Iowa Nutrient Research & Education Council

10/23/2026

Want to see the 2025 Iowa nutrient trends before anyone else?

The Nutrient Reduction Survey has been running for nine years, and the INREC Recap newsletter delivers the results directly to your inbox. If you want to be among the first to access the 2025 results and see what practices are being used across Iowa's acres, signing up is your next best move.

Be in the know: https://bit.ly/4pOCaHt

10/19/2026

Once the crops are out of the ground, we all need a rest. But applying nitrogen in the fall might be worth the push.

Fall nitrogen can have its advantages, but timing and conditions matter. From soil temperature and moisture to what’s already in the soil, several factors matter before you apply fall N.

Read more about making informed nitrogen decisions this fall. https://bit.ly/3TyaH1G

10/15/2026

Need help making your nitrogen decisions?

N-Fact is a nitrogen fertilizer application consultation tool that puts personalized recommendations right at your fingertips. Answer a few questions about your farm and management practices, and N-Fact will provide a custom, optimal N rate for your acres.

Knowing your optimal N rate can help you better manage your soil, reduce nutrient loss and potentially improve your bottom line.

Check out today: https://bit.ly/3EWzQeC

10/12/2026

Harvest is in full swing, which is the perfect time to recognize Iowa farmers. 🌱🚜

On this National Farmer's Day, we celebrate those who put in the early mornings, late nights and countless hours to care for the land and keep agriculture going strong for generations to come.

Thank you, farmers, for all you do. Here’s to a safe and successful harvest season!

10/08/2026

Farmers in the North Racoon watershed are encouraged to explore the bioreactor and saturated buffer conservation practices! Assistance is available with the Pig Farmer Batch and Build program.

Batch and Build offers financial incentives for practices to help reduce nitrate levels in Iowa's waterways. Now in its third year, this program is a partnership between INREC, IDALS, and the Iowa Pork Producers Association.

Don't miss out! To learn more, reach out to Abbey Inman at [email protected].

10/05/2026

Nutrient management is more than just fertilizer.

Iowa State University's Dr. Mike Castellano shares how cover crops are part of the solution to reducing nitrogen loss.

Planting cover crops reduce nitrogen loss especially when corn and soybeans are not actively growing. Whether the nitrogen is from fertilizer or microbes breaking down organic matter, cover crops play an important role in nutrient management.

09/30/2026

Want to stay up to date on the latest in conservation in agriculture?

Our newsletter brings you timely insights, new research, farmer resources and upcoming events and opportunities, all delivered directly to your inbox.

Whether you’re looking for practical information to use on the farm or want to keep up with the conservation work happening across Iowa, we’ll keep you in the know.

https://bit.ly/4zE2nh7

09/27/2026

No matter where you farm, conservation is important. But we know not every practice is the right fit for every acre.

A saturated buffer is a conservation practice designed to reduce nitrate loss from agricultural fields before tile drainage water reaches nearby waterways. By redirecting tile drainage water into a perforated pipe beneath a vegetated buffer, the soil and microbes have an opportunity to remove nitrate from the water through natural processes.

What does a site ideally need for a saturated buffer? Find out👇

09/25/2026

Fall cover crop seeding is upon us. It's not too late to make a plan to maximize your odds of success when adding cover crops on your farm.

Interested in finding which cover crop species is a good fit? Find out:

The Agronomy, Horticulture, Plant Pathology, and Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Departments at Iowa State University and the USDA-ARS National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment conduct research and outreach focused on cover crops. Cover crop research projects address their effe...

09/23/2026

Free fall soil sampling spots are filling up fast.

INREC’s Nitrogen Soil Sampling Project is offering free soil sampling and lab testing to eligible farmers across 26 Iowa counties this fall. However, spots are limited.

If you’ve been thinking about signing up, now’s the time. Don’t miss the chance to get field-specific data that can help you better understand residual nitrogen and plan for next year. Deadline is October 2!

Sign up now at bit.ly/4xU4rAa