Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced a new state-funded conservation cost-share pilot project on Monday for farmers and landowners to improve water quality. The Streamside Buffer Initiative is an effort to encourage farmers and landowners to establish perennial buffers in fields located in watersheds upstream from Des Moines and Cedar Rapids, thereby preventing nutrients from entering the water source. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) is allocating $3 million from Iowa’s Water Quality Initiative (WQI) to support this project. A majority of Calhoun and Greene County, including the eastern half of Sac and the northeast corner of Carroll County, are all eligible due to being in the North Raccoon Watershed. Naig is excited to introduce the pilot program, saying, “The Department has invested more than $65.8 million in conservation practices and technical support in the Des Moines and Cedar Rapids basins since 2003, and we’re proud of the work that’s been done and the progress that’s been made to implement the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy. We recognize there’s still a tremendous amount of work to do, especially in these watersheds, because they provide source water for the state’s largest metropolitan areas. The Streamside Buffer Initiative is yet another example of my commitment to empowering farmers and landowners to adopt the conservation practices that are right for their fields in a way that has a meaningful impact on soil health and water quality.” The streamside buffer zones have specific requirements to meet in order to be approved for cost-share funding. Harvested buffers will receive a one-time payment of $250 per acre for establishment cost, and $1,500 per acre for reimbursement of foregone income, with non-harvested buffers receiving a one-time payment of $500 per acre and $3,000 per acre for compensation of land loss. Participants are still encouraged to practice additional conservation practices, such as saturated buffers and bioreactors, for enhanced water quality benefits. Individuals interested in enrolling in the program should visit their local USDA Service Center for more information. Contact details for individuals in the listening area can be found included below.
1 North Raccoon Watershed
Carrie Tolzin-Wernimount : carrington.tolzin@iowaagricutlure.gov
712-732-3096
2 North Raccoon Watershed
TJ Lynn: tj.lynn@iowaagriculture.gov
515-344-9745
