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Record number of Iowa farmers enroll in water quality program

Iowa ag secretary Bill Northey says a record number of Iowa farmers have signed up to install nutrient reduction practices on their farm through a statewide water quality cost share program.

More than 2,600 farmers signed up to try cover crops, no-till/strip-till or a nitrification inhibitor on more than 270,000 acres in 98 counties.  The state will provide nearly five million dollars in cost share funds to match the 8.7 million dollar investment by Iowa farmers.

Northey says he continues to be encouraged by the growing interest by Iowa farmers in trying practices focused on limiting nutrient loss and improving water quality. Participants include one-thousand farmers using a practice for the first time and 1,600 past users that are trying cover crops again and are receiving a reduced-rate of cost share.