ISG and the Iowa Soybean Association, along with all of the members of the North & Middle Rivers Watershed Management Authority (WMA), invite you to attend a watershed planning kick-off meeting!  The two meetings will be open house style, with light appetizers served. 

• Wednesday, November 13 at Middleswart Lodge (15875 118th Avenue, Indianola) in Warren County from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.

• Thursday, November 14 at the Jackson Building at the Madison County Fairgrounds (1146 West Summit Street, Winterset) from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.

Come meet local conservation professionals, share valuable insight on natural resources in the watersheds, and learn about the planning process. We are looking forward to hearing from YOU!  Your feedback will be used to help develop the Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan for North the Middle Rivers WMA.

To learn more about the North & Middle Rivers WMA, visit: https://www.madison-swcd.org/nmrwma/

For more information about the meetings:

November 13 in Warren County:

• Facebook Event:  https://www.facebook.com/events/1601941404093711
• Info from Iowa Soybean Association:  Upcoming Meetings About the North/Central River Watershed

November 14 in Madison County:

• Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/999946641844485
• Info from Iowa Soybean Association: Meeting About the North/Central River Watershed in Winterset

The first application cutoff for Iowa farmers and other private landowners to apply for conservation practices in Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 through USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) programs is Nov. 22.

NRCS accepts conservation program applications on a continuous basis but sets application cutoff dates as funding allows. Iowa agricultural producers and private landowners can apply for NRCS conservation program funding by visiting their local NRCS office. Iowa has 100 NRCS field offices, located at USDA Service Centers in every county.

The Nov. 22 application cutoff includes the following NRCS Farm Bill programs:

• Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)
• Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
• Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)

To read the full News Release on the NRCS website, visit: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/conservation-basics/conservation-by-state/iowa/news/iowa-nrcs-sets-nov-22-cutoff-for-conservation

The North Thompson River Water Quality Project, which is overseen by the Adair, Madison, and Union County Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs), has an opening for a Project Coordinator.  The position can be full-time or part-time, and the duty station is negotiable between the USDA Service Centers in Madison County (Winterset) and Union County (Creston). 

The primary objectives of the project are to improve water quality in the North Thompson River by reducing sediment delivery from erosion on cropland and pastureland by installing planned Best Management Practices (BMPs) such as Grassed Waterways, Terraces, Water and Sediment Control Basins, and Grade Stabilization Structures.  Some of the main job duties include outreach activities, assisting with planning, implementing and certifying BMPs, evaluating environmental benefits of practices, helping to update the watershed assessment, and tracking and reporting progress.   

More details about the position, including instructions on how to apply, can be found in the position announcement below. 

The application deadline is Wednesday, October 30, 2024. 

To learn more about the North Thompson River Water Quality Project, visit this page.