Saving the soil

With flood mitigation still an open question around these parts, the broader issue of watershed management and land use may receive a new focus. So we were troubled to hear that a good state program encouraging responsible agriculture practices has seen its funding and staffing dwindle.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey said he expects flat funding for his department's soil conservation cost-share program. That's about $6.3 million next year, down from $7 million a few years ago. The program provides matching grants and technical assistance to farmers who voluntarily seek to put conservation measures in place on their land. In stopping soil erosion, those measures also slow the flow of runoff into waterways.

The number of soil technicians available to help farmers has dropped from 45 to 31, Northey said. That means a longer wait for producers seeking assistance, which also means delaying beneficial land use changes.

We understand the state budget is tight. But our fertile soil is Iowa's most precious and valuable resource. And we've seen, too often, the damage that can done by water rushing unimpeded off the land, both rural and urban. The state, we believe, has an obligation to do what it can to address both issues. State lawmakers should, at least, seek to restore cost-share funding to its previous level.