Edge-of-field practices play a large role in meeting the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy goals of improving water quality. The Iowa NRS aims to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus in Iowa?s bodies of water and edge of field practices are being implemented everyday around the state to strive towards that goal.
Drainage water management, bioreactors, buffers, saturated buffers, denitrifying wetlands, terraces and sediment control are all edge-of -field practices that strive to improve Iowa?s water quality. Another practice that is gaining in popularity is the practice of oxbow restoration.
Brandon Iddings is a field services program manager for conservation resources at the Iowa Soybean Association. He works with farmers to help with prairie and oxbow restorations, and other conservation practices. He explains what an oxbow restoration is at a farm in Carroll County.
Iddings says an oxbow restoration aims to restore the water to a similar level and depth as if still connected to a nearby stream or creek.
An oxbow restoration is implemented to work towards the goal of reducing nitrogen and phosphorus in Iowa?s bodies of water, but Iddings says there are added benefits.
If a farmer is interested in an oxbow restoration on their land in Iowa, there are avenues to help with funding the restoration says Iddings.
For more information visit https://www.iasoybeans.com/
