The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is partnering with Polk County, the City of Des Moines and Des Moines Waterworks to increase cover crop utilization in the Des Moines and Raccoon River watersheds. Under the cooperate agreement that was announced Thursday, Polk County will purchase equipment used to seed cover crops with assistance from the other partners. The high-clearance equipment will permit planting before fields are harvested, allowing for nearly year-round field coverage. The Iowa Department of Ag will reimburse Polk County up to $350,000, sourced from the Iowa Water Quality Initiative, based on how many acres of cover crops are planted in central Iowa. Des Moines Water Works CEO, Ted Corrigan, says, “Improving surface water quality and protecting our natural resources is critical to our mission of providing safe, affordable drinking water to 600,000 customers in urban, suburban and rural areas of central Iowa. We are happy to support this innovative project and work with these valued partners toward a shared goal.” The Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy has identified expanded use of cover crops as one of the best ways to improve water quality in the state. The Racoon River watershed includes Buena Vista, Sac, Calhoun, Carroll, Greene and Guthrie Counties.
