FC Supports the Nutrient Management Strategy for Iowa

FC is working closely with the Agriculture Clean Water Alliance of Iowa (ACWA). Their mission is:

To reduce the nutrient loss - specifically nitrates from farm fields - and keep the nutrients from entering the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers and their tributaries 

Below is a news release from ACWA. 

Public comment response to nutrient management strategy proposed.

Please be advised that ACWA supports the nutrient management strategy that has been proposed for adoption in Iowa.  Since its formation, our organization has been actively monitoring the waters of the Raccoon and Des Moines River watersheds on a voluntary basis for over 12 years.  The knowledge gained from our initial monitoring work led to a variety of pilot initiatives and demonstration projects aimed at improving water quality.  There have been successes.  Key conclusions from this effort have proven that there is no one size fits all solution and that informed producers want to adopt those practices that can impact improved water quality.  We believe a science based approach for producers to implement the most effective practices specific to their farms can be the most powerful resource to achieve water quality improvement on a broad scale.

On Nov. 19, Governor Terry Branstad was joined by representatives of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Iowa State University and unveiled a draft strategy emphasizing voluntary efforts to continue reductions in non-point source nutrient loading from farm fields.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Iowa Department of Natural Resources have put their full support behind this alternative approach that relies on voluntary efforts rather than top-down regulation. They will prioritize the top watersheds in Iowa and focus resources to make improvements in coordination and cooperation with landowners. Iowa State University has developed a technical assessment of the best management practices available to reduce nutrients, their effectiveness and implementation costs.

The Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy is the first, real-world and comprehensive assessment done of the effectiveness of farming conservation practices with respect to achieving nutrient reduction in surface water. But there are many outside of agriculture who believe it would be better to simply regulate water quality.

The Strategy would benefit from hearing real farmers

By receiving this correspondence we are seeking your input as farmers to share your experiences and successes with farming practices which improve soil and water stewardship.  Please provide your personalized comments by January 18 through the ISU website, it is very simple. The Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy with supporting information and the place for sending comments online can be found at www.nutrientstrategy.iastate.edu.  You can also mail comments to: Nutrient Reduction Strategy, ANR Program Services, 2101 Agronomy Hall, Ames, Iowa 50011-1010.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey has requested $2.4 million for an agricultural water quality initiative as part of the Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship’s fiscal year 2014 budget request. The 2014 request would provide $575,000 for marketing and outreach, $1.68 million for water quality initiative cost share and $150,000 for staffing. It also proposes additional $4.4 million in funding for water quality in fiscal 2015.  Your support of these funding levels would be helpful.

Background information for making comments

The strategy includes 4 sections.  You can view each of these documents/sections at: http://www.nutrientstrategy.iastate.edu/documents

A background webinar can be found at:  https://connect.extension.iastate.edu/p9kjmxfrkid/

The place for sending comments online can be found at www.nutrientstrategy.iastate.edu

How to submit your comments

At the ISU Nutrient Strategy Web site for submitting comments you will be asked to provide your name and other contact info.  You will also need to check the pertinent box/section of the strategy that your comments are directed at, as follows:

- Executive Summary

- Policy Considerations and Strategy

- Nonpoint Source Nutrient Reduction Science Assessment

- Point Source Nutrient Reduction Technology Assessment

If you are preparing general comments we suggest you check Executive Summary and/or the Policy Considerations box.

Make your comments personal…Considerations:  

"As a farmer, I have an ethical obligation to make sure I’m doing everything I can do to protect our natural resources so I use a variety of conservation methods on my farm (list them)."

 "On our farm we use the following conservation practices (list soil, nutrients management, etc..)." 

"I have participated in the following programs (list State/Federal/Private conservation programs etc....)"

"My investment in soil and water conservation is XXXX$ /(year or total)."

"Over the last several years I have changed my management to address soil and water ..... and this has resulted in (......)".  

"Conservation is not a “one-size-fits-all” approach across the state. Strategies need to suit the soils, terrain, and crops grown. It makes sense to focus voluntary efforts as we have seen success in Iowa in addressing localized soil and water resource issues."

"The strategy is written to address both point and nonpoint source nutrient pollution which recognizes that we all live in a watershed and that we need to work together to realize continued progress on these issues."