WEST DES MOINES, IOWA - Nov. 27, 2013 - Even though harvest season has wrapped up and tractors are in the shed, Iowa grain farmers continue to work through winter, seeking ways to improve their conservation practices. As members of the state's largest grassroots farm organization gather for the 95th annual Iowa Farm Bureau meeting, the December 3rd "Innovations in Conservation" educational seminar is expected to draw farmers from around the state to hear the latest practices and see which ones best suit their farms for the 2014 planting season.
The week of Dec. 2-8 has been declared 'Iowa Farm Bureau Week' by Governor Terry Branstad to celebrate the many accomplishments and contributions of the 95-year-old grassroots farm organization. Included in the list of accomplishments and contributions is innovation and improvement in conservation. Bill Northey, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture; Jeff Pape, chairman of the Hewitt Creek Watershed Council; and Doug Adams, president of Humboldt County Farm Bureau, will lead the conservation-themed seminar as Iowa farmers seek the latest information on conservation.
Pape is encouraged not only by participation in his local watershed, but the measureable results. "We have been encouraged to see so many local farmers working together over a number of years to put in new practices on more and more acres," said Pape. "It has taken a few years to see the results, but that's why farmers are looking for new things that will work on their farm to protect the watershed and reduce erosion. This is something that's important not just to farmers, but to everyone."
More farmers are seeking information and are working to conserve Iowa's resources than ever before. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) has received a record number of applications for cost share funding to support the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy (INRS). Within days of accepting applications for conservation cost share funding this fall, IDALS received applications from 1,096 farmers representing 97 of 100 Soil and Water Conservation Districts in the state. In addition, 17 watersheds recently applied for more than $6.5 million in new state funding to help implement INRS. With only $5.5 million available, it's clear that a record number of Iowa farmers desire the latest information on effective conservation practices and seek to implement those practices on their farms across the state.
For a complete listing of Annual Meeting events and activities, visit www.iowafarmbureau.com. You can follow the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #IFBF13.
About Iowa Farm Bureau
The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation is a grassroots, statewide organization dedicated to enhancing the People, Progress and Pride of Iowa. More than 153,000 families in Iowa are Farm Bureau members, working together to achieve farm and rural prosperity. For more information about Farm Bureau and agriculture, visit the Newsroom page on the IFBF website at www.iowafarmbureau.com.
