In this episode, Olivia interviews Maury Wills, Iowa Specialty Crop Growers Association (ISCGA), Board President and Benji Deal, ISCGA Board Member and Head Cider Maker at Deal's Orchard. Tune in as they discuss the upcoming ISCGA Field Day that will be held July 27, 2023, and what participants can expect from the day!
Episode Links:
• Registration Link: https://www.iowaspecialtycrop.org/events-2/#!event/2023/5/10/test-page-summer-field-day
• Orchard Questions: benjaminpdeal@gmail.com
• Registration Questions: ohanlon@iastate.edu
What are your favorite flowers?
In this episode, Olivia interviews Dan Brabec, Assistant Professor of Practice with Iowa State University Horticulture Department. Tune in as they discuss cut flower arrangements, how to make them last longer, and what you can find outside here in Iowa to create your own!
Episode Links:
• Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Master Gardener Program: https://www.extension.iastate.edu/mastergardener/
• Aaron Steil: ajsteil@iastate.edu, 515-294-8953
• Dan Brabec: dbrabec@iastate.edu, 515-294-2751
In this episode, Olivia interviews Adam Janke, Wildlife Specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Tune in as they share some sounds that may or may not be familiar to you, and learn how you can identify some common sounds of summer here in Iowa!
Episode Links:
Tune in as Olivia interviews Aaron Steil, Consumer Horticulture Specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. In this episode, they discuss a few different spring garden crops, including rhubarb, asparagus, and horse reddish!
Episode Links:
• Horticulture and Home Pest News: https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/
In this episode, Christa interviews Matt Russell, State Executive Director of the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Iowa. Tune in as they talk about the USDA FSA, the importance of having a relationship with your local FSA, and what opportunities they offer.
Episode Links:
• USDA Website: https://www.usda.gov/
• USA Jobs: https://www.usajobs.gov/
If you have a private water well, do you get it tested every year? Did you know Iowa has a water well program that allows private well owners to have their private well water tested for free?
Tune in as Olivia interviews Catherine DeLong, Water Quality Program Manager for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. In this episode, they discuss the importance of having your private well water tested yearly, the things you would want to test for, and the resources to help.
Episode Links:
• County Environmental Health Sanitarians for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources: http://www.iowasrf.com/media/cms/Sanitarians5_1A50952E9532E.pdf
• Extension Staff by county: https://www.extension.iastate.edu/countyservices/
• The Private Well Class: https://privatewellclass.org/
• Iowa Department Of Natural Resouces: https://www.iowadnr.gov/
• State of Iowa Department of Health and Human Services: https://hhs.iowa.gov/
• State Hygienic Laboratory at The University of Iowa: http://www.shl.uiowa.edu/
• Drinking Water Quality in Iowa from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach - Natural Resource Stewardship: https://naturalresources.extension.iastate.edu/drinking-water-quality-iowa
Do you know the best practices when mushroom foraging? Tune in as Olivia interviews Chelsea Harbach, Plant Disease Diagnostician in Iowa State University's Plant & Insect Diagnostic Clinic. They discuss tips when it comes to foraging for mushrooms and even growing your own at home. Chelsea also gives some great resources you can use!
Episode Links:
• Iowa Mushroom Calendar: https://naturalresources.extension.iastate.edu/encyclopedia/mushroom-foraging-iowa
• Safe Mushroom foraging webinars by Lina: part 1- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bdiEBwMzZI&t=534s
• Safe Mushroom foraging webinars by Lina: part 2- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNIPxbGbJtU&t=3s
• Safe Mushroom Foraging Book: https://store.extension.iastate.edu/product/Safe-Mushroom-Foraging
• Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic e-mail: pidc@iastate.edu
Growing mushrooms at home resources from other universities:
• Pen State University- https://extension.psu.edu/forage-and-food-crops/mushrooms/production-and-harvesting
• University of Florida- https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/vegetables/growing-mushrooms-at-home.html
• Cornell University- https://smallfarms.cornell.edu/projects/mushrooms/
• University of Vermont- https://www.uvm.edu/news/extension/growing-mushrooms-indoors
Do you have coyotes or foxes around your farm? Or maybe you even see/hear them around town! Tune in as Olivia interviews Andy Kellner, Wildlife Biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. They discuss why you may see these creatures around, what steps you can take if they become a problem, and some of the great benefits they can actually provide for us!
