Farmers, state of Iowa share conservation costs

Iowa farmers contributed $13 million to access $9.5 million in state cost share funds to install conservation practices during the state's 2014 fiscal year.

The state's cost share funding and administrative support was provided by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. A total of 2,382 Iowa farmers contributed funding during the fiscal year, which ran from July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey said the state cost share program, which has been around for more than 40 years, remains popular.

'We continue to see very strong demand from farmers and landowners, who more than match the state investment to install conservation practices,” Northey said. 'Thanks to investments by farmers and the state funds, more than $22 million was used to build conservation structures and adopt conservation practices that prevent erosion and improve water quality.”

A report on the conservation practices shows 58 percent of the funds used for cost share supported construction of terraces, 11 percent for grade stabilization structures, 9 percent for grassed waterways, 7 percent for water and sediment control basins and 2 percent for other practices.

Thirteen percent of the funds supported management practices such as cover crops, no-till and strip-till that reduces erosion.

Eighty-five percent of the funds directly benefit the land, and the remaining 15 percent is used for administration.