Projects
Training Conservation Agronomists to Advance Agricultural Water Management
The Agricultural Drainage Management Coalition (ADMC) is expanding education and training opportunities to equip conservation agronomists and Certified Crop Advisors (CCAs) with the knowledge and confidence to help farmers implement effective agricultural water management and conservation drainage practices.
In partnership with the Iowa Soybean Association, ADMC is developing a comprehensive training program that combines on-demand videos, virtual learning sessions, and in-person workshops. The curriculum prepares conservation agronomists to communicate the value of conservation drainage practices, participate in Batch & Build implementation efforts, and understand how practices such as drainage water management, saturated buffers, bioreactors, and wetlands improve both farm productivity and water quality.
ADMC is also collaborating with Heartland Co-op and the Iowa Nutrient Research and Education Council to provide a series of water management trainings for agronomists. The first session, presented at the Agribusiness Association of Iowa Annual Showcase, focused on why in-field nutrient management alone is not sufficient to achieve water quality goals and highlighted the importance of edge-of-field conservation practices. Additional trainings include hands-on instruction in evaluating potential project sites and conducting accurate field surveys, followed by guidance on identifying alternative conservation solutions when edge-of-field practices are not the best fit.
Beyond Iowa, ADMC is working to expand conservation drainage education for Certified Crop Advisors throughout the Midwest. ADMC has presented at the Indiana CCA Winter Conference and is pursuing similar educational opportunities with the Minnesota CCA program. To provide year-round access to professional development, ADMC also offers online continuing education modules that allow CCAs to earn CEUs while learning about conservation drainage systems, agricultural water management, and strategies for helping farmers improve both productivity and water quality.
By investing in agronomist education, ADMC is strengthening the network of trusted agricultural advisors who play a critical role in accelerating the adoption of conservation drainage practices across the United States.
Leading at the Edge: Building Capacity to Scale Edge-of-Field Conservation
The Agricultural Drainage Management Coalition (ADMC), in partnership with the Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS), helped strengthen Iowa's ability to implement edge-of-field water quality practices through a more efficient, watershed-based delivery model. By supporting the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship's (IDALS) Batch and Build approach, ADMC worked to transform conservation practice implementation from individual projects into coordinated, scalable programs.
Throughout the project, ADMC provided technical expertise, project coordination, training, and partnership development to improve the delivery of drainage water management, saturated buffers, denitrifying bioreactors, and other conservation drainage practices. ADMC also worked alongside federal, state, and local partners to streamline implementation processes, improve contractor and project coordinator capacity, and expand collaboration across Iowa's priority watersheds.
Project Highlights
- Surveyed and supported the development of 66 edge-of-field conservation sites across Iowa.
- Assisted project coordinators with technical support, landowner engagement, and post-installation management for 195 conservation practices.
- Developed the Batch and Build Framework and Hub, providing practical tools to improve conservation practice delivery.
- Delivered national webinars, field demonstrations, and professional trainings for conservation practitioners.
- Hosted conservation drainage management resources and practice maintenance tools on the Conservation Drainage Network website.
- Helped secure an additional $480,000 to expand and improve the Batch and Build model throughout the Midwest.
- Strengthened partnerships with USDA-NRCS, IDALS, conservation districts, agribusinesses, municipalities, and nonprofit organizations to advance innovative public-private implementation models.
Project Impact
This project established a stronger foundation for large-scale conservation drainage implementation by improving coordination, reducing delivery barriers, and creating repeatable processes that can be adopted across the Midwest. ADMC's work has helped position Iowa as a national leader in scalable edge-of-field conservation while accelerating the adoption of practices that improve water quality, enhance agricultural productivity, and support long-term watershed resilience.
Modern Approaches to Conservation Drainage Design
The Agricultural Drainage Management Coalition (ADMC) is helping expand the technical capacity needed to accelerate the adoption of conservation drainage practices across the Midwest. Through the Modern Approaches to Conservation Drainage Design training, ADMC partnered with the Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership (ISAP), The Nature Conservancy, and other conservation organizations to deliver advanced training for engineers, drainage contractors, surveyors, drainage officials, and conservation professionals.
This hands-on training equips participants with the knowledge and practical skills needed to evaluate, design, and implement edge-of-field conservation practices including drainage water management, woodchip bioreactors, saturated buffers, and constructed wetlands. By combining classroom instruction with real-world design exercises and field applications, the program helps build a larger network of qualified professionals capable of delivering high-quality conservation drainage projects.
The workshop also introduces participants to innovative planning and implementation tools such as the Ag Conservation Planning Framework (ACPF) and scalable delivery models like Iowa's Batch & Build approach. These strategies improve project efficiency, strengthen collaboration among conservation partners, and help move more conservation drainage projects from planning to installation.
Project Impact
One of the greatest barriers to expanding conservation drainage is the limited number of trained professionals who can design and deliver these specialized practices. ADMC is working to close that gap by increasing technical expertise, supporting Technical Service Provider (TSP) development, and fostering collaboration among public agencies, private consultants, contractors, and conservation organizations.
By investing in education and workforce development, ADMC is helping create the capacity needed to scale conservation drainage across the Midwest—improving water quality, supporting productive agriculture, and providing farmers with practical solutions for managing water while reducing nutrient loss.
Partners of the ADMC
