Resources

Practical info for farmers, fishers and landowners in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin

AGRICULTURAL BEST PRACTICES
Agricultural Best Management Practices Handbook For Minnesota | Minnesota Department Of Ag
Animal Feeding, Nutrient Application & Manure Management | Coalition to Support Iowa Farmers
Best Management Practices | Illinois Council On Best Management Practices
Best Management Practices for Nitrogen Fertilizer| Missouri Department of Agriculture
Conservation Practices Summary | Iowa Corn Growers
Iowa Learning Farms | Iowa State University Extension
Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program | Minnesota Department of Ag
Nitrogen Fertilizer BMPs for Agricultural Lands | Minnesota Department Of Agriculture
Whole Farm Conservation Best Management Practices Manual | Iowa State University Extension

GRAZING
Beginning Grazier Handbook | Sustainable Farming Association
Computing a Pasture Rental Rate | Ag Decision Maker, Iowa State University Extension
Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship
Grassworks
Grazing Management Cost Share options | Missouri DNR
Iowa Forage & Grassland Council
Library of grazing connections & information | Green Lands Blue Waters Midwest Perennial Forage Working Group
Library of grazing management and forage info | Iowa Beef Center, Iowa State University Extension
Marketing & Financials of Grass-fed Beef | Video featuring Rod Ofte, Coon Valley, WI
Midwest Grazing Exchange | Free matchmaking service connects graziers and landowners in IA, IL, IN, MN, MO, WI
Minnesota Grazing Lands Conservation Association
Missouri Forage & Grassland Council
Mob Grazing | 4 videos featuring farmers who use mob grazing | UW Extension
National Grazing Lands Coalition
Pasture Based Dairy | University Of Missouri Extension
Pasture Project at the Wallace Center
Practical Farmers Of Iowa Livestock Program
School For Beginning Dairy & Livestock Farmers | University Of Wisconsin
The Benefits of Rotational Grazing | Video featuring Jim Munsch, UW Grazing Specialist & grazier, Coon Valley, WI
Understanding Limitations to Grass-based Agriculture in the Driftless Region of Illinois and Wisconsin
Watering Systems For Rotational Grazing | Video | University Of Minnesota

COVER CROPS
Considerations for First Time Cover Crop Adopters | Illinois Nutrient Research & Education Council
Cover Crops | UM Extension
Cover Crops | Iowa Learning Farms
Cover Crops | Practical Farmers of Iowa
Learning library from Gabe Brown | Brown’s Ranch, Bismarck, ND
Library of cover crop tools & info | Illinois Department of Agriculture
Midwest Cover Crops Council
Midwest Cover Crops Field Guide | Iowa State University Extension
One Good Idea | Multimedia clearinghouse where farmers share with farmers what they are doing to be successful and profitable with soil health and other stewardship practices
Seeding Cover Crops (Biostrips) & Custom Made Inner Seed Rig | Video with Illinois farmer Andrew Reuschel

SOIL HEALTH
Economics of Soil Health Systems in Midwest Corn & Soy | Soil Health Institute
Minnesota Soil Health Coalition | Mentoring, networking & technical help to make farm management decisions for soil health
Nutrient Management & Conservation for Healthier Soils | Iowa 4R Plus
Soil Health Academy | Courses, videos, webinars, workshops & fact sheets from Ray Archuleta, Gabe Brown & more
Soil Health Assessment Center | Send soil sample to University of Missouri
20 Things Every Farmer Needs to Know | Successful Farming Soil Health Digest
Soil Health Leadership Lab | Technical and support services for farmers
Soil Health Resources | NRCS

FARM MANAGEMENT
Ag Decision Maker | Iowa State University Extension
Annie’s Project: Empowering Women In Agriculture
Beginning Farmer Center | Iowa State University
Beginning Farmers Savings Incentive Program | Practical Farmers of Iowa
Experiential Learning for Beginning Farmers & Ranchers | University of Missouri Extension
Farm Beginnings 12-month course | Land Stewardship Project
Practical Farmers of Iowa | Farm business coaching
Risk & Financial Management | Practical Farmers of Iowa
Wholesale Readiness Training | Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture
Women, Food & Ag Network

Fish & Stream Health

FISH IN THE BASIN
American Fisheries Society | Education and professional development for fisheries professionals
Fishes Of Iowa
Fishes Of Illinois
Fishes Of Minnesota
Fishes of Wisconsin
Missouri Field Guide | Fish

FISH HABITAT CONDITION MAPS
Use these comprehensive Fishers & Farmers Partnership mapbooks as decision-making tools for stream and land management. Files are large, so will take a few minutes to download.
Iowa Fish Habitat Conditions Map Book | Fishers & Farmers Partnership
Illinois Fish Habitat Conditions Map Book | Fishers & Farmers Partnership
Minnesota Fish Habitat Conditions Map Book | Fishers & Farmers Partnership
Missouri Fish Habitat Conditions Map Book | Fishers & Farmers Partnership
Wisconsin Fish Habitat Conditions Map Book | Fishers & Farmers Partnership
Iowa Fish Habitat Health Assessment | Fishers & Farmers Partnership with National Fish Habitat Partnership
Wisconsin Fish Habitat Health Assessment | Fishers & Farmers Partnership with National Fish Habitat Partnership
Missouri Fish Habitat Health Assessment | Fishers & Farmers Partnership with National Fish Habitat Partnership

FISH PASSAGE | PRIVATE LANDOWNERS CAN HELP
Culvert versus Bridge Selection Help | Minnesota Department of Transportation
Fish Passage at Dams Strategic Analysis | Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Minnesota Guide for Stream Connectivity and Aquatic Organism Passage Through Culverts | Minnesota Department of Transportation
Minnesota Statewide Altered Watercourse Project | Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
National Fish Passage Program | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

