Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, alongside Bryan Whaley, CEO of the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, announced the second phase of the Cattle and Conservation Working Lands program, which debuted in 2016. This second phase expands to 22 counties within the Greater Des Moines watershed and increases the program area. Erin Ogle, Project Coordinator for the Taylor Soil and Water Conservation District, present at the event, says the announcement brings exciting news.
Ogle says the need for clean water concerns everyone, whether you are a farmer or not, and the program’s goal of implementing conservation practices will help by improving soil and water quality.
Ogle says producers can get involved by reaching out, or the program can reach out to them. Ultimately, she highlights the importance of a two-way relationship for success.
Ogle describes how the program typically runs on Iowa farms and provides resources and support to help farmers adopt conservation practices.
The program debuted in 2016 through a pilot project in Taylor County and then expanded to more counties. This second phase aims to scale up upstream conservation practices to improve downstream water quality. The financial incentive provided through cost-sharing helps producers convert underperforming or highly erodible acres of row crops into pasture or hay ground.
