Source: IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY submitted to NRP
LEOPOLD CENTER HYPOXIA PROJECT, IA
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0201134
Grant No.
2004-34529-15073
Cumulative Award Amt.
(N/A)
Proposal No.
2004-06111
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 15, 2004
Project End Date
Sep 14, 2006
Grant Year
2004
Program Code
[XC]- (N/A)
Recipient Organization
IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
2229 Lincoln Way
AMES,IA 50011
Performing Department
LEOPOLD CENTER
Non Technical Summary
The solutions of the problem of the Gulf of Mexico hypoxia zone are complex involving many different approaches. This Leopold Center project will work to supplement a much larger, multi-state effort. The specific objectives are to support cost/benefit analysis of innovative, performance-based watershed strategies. The project supports future-based, collaborative efforts through which stakeholders can more effectively identify economic, environmental and social solutions for some of the complex problems contributing to Gulf Hypoxia.
Animal Health Component
55%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
10%
Applied
55%
Developmental
35%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
1020199107010%
1110210205010%
1120399106015%
1250799107010%
1310120311115%
2052499107010%
6016030301010%
9027110303020%
Goals / Objectives
The Leopold Center effort is designed to provide essential base-line support of the larger initiative through multi-scale objectives that incorporate regional watershed, state of Iowa, and Basin-wide interests. The Leopold Center, in cooperation with partners in several Upper Mississippi River Basin Alliances and initiatives, is collaborating in the development of a ten-year, multi-million dollar effort to support development and adoption of a new generation of agricultural systems that will reduce harmful runoff and nutrient loss in strategic Midwest watersheds. These objectives are complementary to the Basin-wide effort and include: optimizing agricultural production on specific landscapes, facilitating land use change to create ecological buffers and water retention areas, and diversifying land use to increase production of perennials for biobased and energy crops.
Project Methods
At the Iowa watershed level the Leopold Center plans to support development and cost/benefit analysis of innovative and performance-based watershed strategies that merge agricultural and environmental interests to improve water quality, enhance water retention, and optimize productivity of the land. At the State level, the proposal extends the watershed work into support for the land grant university research and extension efforts to evaluate new farming systems and nutrient management strategies in real world situations. At the Mississippi basin level the proposal leverages critically needed resources for coordination of inter- and trans-disciplinary activities between states and partners. The work will be accomplished through sub-awards made to various partners that will be identified on an ongoing basis. Partners are identified not only through work relevant to Leopold objectives, but through their support the underlying values and strategies of the multi-state effort. Work will include research, learning groups, demonstration, and outreach that focus on key issues (environmental, socio-economic, production, processing) that arise as we consider production and diversification options for current agricultural landscapes. Activities are expected to include, for example, demonstration of systems and practices that balance agricultural production and hydrologic function; building of stakeholder capacity; identification of potentially profitable enterprises for products of more diverse agricultural systems; exploration of policy incentives to encourage and support a new generation of agricultural systems; and outreach to increase local, state, and national visibility for ecologically integrated land use systems.

Progress 09/15/04 to 09/14/06

Outputs
Project evaluation component completed preliminary assessment of models (formative and process program theory and program logic). Evaluation indicates that new collaborations have increased stakeholder awareness and increased visibility of the project. Further Iowa-based stakeholder outreach and learning about system solutions for nutrient management and water quality was conducted through a sub-project, Green Lands Blue Waters Iowa Organizing. Research and demonstration to support multifunctional agriculture and identify value and opportunity for eco-system and social solutions was conducted through four projects: Grassland Agriculture, Living Mulch, Winter Grazing, and Gordon's Marsh. Grassland Agriculture project investigator focused on on-farm ruminant grazing and identified research priorities, supported education and learning through conferences and workshops, and engaged new partners. Investigators for Living Mulch project conducted research, identified production and management alternatives, evaluated costs and conducted educational training on diversifying traditional soybean systems through use of living mulch systems. Investigators for Winter Grazing researched and identified profitability, gains, and system production management tradeoffs for feeding supplemental distillers dried grains to fall-calving cows grazing stockpiled forage over winter and as a creep feed to their calves. A subwatershed case study, Gordon's Marsh, investigated social and economic parameters for voluntary conversion of private land to wetlands.

Impacts
The projects demonstrate and document management practices and costs and have resulted in increased understanding for producers, extension agents, feed company representatives, and non-governmental agents regarding several production and conservation alternatives that show potential as win-win scenarios for both farmer profitability and the environment.

