Join us for a unique regional training highlighting the science, management, and soil health benefits of integrating livestock into the farm. The workshop is led by ISU Extension in collaboration with the Soil Health Nexus. We welcome agriculture & conservation professionals as well as farmers, landowners and students to attend. 

Event Details:

• Date: October 22 & 23, 2025
• Location: Alliant Energy Ag Innovation Lab, Ames, Iowa 50010
• Cost: $75 for 2 days, $50 for 1 day. After October 10 registration increases to $99 for 2 days, $60 for 1 day.
• The training includes snacks, lunch and dinner on October 22, and a light breakfast, snacks and lunch on October 23
• Registration is being run by our friends at Michigan State University through this link: https://go.iastate.edu/TBL7CV
  • Registration closes on October 15, 2025.

Highlights of the event:

• Expert speakers from Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Kansas.
• Outdoor classroom on soil interpretation and use of soil health tools & apps
• Interactive planning for cover crops, extended rotations, and forage crops
• Iowa farmers share practical, real-world experiences with livestock integration
• CEU credits available

Featured Speakers include:

• Dr. Marshall McDaniel (Iowa State University) — Insights on the impact of livestock integration and land management on soil biology, new research on the cumulative impact of soil health principles.
• Laura Paine (University of Wisconsin) — Co-director of the regional project, Match Made in Heaven: Crops + Livestock, sharing cutting-edge innovative case studies of crop-livestock integration, opportunities and obstacles for farmers.
• Gabi Bolwerk, Claire LaCanne and Sabrina Florentino (University of Minnesota) will lead an interactive session on planning for cover crops, extended rotations and forage crops.
• Dr. Lee Burras will lead an outdoor session on interpreting the soil and the impact of livestock on soil properties.
• James Holz, Iowa farmer, cattleman, and co-owner of Iowa Cover Crop will discuss how he's integrated feeder and stocker cattle on cropland in unique and profitable ways.
• Tyler Bruck, the Land Stewardship Director for Whiterock Conservancy, will discuss how this 5,500 acre non-profit land trust has integrated 20+ years of cover crops, plus small grains and grazing cattle and sheep.