now retains water and nutrient runoff while creating wildlife habitat surrounded by acres of crop ground,” says Brehm adding the group also walked through a tallgrass prairie that has over 20 species of plants and monarch butterflies.

The farm tour also involved a stop at a relay cropping trial and a windbreak that stretched a half mile with several species of trees.

According to Brehm, attendees showed a strong commitment to preserving clean water, especially cold-water streams and trout habitats, in northeast Iowa.

“Attendees voiced concern for long-term water quality and were eager to learn more about the tools and policies that support those goals,” he says.

Farm to River

The second Innovation to Profit Summer Field Day will be hosted by Dave and Kathy Law at 33291 110th St., Lohrville, on July 8 from 9 a.m. to noon. The event site is located half a mile east of the farm.

This field day highlights how conservation can be implemented on a farm’s unused land, emphasizing solutions for wetlands, less productive areas and in-field problems during a wetland and native prairie walk.

An optional tour of oxbows, saturated buffers and woodchip bioreactors will be held after lunch.  

“This area remained consistently wet and was low-lying ground that had been farmed for years, despite not always producing,” says Iddings. “The project highlights the benefits of taking unproductive, unprofitable land out of row crop production and converting it into a valuable conservation practice.”

The field day will also include a seasonal crop update by Mikaela Connelly, ISA research agronomist, covering diseases, pests and fungicide trials.

Register Here 

For more information, contact Paige Whitney, ISA producer services coordinator, at 712-371-9901 or pwhitney@iasoybeans.com.

Certified Crop Advisors (CCA) credits are available.

Written by Kriss Nelson.

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