Publications

  • Lasley, P.W., J.R. Russell, D.R. Strohbehn, D.G. Morrical, and J.D. Lawrence. 2007. Distillers dried grains supplementation of fall-calving cows or calves grazing stockpiled forage during winter. A.S. Leaflet R2186. Animal Industry Report, Iowa State University.
  • Lasley, P.W., J.R. Russell, D.G. Morrical, D.R. Strohbehn, and J.D. Lawrence. 2007. Distillers dried grains supplementation of stockpiled forage grazed by fall-calving cows or calves over winter on pre- and post-weaning performance of calves in a pasture finishing system. Proc. of the 2007 meeting of the American Forage and Grassland Council, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA.
  • Lasley, P.W. and J.R. Russell. 2007. Effects of distillers dried grains supplementation of smooth bromegrass hay on hay intake and digestibility. Proc. of the 2007 meeting of the American Forage and Grassland Council, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA.
  • ONeal, M.E., J.R. Prasifka, N.P. Schmidt, J.W. Singer, R.L. Hellmich, and K.A. Kohler. 2005. Assessing carabid contribution to ecosystem services: Does it matter if there are more beetles. Amer. Entomol. 51(4):231-233.
  • Prasifka, J.R., N.P. Schmidt, K.A. Kohler, M.E. ONeal, R.L. Hellmich, and J.W. Singer. 2006. Effects of living mulches on predator abundance and sentinel prey in a corn-soybean-forage rotation. Environ. Entomol. 35:1423-1431.
  • Schmidt, N.P., M.E. ONeal, and J.W. Singer. 2007. Alfalfa living mulch advances biological control of soybean aphid. Environ. Entomol. 36:416-424.


Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05

Outputs
Project evaluation component is conducting assessments of progress toward overall project goals using formative and process program theory approach and program logic approach. For the research, outreach, and demonstration elements of the project, eight projects are active. One project builds on earlier grazing work to assess a beef production system based on fall-calving cows grazing stockpiled forage with minimal supplementation during winter. Two projects with scientists and farmer cooperators are conducting research and demonstrations on diversifying traditional agricultural production systems through the use of double-cropping field peas with soybeans (includes feeding trials) and growing living mulches (alfalfa, kura clover, and birdsfoot trefoil in simple and binary mixes and orchardgrass and reed canarygrass in three-way mixes in a corn-soybean-forage rotation with all phases present each year). A cover crop use survey to identify barriers and opportunities for cover crop use has been conducted and is being analyzed. At the watershed level, the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development and a local USDA-NRCS resource conservation district along with numerous partners are documenting the social, geophysical and economic history of a subwatershed scale wetland conversion and exploring assessment of conservation and land use benefits in a local watershed. At landscape scale, two nonprofit partners under the auspices of the regional Green Lands Blue Waters consortium are working separately to coordinate a regional project and to conduct related state-level meetings, both with an ultimate goal of increasing the use of continuous living cover on the land.

Impacts
The aggregate impact of the initiated projects is to support scientists and farmers who want to investigate and invest in the multi-functional aspects of agricultural landscapes. With respect to research and demonstration, we expect that a better understanding of eco-system services and their economic value will facilitate transition to a generation of agricultural systems with optimized environmental and economic performance. With respect to stakeholder organizing, we expect that new collaborations will raise the visibility of and increase resource investment in activities that support development and adoption of agricultural systems that reduce harmful runoff and nutrient loss in strategic Midwest watersheds.

Publications

  • No publications reported this period


Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04

Outputs
Project evaluation component initiated preliminary assessment of two models for appropriate fit to the overall project goals. The two models explored were a formative and process program theory approach and a program logic approach. For the research, outreach, and demonstration elements of the project, five subcontracts have been issued. A Grassland Agriculture project is conducting outreach, engaging stakeholders, and identifying potential research priorities for grassland related agriculture. Two projects with scientists and farmer cooperators have been identified and subcontracted to conduct research on diversifying traditional agricultural production systems through the use of living mulch and double-cropping. One water management project has been identified and subcontracted to document the social, geo-physical and economic history of a subwatershed scale wetland conversion. A non-profit partner has been engaged and is designing a project plan for state-wide organization of stakeholders whose nutrient management and water quality interests are regional and/or Basin-wide.

Impacts
The aggregate impact of the initiated projects is to support scientists and farmers who are interested in investing in and investigating multi-functional aspects of agricultural landscapes. With respect to research and demonstration, we expect that a better understanding of eco-system services and their economic value will facilitate transition to a generation of agriculture systems with optimized environmental and economic performance. With respect to stakeholder organizing, we expect that new collaborations will raise the visibility of and increase resource investment in activities that support development and adoption of agricultural systems that reduce harmful runoff and nutrient loss in strategic Midwest watersheds.

Publications

  • No publications reported this period