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.
