What if your unproductive and oversaturated ground could become an asset for your farm? On this episode of Pods of Potential, past ISA President Tom Adam and his son Eric Adam join ISA Conservation Services Manager Alex Buseman to discuss the value of wetland restoration. The episode begins with a look back at Tom’s year as president, including the accomplishments he is most proud of. The father-son duo then shares why conservation is an important part of their operation and how a wetland restoration project will benefit their Keokuk County farm. Discover how a wetland can mitigate flooding, enhance water quality and support native wildlife.

Finding the right nitrogen rate can be difficult, but the Iowa Nitrogen Initiative’s N-FACT tool helps take the guesswork out of the process. ISA Conservation Agronomist Evan Brehm and Nitrogen Initiative Project Director Melissa Miller share how data from on-farm nitrogen trials is helping farmers improve nutrient management through a new online tool. Explore how applying the right source, at the right rate, at the right time and in the right place can increase profitability on your farm and reduce nitrates leaving your field.

Restoring natural oxbows can turn your challenging wet areas into native wildlife habitat and dependable watering sources for livestock. In this episode of Pods of Potential, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Iowa Private Lands Coordinator Drew Diallesandro joins ISA Senior Conservation Services Manager Brandon Iddings to discuss the oxbow restoration process. Learn how restored oxbows benefit farms by improving wildlife habitat, supporting flood mitigation and creating a productive use for excavated soil. They also discuss how partnering with the Iowa Soybean Association makes restoration a simple, no-cost process for landowners.

Farmers across Iowa are turning to water monitoring to evaluate nutrient efficiency and enhance water quality. In this episode of Pods of Potential, Iowa Soybean Association Water Lab Service Manager Tony Seeman and Heartland Co-op Strategic Partnership Coordinator Thomas Fawcett discuss how water monitoring helps farmers determine if current management practices are effective and identify conservation practices that may reduce nutrient loss. Explore how Iowa farmers, commodity groups and ag retailers are working together through Agriculture’s Clean Water Alliance to enhance water quality across the state using water monitoring results.

Protecting soil health and water quality is a priority for Iowa farmers. But what role do public policy and checkoff-funded research play in conservation adoption?

In this episode of Pods of Potential, ISA Chief Officer of Demand and Advocacy Matt Herman, Story County farmer Dave Struthers and Iowa State University Professor Michael Castellano discuss the impacts of corn stover removal and conservation practices on Iowa's farming landscape and policy arena.

Explore conservation from multiple perspectives: the research behind it, a farmer’s why behind implementing it and the policies that shape it. Learn how in-field agronomic benefits, policy incentives and research findings influence how farmers adopt conservation practices.

This episode of Pods of Potential is partially funded by the soybean checkoff.

Farmers across Iowa use tile systems to drain excess water from their farm fields. But did you know tile drainage can be paired with a buffer strip to enhance water quality? Iowa Soybean Association Conservation Agronomist Alex Logan joins Jake Luft and John Alhers of Luft & Sons Farm Drainage Solutions to explain how conservation practices can work alongside pattern tiling. They walk through simple, cost-effective water quality practices and how they help remove nitrates from the water leaving your field tile.

When every bushel counts, inputs need to generate a return on investment. Explore ways to reduce input costs for greater margins as Clay County farmer Paul Kassel and ISA Technical Insights Manager Rosie Koch share findings from checkoff-funded fungicide, sulfur and seeding rate research trials. Learn how unbiased, farmer-led research can guide your 2026 growing season decisions in this episode of Pods of Potential and the latest edition of the RCFI Insights Report.