Advanced RUSLE2 Workshop for Manure Management Plan Writers on August 4th

An Advanced Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE2 workshop) has been scheduled for service providers and producers who are working with RUSLE2 and Iowa P-Index to develop manure management plans. The workshop will be held at the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Polk County office, 1625 Adventureland Drive, Suite A, Altoona, on Aug. 4, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

This workshop will enable participants to explore practice-based changes that can be designed to reduce erosion. It will focus on principles governing conservation practices both in RUSLE2 and the Iowa Phosphorus Index. Participants will learn about common tillage and rotation-based errors as well as how to divide fields for calculating the P-Index. Participants will also learn about setting up different managements in RUSLE2.

Use of aerial imagery to identity conservation practices installed in Iowa farm fields will be discussed in depth. This workshop is a collaborative effort between USDA NRCS, Iowa DNR and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. The workshop qualifies for six Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) Credits (6SW) and three Professional Development Hours (PDH). Participation certificates will be provided upon completion of the workshop.

Registration is open to all service providers, producers, CNMP/NMP/MMP writers and agency staff who are interested in learning in-depth knowledge about RUSLE2 operations and conservation practices. Participants are expected to have basic operating knowledge of RUSLE2 software and Iowa P-Index Calculator. Each registrant must bring a laptop computer pre-loaded with the latest version of RUSLE2. Class size is limited to 30 participants.

The workshop will be conducted by Kapil Arora, field agricultural engineer with ISU Extension and Outreach; Barb Stewart, retired agronomist; Don Carrington and Nichole Williams, USDA NRCS; and Jeremy Klatt of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Registration is $200 through Aug. 1 and $225 after. Fees include lunch, refreshments and workshop materials. Refunds will only be issued for written requests received before 5 p.m. on Aug. 1. A $25 processing fee applies to all refunded amounts. Registration can be completed online at https://go.iastate.edu/YOLBPR or by mailing in the registration form available at https://bit.ly/3NvIbEC with fees.

For more information, contact Arora at 515-291-0174 or the ISU Extension and Outreach Polk County office at 515-957-5760.