Profiling Iowa's Conservation Successes in 2012 & 2013
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Premier Iowa Hay Grower Discovers Soil Health with No-Till Alfalfa
Adair County farmer Dennis Lundy began no-tilling alfalfa hay for the first time five years ago to prevent soil erosion on his rolling, highly erosive Shelby soils. Now, he is not only reducing soil erosion but also improving his soil health and achieving better alfalfa stands.
Lundy (PDF, 2 MB) | (html)
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Good Practices Ensure Healthy Soils
Wade Mitchell of Tama County is farming with soil health and protection as his primary goal, and producing better yields - naturally.
Mitchell (PDF, 2 MB) | (html)
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Neglected Forest Now Picture Perfect
A recently completed tree thinning project on 90 acres of Clarke County woodlands will provide many benefits to a hardwood stand of hickory, oak and walnut trees neglected for decades.
Pollard (PDF, 3 MB) | (html)
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Iowa Landowner Continues Husband's Conservation Legacy
Pancreatic cancer ended Iowa farmer Al Wernimont’s life in November 2011, but not before his 30 years of conservation achievements were rewarded by a Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) contract. His wife, Kris, chose to continue their CSP contract and Al’s conservation legacy after working closely with USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) staff in Atlantic, Iowa.
Kris Wernimont (PDF, 2 MB) | (html)
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Despite Tough Working Conditions, Garcia Builds Foundation for Successful Organic Farm
The summer of 2012 wasn’t a good time to start growing organic fruits and vegetables or graze livestock for Woodward farmer Christopher Garcia. Produce required immeasurable amounts of water and attention, and livestock needed hay to supplement drought-affected pasture. If there was a silver lining in what was an otherwise dreadful summer, it was Garcia’s new business plan and infrastructure needed to build a successful future.
Christopher Garcia (PDF, 3 MB) | (html)
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Iowa Farmer Credits USDA Conservation Program for Small Farm Development
An operator of a small Woodward farm credits USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) with helping to raise his business to the “next level.” Rick Hornsby says NRCS provided sound conservation planning advice and financial assistance to implement new practices that take advantage of existing resources for water supply and help livestock graze more efficiently.
Rick Hornsby (PDF, 3.2 MB) | (html)
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Non-disturbance Practices Help Menke Through Drought
Ray Menke of rural Fort Madison admits the main reason he switched to no-till farming in 1987 was his inability to afford new expensive farm equipment and machinery. Now, 25 years later, Menke is still leaving the soil undisturbed and he’s reaping the benefits during this year’s extreme drought.
Ray Menke (PDF, 2 MB) | (html)
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Seasonal High Tunnel Systems Promote Plant Health, Provide Longer Growing Season
February is typically a few months before Iowa planters begin to roll, but for some farmers the late winter months are the start to a ten-month growing season.
Seasonal high tunnels are designed to extend the growing season of fruits and vegetables while providing protection from outside factors like wind and insects. High tunnels improve the profitability of crops and maximize farm productivity.
Seasonal High Tunnels (PDF, 1.7 MB) | (html)
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New Wetland to Improve Water Quality in West Lake
A newly created private wetland in Clarke County north of West Lake is now protecting this public drinking water source for the city of Osceola and other county residents.
Landowner John Aschenbrenner utilized a conservation practice called Wetland Creation to dam a 23-acre pool area on bottom ground along South Squaw Creek. The wetland collects water from 3,820 acres above it – nearly 60 percent of West Lake’s 6,400-acre drainage area. The wetland will act like a water purification plant helping to remove chemicals and filter out sediment.
Aschenbrenner (PDF, 1 MB) | (html)
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From Concrete to CSP for Conservation Stewardship
When Brent and Teresa Voss moved to rural Dexter in 1994 they viewed it as more of a place to settle their concrete/foundation business than to develop a large farming operation. But that soon changed. Just a week after purchasing their home property, they bought a nearby 80 acres of farmland.
Nearly two decades later the couple still has their booming concrete business – Voss Concrete, Inc. – but they also have a booming farming operation with 2,000 acres of crop, hay and pastureland, as well as 300 cows and between 500-1,000 feeder cattle.
Voss (PDF, 1 MB) | (html)
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Cover Crop Club Learning to Manage Practice Together
Trying something new and innovative is always easier when you can learn from someone else’s experience. For a small group of innovative Pottawattamie County farmers experimenting with cover crops, that someone else is Pete Hobson.
Cover Crop Club (PDF, 1.5 MB) | (html)
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