By Jamie Benning
As farmers across the state of Iowa work to implement nutrient reduction practices, funds have become available to help offset the cost of cover crops, no-till or strip till, or using a nitrification inhibitor when applying fertilizer.
The funds are available through the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS), Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey announced.
The cost share rate for first-time users of cover crops is $25 per acre, no-till or strip till are eligible for $10 per acre and farmers using a nitrapyrin nitrification inhibitor when applying fall fertilizer can receive $3 per acre. Any farmer not already using these practices will receive priority consideration for this assistance. Farmers that have used cover crops in the past may be available for $15 per acre for using cover crops.
“We continue to hear from farmers interested in doing even more to limit nutrient loss and better protect water quality," Northey said, "and these funds will help them try new voluntary science-based conservation practices on their farm."
Farmers are encouraged to visit their local Soil and Water Conservation District office to apply for these funds and inquire about additional opportunities for cost share funding through other offered programs.
IDALS received $4.4 million for the Iowa Water Quality Initiative in the 2015 fiscal year. These funds will allow IDALS to continue to encourage the broad adoption of water quality practices through statewide cost share assistance as well as more intensive work in targeted watersheds.
In the two years this program has been available, over 1,400 farmers have put in new nutrient reduction practices on over 144,000 acres.
“Farmers are continually making decisions about nutrient management practices and will have many opportunities to attend field days and gather information,” said Jamie Benning, water quality program manager with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. “As they are looking to evaluate some of these practices on their farms, this program will cover part of the cost of implementing these nutrient reduction practices. ISU Extension and Outreach has been encouraging all farmers to implement one new practice, such as cover crops, nitrification inhibitors, strip till or no-till which have cost-share funds available through this program.”
There are many practices that can be used to help reduce nitrogen loss from the soil. Researchers with ISU Extension and Outreach work to develop and evaluate practices that limit the amount of nitrogen that is lost. A website called ‘Managing the N Factor’ has been created to provide information on nitrogen management practices.
Source:iastate.edu