Month: June 2022

The North Thompson River Water Quality Project is sponsoring a coffee meeting to discuss water quality and soil health.  The event will take place on Tuesday, June 28 from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. at the Lorimor Community Center (503 Main St., Lorimor, IA).

The program includes “All About Prairie Strips” presented by Doug Davenport, “Real Life Experiences with Cover Crops” with local producers Randy Gamble and Jon Peterson, “How To Test Your Own Soil Health / Financial Assistance Available through the Watershed” with project coordinator Jodi Hitz.

This event is free and open to the public.  Coffee, water, and rolls will be provided.  Please RSVP to the Creston Field Office at 641-782-4218 or email Jodi Hitz at jodi.hitz@ia.nacdnet.net.

The North Thompson River Water Quality Project is supported by the Soil and Water Conservation Districts in Adair, Madison, and Union Counties.  The SWCDs are equal opportunity providers and employers. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.  Persons with disabilities who require accommodations to participate in this meeting should contact Jodi Hitz at 641-782-8426 or dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunication relay services. 

On May 27, 2022, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced that cost share is available for soil health and water quality practices through the state’s Water Quality Initiative fund. Read the news release here. 

Practices include cover crops ($15-25/acre), no-till/strip-till ($10/acre), and using a nitrification inhibitor ($3/acre) on up to 160 acres. See flyer for details. To learn more about these conservation practices, visit https://www.cleanwateriowa.org/rural.

In Madison County, cover crops have been the most popular WQI practice. In 2021, Madison SWCD received 19 applications, which resulted in over 2,100 acres being planted to cover crops through the WQI program (not including acres that farmers planted on their own or through other programs). 

First-time users are given priority for funding, but previous users of cover crops are also encouraged to apply. We will accept applications any time between now and when the funding is exhausted, but we strongly encourage applicants to apply early. 

To learn more, or to make an appointment to fill out application materials at the Winterset Field Office, please contact Anna Golightly at 515-462-2961 x 3 or Anna.Golightly@ia.nacdnet.net.