Episode Links:
• Andy Kellner: (515) 975-8318
• Vince Evelsizer: (641) 231-1522
• University of Wisconsin Urban Canid Project: http://uwurbancanidproject.weebly.com/
• Iowa Department of Natural Resources: https://www.iowadnr.gov/
• The Red Fox in Iowa by Ron Andrews: https://www.iowadnr.gov/Portals/idnr/uploads/Hunting/book_red_fox.pdf
We’re happy to share a podcast from our friends, Dan Fillius, ISU Extension Horticulture Field Specialist, and Dr. Justin Glisan, Iowa’s State Climatologist. This episode is the pilot episode and gives a recap of weather this past winter, how it stacks up against past winters, and provides a climate outlook for the coming growing season. Typically this podcast will be for those who want to learn more about weather, its recent impacts on fruits and vegetables, and it’ll provide a climate outlook for the coming week. Stay tuned for details on how to subscribe and future weekly episodes!
Do you have a backyard garden, or maybe a flower bed or two? Do you know what you should do in the spring to get them cleaned up and ready for planting?
In this episode, Olivia interviews Aaron Steil, Consumer Horticulture Specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Aaron gives us great advice and insight on best spring practices to get your gardens and flower beds ready!
Episode Links:
• Horticulture and Home Pest News: https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/
• Spring Garden Tasks: https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/spring-garden-tasks
In this episode of the Beginning Fruit Farm Series, Suzanne Slack, Assistant Professor of Horticulture at Iowa State University specializing in perennial fruit crops, Brandon Carpenter, Agriculture Specialist with Iowa State Horticulture Research Station, and Liv Meyer, a graduate student in the department of Horticulture at Iowa State University are discussing Apple Tree pruning. Tune in to learn tips, tricks, and best practices when it comes to pruning your apple trees!
Are you considering buying an acreage? You should keep a handful of things in mind before doing so! There are also plenty of resources you can research before committing to a property.
In this episode, Olivia interviews Ann Johanns, Extension Program Specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Ann gives us some great advice and questions to ask ourselves before we make an acreage purchase. She also informs us of some great resources we can utilize to research a property and other surrounding properties!
Episode Links:
• Ag Decision Maker: https://www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/
• Beacon Shneider: https://beacon.schneidercorp.com/
• Iowa Land Records: https://iowalandrecords.org/
Olivia is again joined by Suzanne Slack, Assistant Professor of Horticulture at Iowa State University specializing in perennial fruit crops, Brandon Carpenter, Agriculture Specialist with Iowa State Horticulture Research Station, and Liv Meyer, a graduate student in the department of Horticulture at Iowa State University and on this episode of our Beginning Fruit Farm Series, they discuss grape trellising. Tune in as they discuss the different trellising options and what options would best suit your grapes here in Iowa!
Have you been noticing more Bald Eagles in Iowa lately?
In today's episode, Olivia interviews Heidi Anderson, a Naturalist with Polk County Conservation, and we're talking about Bald Eagles! Where can we go to see them, what should we do if we see them, and what are some ways we can attract them?!
It's that time of year again when we can go out and shed hunt!
If you're interested in shed hunting but don't know where to start, or maybe you're just looking for a few tips on where to find them, tune in to this episode! Olivia interviews Heidi Anderson, a Naturalist with Polk County Conservation, who gives some great tips on where to look for sheds, things to avoid, and what you can do with them once you find them!
In this episode, Olivia interviews Kendra Meyer, Executive Secretary for the Iowa Specialty Crop Growers Association and Christie Jensen, Executive Director for the Iowa Wine Growers Association. Tune in to hear all about the upcoming 2023 Iowa Specialty Producers Conference! The conference will start on February 22, 2023 and go through February 23, 2023. There will also be a pre-conference workshop held on February 21, 2023.
Episode Links:
• Iowa Specialty Producers Conference: https://www.iowaspecialtyproducers.com/
• Conference Registration Link: https://www.iowaspecialtyproducers.com/registernow
• Pre-conference Workshop Registration: https://www.iowaspecialtyproducers.com/registeriscga
• Session Overview: https://www.iowaspecialtyproducers.com/2023-sessions
• Conference Speakers: https://www.iowaspecialtyproducers.com/2023-speakers
• Sponsors and Exhibitors: https://www.iowaspecialtyproducers.com/2023-sponsors
• Contact the Iowa Specialty Producers Conference: ispc@iowawinegrowers.org
In this episode, Olivia interviews Kitt Tovar Jensen, Staff Attorney at Iowa State University's Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation. Tune in to hear all about the upcoming 2023 Farm Transitions Conference! The conference will start on February 9, 2023 and go through February 10, 2023.
