Profiling Iowa's Conservation Successes
Soil at Heart of Conservation Decisions
Iowa NRCS Area Resource Soil Scientist Jason Steele uses his farming experience to help train staff and build strong relationships with farmers.
Beyond the Surface: How NRCS Engineers Help Plan and Maintain Iowa Watersheds
Engineers with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) conducted a bathymetric survey to track sediment buildup and long-term capacity changes in a Badger Creek Watershed structure in Madison County, Iowa.
Third NRCS DC in 81 Years Set to Retire in Keokuk County
When Larry Stevens retires as a District Conservationist (DC) for USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) at the end of 2024, it will end the tenure of only the third Keokuk County DC in 81 years.
NRCS Helps Long Walk Farm Achieve Conservation Goals
A southwest Iowa couple is benefitting from USDA-NRCS conservation assistance to protect the soil and water resources on their small-scale farm outside Council Bluffs, allowing the operators to reach their long-term goals.
Determination to Thrive Earns Beringer-Crock Woman Conservationist of the Year
Lillie Beringer-Crock strengthens her family’s legacy at Beringer Family Farm through conservation, grit, and creative thinking.
CSP Helps Rooneys Take Conservation to Next Level
CSP enhancements are pushing Rooney Farms, LLC to the next level of conservation, as the family farming operators experience the soil health, water quality and economic benefits of no-till farming, nutrient management, and cover crops.
Working Lands in Working Hands
The McLaughlin family partnered with the Iowa Natural Heritgage Foundation to place 107 acres of their Madison County farm into an Ag Land Easement through NRCS, protecting the long-term future of the farm.
Harrison County Landowner Champions Wildlife Conservation and Veteran Support
Disabled Vietnam War Veteran Mike Ziemba transformed 40 acres in Harrison County into a sanctuary for peace and personal recovery.
Technology Helps Kingland Target, Apply Conservation
Winnebago County farmer Mark Kingland is utilizing technology such as yield monitors to help him decide where to locate conservation practices and a drone to plant cover crop seed, which will help treat natural resource concerns on his cropland.
Faith, Responsibility Motivate Longtime No-Tiller Ray Gaesser
Adams County farmer Ray Gaesser uses his faith and responsibility to future generations as motivation for applying soil health-improving conservation practices like no-till and cover crops on his farm.
Vision for Sustainability Earns Maulsby 2023 Iowa Conservation Woman of the Year
Darcy Maulsby is inspiring and connecting generations and communities through her decades of conservation stewardship. For her efforts, Maulsby was selected Iowa Conservation Woman of the Year by the USDA-NRCS at the Conservation Districts of Iowa (CDI) Annual Conference Aug. 28 in Ames.
Family Legacy Continues with Help from CSP
Southwest Iowa farmer Brent Leighton is utilizing assistance through USDA’s Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) to continue his family’s conservation legacy by adopting practices that reduce soil erosion, improve water quality, and add wildlife habitat to their 3,500-acre family farm.
Wildlife Practices Go 'Hand In Hand' with Soil Health
Maple Edge Farm, led by Jon Bakehouse, is turning over a new leaf by adding about 150 trees and shrubs and many other wildlife-friendly practices through Conservation Stewardship Program enhancements to go along with many soil health-improving practices.
Iowa Organic Farm Grows Non-Traditional Opportunities for New Farmers
Meet Hannah Breckbill of Humble Hands Harvest in Decorah, Iowa. The 22-acre, worker-owned, cooperative organic farm, established in 2016, grows about 30 types of vegetables, fruit and nut trees and grass-finished lamb.
Efficient Lighting Improves Iowa Dairy Operation
Dairy farm operators with Distant View Farms in Allamakee County, Iowa, are reaping the benefits of an energy efficient lighting system they implemented in 2017 in their large dairy barns with financial and planning assistance from NRCS.
High Tunnels Help Junge Grow Produce Business
Adam Junge’s budding produce business near Underwood in southwest Iowa is about to grow even more with help from NRCS. Junge is installing a high tunnel this fall with assistance through USDA’s High Tunnel System Initiative to help improve his overall operation.
Prairie Passion Earns Irvine 2022 Iowa Conservation Woman of the Year
Cathy Irvine's generosity and commitment to creating wildlife habitat an education centerpiece on her farm contributed to her being named the 2022 Iowa Conservation Woman of the Year.
For the Birds: Spechts Preserving Clayton County Farm with Ag Land Easement
Phil Specht’s philosophy when it comes to managing his Clayton County farm overlooking the Bloody Run Creek valley in northeast Iowa is to keep grass on the ground and keep his cattle moving.