RIVER RESTORATION & STREAM TOOLS
Fishes of Minnesota Mapper | Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Guidance for Stream Restoration | USDA
Iowa Flood Center
Iowa Rivers Revival
Iowa Stream Restoration Toolkit
River Ecology Unit | Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
River Health & Restoration Workshops | Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
River Restoration | Iowa Department of Natural Resources
River Restoration Tools & Resources | American Rivers
Watershed Health Assessment Framework Tool | Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Fishing

PLACES TO FISH
Iowa
Illinois
Minnesota
Missouri
Wisconsin

GET A FISHING LICENSE
Buy a license online
State Free Fishing Days

FISHING GROUPS
Bass Fishing Clubs | All states
Catfishing Clubs | All states
Eastern Missouri Crappie Club
Fishing Organizations | MInnesota
Hawkeye Fly Fishing Association | Iowa
Iowa Great Lakes Fishing Club
Minnesota Kayak Fishing Association
Missouri Kayak Fishing Association
Muskellunge Club of Wisconsin
Northern Illinois Anglers Association
Salmon Unlimited Wisconsin
Trout Fishing Organizations | Missouri
Trout Unlimited | Search by state
Walleye Fishing Clubs | All states
Wisconsin Smallmouth Alliance
Wisconsin Women Fish
Women Anglers Of Minnesota
Yahara Fishing Club | Wisconsin

FISHING COMPETITION
About Fishing Tournaments
Finding Local Fishing Tournaments for First Timers
National Youth Fishing Association

Leadership for Farms & Streams

A Start-Up Guide For Farmer-Led Watersheds | Resources, video & stories | University of Wisconsin
Beginning Farmer Institute | National Farmers Union
EPA Watershed Academy | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Five Essential Skills for Watershed Leaders | North Central Region Water Network
Indian Creek Watershed Project Keys To Success | Video | Purdue University
Iowa Watershed Academy | Iowa State University
Know Your Watershed | Information for forming a local, voluntary watershed partnership
Leadership for Midwestern Watersheds | Gatherings for people who lead projects that reduce agricultural runoff in the central United States
List of Wisconsin Producer-Led Watershed Groups | UW Extension
Producer-Led Watershed Program | WI Dept. Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection
Questions To Consider When Starting a Farmer-Led Watershed Group | UW Discovery Farms
Tap Your Potential: A training to grow farmer leadership in watershed management | North Central Region Water Network
The Confluence for Watershed Leaders | Online community connecting watershed leaders with peers for advice & opportunity
Workshops + peer-to-peer learning for farmer-led groups| Fishers & Farmers Partnership Watershed Leaders Network
Watershed Specialist Training Program | University of Minnesota

Learning & Assessment Tools

Cover Crop Economic Simulator | Iowa Soybean Association
Farming & Water in the Upper Midwest | Webinar Library | North Central Region Water Network
Resources for Farmer-Led Groups | Printable pdf handout | Fishers & Farmers Partnership
The Watershed Game | University of Minnesota Extension
Field Walkover Guide | Discovery Farms | A practical assessment tool for conservation planning on a farm

Legal Issues

LEASING LAND
A Landowner’s Guide To Leasing Land For Farming | Land For Good
Adapting Crop Share Agreements for Sustainable or Organic Agriculture
Conservation Leases | Land Stewardship Project
Improving Your Farm Lease Contract | Iowa State University Extension
Landowner & Farmer Resources | Drake University Agricultural Law Center
Women, Food & Ag Network Publications
Women Landowners Share Perceptions of Leasing, Conservation and Farmland Transitions | Iowa Extension

FARM TRANSITION
Land Transition Tools | Land Stewardship Project
Farm Transition Library | Ag Decision Maker | Iowa Extension
Farm Transitions | Sustainable Farming Association

LAND TRUSTS
Find a Land Trust | Midwest Land Trust Alliance
How to Conserve Your Land
What is a Land Trust?

WATER LAW
Citizens Guide to Water Use & Regulations | Missouri Department of Conservation
Iowa Drainage Law: A Legal Review | Iowa State University
Search Water Quality Standards by state | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Stream Buffer Law & Buffer Management | Minnesota Board of Water & Soil Resources
Summary of the Clean Water Act | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Local help for issues on your land

If you need support for sustainable farming on your land, improving the condition of a stream on your farm, or learning about fish in your area, start with the groups below.

SUSTAINABLE FARMING

Farm Service Agency (FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) & Rural Development Agency | Find your local USDA service center
Soil & Water Conservation Districts (SWCD) | Find your county conservationist
State Department of Agriculture | Local agronomic staff, programs and grants
Some crop advisors and ag retailers offer conservation planning services
State department of conservation or natural resources | Local forester, stream specialist or wildlife/fisheries biologist
University Extension Service | Education & support for agriculture, food, environment and community

STREAMBANK STABILIZATION
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) | Local staff
Soil & Water Conservation Districts (SWCD) | Find your county conservationist
State department of conservation or natural resources | Local forester, stream specialist or wildlife/fisheries biologist

FISH & STREAM HEALTH
Iowa Department of Natural Resources | Staff & Offices | 515-725-8200
Illinois Department of Natural Resources | 217-782-6302
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources | Rivers & Streams
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources | Contact & Staff Search | 888-646-6367
Missouri Department of Natural Resources Water Protection Program | 800-361-4827
Missouri Department of Conservation | 573-751-4115
Trout Unlimited | Find a chapter near you
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources | Staff Search | 888-936-7463