SOIL 2019 – Program
SOIL 2019: Searching for Creative Solutions for Our Water and Land
Monday November 4, 2019 – Olmsted Center, Drake University
SOIL 2019 was organized and hosted by the Drake University Agricultural Law Center. Financial support was provided by the Amy P. Goldman Foundation, Des Moines Water Works, and USDA National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment. The conference was held in cooperation with Iowa Interfaith Power and Light, the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, and the University of Iowa Flood Center.
Schedule of Events
7:30 am – 8:20 am – Registration and Breakfast
8:20 am – 8:30 am – Welcome – Prof. Jennifer Zwagerman, director, Drake University Agricultural Law Center
8:30 am – 8:45 am – Conference Kickoff – Why Iowa Needs New Thinking about Protecting Water and Land – Prof. Neil Hamilton, Drake University, conference host and organizer
8:45 am – 10:00 am – Do We Need 5 R’s? – Chris Jones and Larry Weber from the University of Iowa’s Hydrology lab, Iowa City, with Susan Judkins, president, Watershed Management Authorities of Iowa
10:00 am – 10:15 am – Networking Break
10:15 am – 11:15 am – Soils: We Can Do Better – Dr. Jerry Hatfield, director, USDA National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment, Ames, with Ray Gaesser and Katie Rock
11:20 am – 12:20 pm – The Values of Farmer Led Climate Action: the moral call to stewardship AND real money! – Matt Russell, Iowa Interfaith Power & Light, with Justin Jordan, Iowa farmer, andMollie Aronowitz, People’s Company
12:20 pm – 1:30 pm – Luncheon Panel discussion: Spending formula if IWILL tax increase passes:
- Rep. Chris Hall, Sioux City, confirmed,
- Rep. John Wills, Spirit Lake, confirmed,
- Ray Gaesser, Corning, Iowa farm leader,
- Joe McGovern, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, moderator
1:30 pm – 2:15 pm – Public Health Issues and Increased Water-based Recreation – Dr. Peter Levi, Drake University and Patricia Boddy, PE, Great Outdoors Foundation President, with Ted Corrigan, interim director, Des Moines Water Works.
2:15 pm – 3:15 pm – A Green Infrastructure Fund and Re-energized SWCDs – John Norwood, Polk County Soil and Water Conservation District, commissioner, with Robert Brownell, Polk County Supervisor, and Rich Leopold, director, Polk County Conservation Board
3:15 pm – 3:30 pm – Networking Break
3:30 pm – 4:15 pm – Using Conservation Easements to Protect Public Values on Private Lands – Joe McGovern and Anna Gray, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF), with Seth Watkins, Pinhook Farm
4:15 pm – 5:15 pm – Missing Links: Adding a Real Policy Strategy to the Nutrient Reduction Strategy – Prof. Neil Hamilton, Drake University, an open discussion with conference attendees