Nelson Adopts Soil Saving Practices for Long-Term Stability
Feeling a responsibility to keep the family farm in good shape for future generations, Buena Vista County farmer Aaron Nelson is using conservation management practices such as cover crops, no-till, and strip-till to keep the soil in place and improve overall soil health.
Teachout Succeeding by Returning to His Cover Crop Roots
Chris Teachout – an innovative Fremont County farmer and the 2017 Iowa Conservation Farmer of the Year – is continuing his conservation efforts in hopes of inspiring and encouraging farmers and the next generation of producers to focus on improving soil health.
Nitrogen Management Key to Corn Success Following Rye
Delaware County farmer Kevin Glanz is challenging research studies and squashing the popular belief that planting a cereal rye cover crop ahead of corn hurts yields.
Eells Named 2021 Iowa Conservation Woman of the Year
Dr. Jean Eells was named 2021 Iowa Conservation Woman of the Year for her contributions to conservation and the improvement of Iowa's natural resources conservation through achievements on her land, career and voluntary efforts.
CRP in the City
Neighbors add CRP in the Mechanicsville city limits, much to the delight of the community.
Will Cannon: The Trusted Tenant
Focus on the biology of the soil – instead of the chemistry of farming – and find the most efficient equipment for seeding cover crops. That’s advice Jasper County farmer Will Cannon gives to Iowa corn and soybean producers struggling to establish cover crops on their farms.
Adjoining Easements Form Wetland Complex
A collaborative effort between rural Winnebago County landowners, local, state, and federal government agencies, and non-profit conservation groups have helped restore nearly 1,000 contiguous acres of prairie and wetlands to form a wetland complex.
High Tunnels Help Hardin County Veteran Grow Quality Produce
NRCS is helping fruit and vegetable producer and military veteran Charles Puffer grow a variety of high-quality crops and protect the natural resources on his thriving new farm thanks to planning and financial assistance for a system of high tunnels.
Interseeding Cover Crops Early Could Solve Fall Establishment Issues
After years of struggling to consistently establish cover crops in the fall on cropland in Iowa’s northern tier counties, more than a dozen Allamakee County producers are participating in a new USDA-sponsored soil health demonstration project that is showing promising results.
Rotating Cattle, Accessible Water Critical for Overcoming Drought on Pastures
NRCS is encouraging Iowa’s livestock producers to consider adopting weather resilient, long-term drinking water sources, and alternative forage and grazing solutions for their pastures.
Businesswoman Turned Farmer Earns 2020 Iowa Conservation Woman of the Year
Maggie McQuown was named 2020 Iowa Conservation Woman of the Year for the diverse conservation work she has done on her Montgomery County farm.
Eastern Iowa Airport Commits to Soil Health, Water Quality on Their Cropland
A simple, yet effective soil health demonstration called a Slake Test, or Soil Stability Test, presented by USDA helped convince Eastern Iowa Airport officials to step up measures to reduce erosion, improve soil health and protect water quality on the airport’s 2,000 cropland acres.
Cover Crops Supplement Livestock Feeding for Western Iowa Farmer
Monona County farmer Bo Fox is working with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to more efficiently graze his 100-head cow/calf herd and to help improve soil health on his farm.
Homestead 1839 Providing Farm Therapy in Southeast Iowa
Homestead 1839 is finding success adopting sustainable agricultural practices and using horticulture therapy to help community members on the path to recovery.
Pinpoint Soils Data Leads to Successful Tree Planting for Iowa Apple Orchard
A small Clarke County apple orchard is prospering after soils information provided by USDA and expert advice from The Apple Grower helped beginning orchardists start off on the right track.
Widowed Landowner Succeeds with Conservation in Lease Agreements
For nearly 50 years Virginia Reynolds and her late husband Larry worked together to manage their farms to conserve soil and protect water quality. After Larry passed away in 2013, she wrote soil and water conservation practice requirements into the leases for her Clarke County cropland.
Coffee Table Dreams Becoming Reality for Western Iowa Couple
A Monona County couple's vision for the family farm is becoming reality thanks to a sound plan, a couple years of very hard work, and guidance and assistance from USDA.
Roller Crimper Key in Organic No-Till System
Keota farmer Levi Lyle never thought he would be a go-to person for eastern Iowa farmers to rent a roller crimper. But with his interest in eliminating the use of herbicides on portions of his family’s cropland, he now has two crimpers that he uses and rents to farmers from Waterloo to Bloomfield.
Record Yields from the Bottom Up Using No-Till, Cover Crops
A southeast Iowa farm family harvested record average yields in 2016 after managing cropland soils with no-till and cover crops. They attribute the yield bump to a bottoms up approach, by improving returns on typically poor-performing fields.