Episode Links:
• Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation (CALT) Website: https://www.calt.iastate.edu/https://practicalfarmers.org/
• Registration Link: https://www.calt.iastate.edu/seminar/2023-02-09/farm-transitions-entering-expanding-or-exiting-business
• Registration Services Phone: 515-294-6222
• CALT Office Phone: 515-294-5217
In this episode, Olivia interviews Liz Kolbe, Senior Farmer Lead Education Manager for Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI). Tune in to hear all about the upcoming 2023 PFI Conference! The conference will start on January 20, 2023 and go through January 21, 2023. Liz also talks about pre-conference course opportunities that will be held on January 19, 2023.
Episode Links:
• PFI Website: https://practicalfarmers.org/
• Registration Website: https://practicalfarmers.org/events/annual-conference/2023-annual-conference/registration/
In this episode, Christa interviews Dr. Billy Beck, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Forester. He gives some great insight on the Emerald Ash Borer, signs to look for if you think your tree may be infested, ways to determine if your tree can be saved, ways to treat, and more! He has also supplied us with some useful resources on the topic.
Episode Links:
• Iowa State University Extension and Outreach online tree ID guide: https://naturalresources.extension.iastate.edu/forestry/iowa_trees/tree_id.html
• "How to Use Bark to Identify Trees": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_ajYcAbGc4
• "EAB or Native Borer - Insect Galleries Often Confused for Emerald Ash Borer (EAB): file:///C:/Users/aburke13/Downloads/PM3065.pdf
• Department of Ag and Land Stewardship - Areas Where EAB Have been Confirmed and more info: http://www.iowatreepests.com/eab_home.html
• Managing Emerald Ash Borer: https://store.extension.iastate.edu/product/Emerald-Ash-Borer-Management-Options
• Rethinking Acreage & Rural Tree Plantings from the Iowa DNR: https://go.iastate.edu/EODTKA
• Iowa State University Forestry Professionals by county: https://naturalresources.extension.iastate.edu/contacts/forestry
• Iowa State University Extension and Outreach - Crop Advantage Series: https://www.aep.iastate.edu/cas/
• Iowa State University Extension and Outreach - Master Woodland Steward Program: https://naturalresources.extension.iastate.edu/programs/forestry/education/woodlandmgr#:~:text=The%20MWSP%20features%2030%20hours,%2Dperson%20field%2Fclassroom%20session.
How do you know what tree to choose for the holiday season? Tune into this episode where Olivia interviews Aaron Steil, Consumer Horticulture Specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. There are multiple things to consider when picking out your tree, we go through and discuss these as well as the options we have to utilize/dispose of our Christmas Trees after the season is over!
Be sure to let us know what you think about our podcast for your chance to win a $50 gift card to your local farm store! https://go.iastate.edu/ZRF9GG
Episode Links:
• Christmas Tree Selection and Care Guide: https://hortnews.extension.iastate.edu/guide-selection-and-care-christmas-trees
Christa Hartsook interviewed Dr. Justin Glisan, state climatologist of Iowa at the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. In his episode, we discuss weather patterns and how we can use them to determine what future seasons will look like, the biggest determiners, and what it means for farmers.
Be sure to let us know what you think about our podcast for your chance to win a $50 gift card to your local farm store! https://go.iastate.edu/ZRF9GG
Episode Links:
•Iowa State University Extension and Outreach - Department of Agronomy: https://www.agron.iastate.edu/extension/
• Iowa Climatology Bureau: https://iowaagriculture.gov/climatology-bureau
• Dr. Justin Glisen Contact Information: Cell 515-281-8981, Work 515-281-8503, Email justin.glisan@iowaagriculture.gov
In this episode, I interviewed Aude Watrelot, Assistant Professor and Enology Extension Specialist with Iowa State University. She shares some interesting knowledge about Iowa wine and talks about two upcoming "Wine Wednesday" events coming up in November, where you can learn more about the wine-making process and get to try some wine from local Iowa Wineries.
Links:
In this episode, I interviewed Tyler Harms, Wildlife Research Biometrician with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Tyler shares his knowledge about wildlife population trends and how we keep them regulated.
Links:
https://www.iowadnr.gov/hunting/population-harvest-trends
https://www.iowadnr.gov/portals/idnr/uploads/Hunting/huntingregs.pdf
In this episode, I interviewed Andy Kellner, Wildlife Biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. He shares some of his knowledge with us about what the changing of the seasons will bring with wildlife and deer depredation!
Andy Kellner's Email: andrew.kellner@dnr.iowa.gov
Link: https://www.iowadnr.gov/Hunting/Landowner-Assistance/Wildlife-Damage-Management
In this episode I interviewed Billy Beck, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Forestry Specialist. He shared his experience with the tree struggles this year and gives great advice for anyone who is looking into planting their own trees.