AMES, Iowa – Seventeen Iowa landowners recently graduated from the 2025 Landowner Education Program, organized by Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach, according to officials.

This educational initiative aims to equip landowners with essential skills to improve soil health, apply conservation practices, and communicate effectively with tenants or family, the officials said, with participants also building a strong network with conservation professionals and fellow landowners. The program features five in-person and two virtual educational events to help landowners improve the environmental and economic resiliency of their land through soil health practices.

Officials said the program is intended for Iowa agricultural landowners who want to learn about practices such as reduced tillage, cover crops and perennials, understanding the important financial and legal considerations of adopting these practices, and building a supportive network of conservation professionals and peers.

“In Iowa, 58 percent of farmland is leased, and those who own the land but do not farm it have varying levels of engagement with its soil, water resources and habitat,” said Catherine DeLong, ISU extension water quality program manager and program co-leader.

“Our goal is to help landowners focus on the ‘how’: how to take care of their soil, how to navigate financial programs to help cover the cost, and how to talk with family members or tenants about changes,” she added.

She told Farm World, “The Landowner Education Program started in 2024. The main goal is to help landowners navigate the financial, legal and relational aspects of building soil health on their farmland. Program sessions take place in June and July, and are in-person in central Iowa. There are five sessions; each session is about three hours.”

Brandon and Hannah Kerkhoff, Templeton, Iowa, beginning landowners and members of the 2025 graduating class, said the program will help them practice conservation methods more confidently.

“We’ve always dabbled in conservation practices, but the knowledge we have gained from this program has made us more confident using those continuously,” Hannah said.

Brandon added, “After each meeting, there was always a piece of information we learned that was something new. It was great to get that. It’s the small things that can help us make a big difference.”

To apply, DeLong said landowners fill out a short application that asks questions about their current land management and goals.

“If they are accepted into the program, they will also be asked to fill out a short survey so we can curate our education to their needs,” she said. “We encourage participants whose land is primarily in row crop production as our program focuses on the soil health benefits of reduced tillage, cover crops and perennials. We currently have grant funding to offer the program at no cost in 2026.

“After 2026, we will charge for attendance and shift to offering the program every other year,” she added. “We have also discussed moving it to other areas of the state such as Iowa City and Coralville.”