Addressing the opportunities and challenges facing agriculture and natural resources through broad-ranging innovations is the guiding mission of the Iowa State University Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station (AES) and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. They leverage crucial federal support to create new technologies, educate the future workforce and deliver practical solutions to farmers, communities and businesses in Iowa and beyond. Iowa State joins other land-grants to advance our nation’s farms and rural economies, improving public health and securing the food supply.
Innovation Puts Farmers First
Improving farm profitability through Planter University
- Iowa State’s Digital Ag Innovation Team links research and extension experts with private-sector collaborators to improve farm productivity and profitability. For example, Planter University workshops help farmers and agricultural service providers improve understanding of planter calibration and optimized seed settings to maximize their yield potential of their equipment through the application of technology.
- In 2025, surveys of 329 Planter University trainees report changes made as a result of the training would have a combined impact on their farming operation of over $3.3 million.
- Five trainings are scheduled for early 2026. Similar “universities” on sprayers, drones and harvesters are coming.
Optimizing nutrient management through new tools
- The Iowa Nitrogen Initiative enables Iowa farmers to use more precise agronomic approaches, based on over 1,000 on-farm nitrogen trials in multiple farm systems.
- The related Nitrogen Fertilization Application Consultation Tool (N-FACT) helps farmers refine N management for productivity, profitability and environmental performance.
Ensuring cybersecurity for Iowa ag
- ISU Extension and Outreach Farm Management Team and Iowa State’s Center for Cybersecurity Innovation and Outreach partnered to educate farmers and rural businesses on best practices to safeguard digital assets, financial records and sensitive farm data.
- Workshops, webinars and guides have reached more than 2,630 farmers through 133 programs and online resources, with value added by the ISU Translational AI Center.
Training for on-the-ground impact
- The 2025 Strip Tillage Field Day engaged 192 participants from 40 Iowa counties, 13 states, and Canada.
- Survey responses showed 35% of attendees were influenced to adopt strip tillage and 10% were influenced to purchase a different strip-till bar.
- Farmers estimated the information gained was worth an average of $9,390, and agribusinesses valued it at $107,377, totaling $1.1 million in reported impact.
Combatting relentless crop pest
- The award-winning SCN Coalition helps farmers combat the relentless soil-borne soybean cyst nematode, a major biotic enemy of soybean.
- ProfitChecker, a free online tool from the SCN Coalition, has been used by nearly 90,000 U.S. farmers and crop advisors since it was introduced in 2023.
Supporting soil health practices through research
- Studies have shown that prairie strips established in approximately 10% of a field can significantly increase biodiversity and pollinator habitat, reduce erosion and improve water quality. However, strips’ impacts on soil health have remained largely unexamined until now.
- Findings from the new research, published recently, showed that prairie strips improved eight out of 12 soil health measures within 10-12 years and increased several others at lower levels.
- Related studies show potential for broader, long-term soil health and yield boosts from rotating strips within fields.
Today’s Businesses, Tomorrow’s Workforce
Fostering economic development through food innovation
- The Center for Crops Utilization Research and the Iowa Food Innovation and Business Hub foster economic development in crop and food innovation through technical and business assistance to Iowa farm and food entrepreneurs.
- During the Food Innovation and Business Hub’s first year, the Farm, Food and Enterprise Development team assisted 710 businesses.
Discovering “pixie” gene in corn
- A breakthrough discovery by Iowa State plant scientists offers plant breeders a new genetic tool to develop dwarf varieties of corn.
- The research has led to a provisional patent for short-stature corn that could be highly productive, wind-resilient and require reduced inputs of water and nutrients.
Learning platform supports seed technology and business graduates
- Iowa State’s Seed Technology and Business Graduate Program’s Global Webinar Series provides a vital learning platform for seed industry professionals with live sessions spotlighting current topics, including seed regulations, government relations, global biotechnology trends and seed testing innovations.
- The program received top honors at the 2025 CASE Circle of Excellence Awards.
Leading national AI literacy initiative
- In collaboration with Iowa State’s Translational AI Center, Iowa 4-H is helping lead National 4-H’s new education initiative to expand AI literacy and career readiness.
- Approximately 2,000 Iowa youth participated in AI workforce skill-building instruction valued at $600,000 in today’s market.
Solutions for Iowa Communities
Helping local interests strategize for community prosperity, housing
- By leveraging Iowa Economic Development Authority grants, 63 communities have developed plans to improve housing stock through ISU Extension and Outreach’s Rural Housing Readiness Assessment.
- Thirty-six of these communities have sparked over $159 million in housing investment, with an additional $118 million planned.
- CALS programs like the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development and Data Science for the Public Good support local communities, business and industry in many ways.
More About CALS
Ag Research Advances Iowa
The Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station -- the research division of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences – helps Iowa remain a world leader in food production and addresses societal issues linked to agriculture, economic development, life sciences, the environment, families and communities.
The college is one of eight at Iowa State University, which is one of the most influential land grant universities in the nation.
- The college ranked in the top 3% worldwide among 477 institutions in 2025 and has ranked among the top 4% worldwide for 12 consecutive years. (QS World University Rankings, agricultural and forestry programs).
- Iowa State’s agricultural and biosystems engineering programs consistently rank amongst the top nationwide (U.S. News & World Report).
- The Experiment Station has attracted approximately $61 million in external funding in each of the last five years.
- The college has 305 tenure/tenure eligible faculty, 103 term faculty, 300 professional and scientific staff and 15 merit staff in 14 departments. The college has 54 named faculty positions. Eight departments are co-administered by another college.
Extension Serves All Iowa Counties
With a presence in each of Iowa’s 99 counties, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach serves Iowans daily, delivering science-based information and education vital to farmers, businesses, communities, consumers, families, and youth. For example, extension’s Agriculture and Natural Resources unit includes 92 faculty and staff in seven departments, as well as 38 field specialists across Iowa. 4-H Youth Development includes 27 campus faculty and staff, 18 field specialists throughout the state and youth coordinators in all counties. Extension professionals listen to understand needs and emerging issues and help Iowans plan for the future.
Review the 2025 impact report from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
The CALS Advantage for Students
The college prepares leaders who will meet future challenges and offers students robust opportunities to learn their disciplines and gain skills in fields such as innovation and entrepreneurship, communications, animal science and precision agriculture. Extensive study-away offerings also expand horizons to apply knowledge and gain cultural competency. Public/private investments support state-of-the-art laboratories, classrooms and student learning spaces, including the Student Innovation Center, the BioCentury Research Farm, the Iowa State University Kent Feed Mill and Grain Science Complex, the Stanley L. Balloun Turkey Teaching and Research Facility and on research farms across the state.
- CALS offers 28 undergraduate majors and 35 graduate programs.
- Total enrollment in fall 2025 was 4,284 students. Approximately 3,600 students enrolled in at least one online course during the 2024-25 academic year.
- CALS leads the campus in first-year retention rates and has the highest four-year graduation rate.
- CALS hosts the nation’s largest career fair. Placement has been 97% or higher for 26 consecutive years.
- CALS provides approximately $4 million in scholarships annually.
- Around 100 students take the Start Something College of Agriculture and Life Sciences capstone course each year. At the end of the semester, the students present business plans to investors and entrepreneurs.
- Science With Practice allows students to work with faculty mentors who are international experts, while earning credits and a paycheck.