Governor Terry Branstad declares this week as Water and Soil Conservation Week. Branstad, along with Iowa Ag Secretary Bill Northey, viewed water quality and conservation practices near Madrid Thursday. Northey says more and more Iowa farmers are participating but a big hurdle is money.
?Even though we have a cost-share, it still net costs the farmer some money to be able to invest on their own. But even though they cost some money they can be a benefit. For cover crops, it may be grazing or improving the soil quality and controlling erosion. Some of these other practices don?t have a lot of return for the farmer.?
A saturated buffer zone is a prime example.
?A saturated buffer is a great return for all of us collectively because we improve nitrate but the farmer does not see increased drainage, or improved yields, or a change in soil quality, so these kinds of practices we need to have a greater cost-share.?
The Iowa legislature did not pass a long-term water quality funding bill this last session.
Branstad and Northey are hopeful they will pass a bill next session but plan to waste no time learning and educating others about water quality and conservation practices.
Around 50 people attended the signing ceremony. A few groups who attended include Iowa State University staff, members of the Iowa Soybean Association, and officials from the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
