Greene County Soil and Water Conservation District has announced that funding will be available for local producers and landowners to assist in the installation of conservation practices through Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) cost-share programs.
Interested producers and/or landowners should contact the Greene County district office by calling 515-386-3817 Ext. 3 or emailing conservation assistant Amber Kenan at amber.kenan@ia.nacdnet.net
The district encourages cover crops, in which the state will provide financial assistance through the local SWCD offices to incentivize their use. Cover crops are extremely beneficial in reducing erosion, retaining nutrients, combating weeds, while at the same time improving water and soil quality. Related management practices such as no-till and strip till are also being encouraged.
The cost-share rates for cover crops vary and depend on the which funding source is used and whether someone is a first time or previous user of cover crops. A max of 160 acres can be signed up and paid on with either a rate of $25/ac or $15/ac. Producers and landowners are encouraged to contact the office for further details.
Other conservation practices eligible for assistance through state programs include grass waterways, grade stabilization control structures, terraces, wind breaks as well as several other practices.
The Greene SWCD staff, along with IDALS and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service assure the technical quality of the practices and further help farmers develop conservation plans for their farms.
