Working Together is Key to Water Quality

Public support and collaboration are discussed during today’s Clean Water in Iowa Starts Here stop

DES MOINES, Iowa (July 28, 2021) – The Clean Water in Iowa Starts Here tour checks in with Iowa Corn at the state baseball tournament in Carroll, Iowa. Iowa Corn is handing out water bottles to thirsty fans and sharing the message that farmers care about the water we share. Farm families are taking action by adding science-based practices to their fields to improve soil health and water quality.

“Enhancing water quality in our communities and downstream continues to be top of mind for Iowa farm families,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. “Public, private, local and federal partnerships are critical to helping farmers, landowners and municipalities implement more environmental stewardship practices at a faster rate than ever before.”

“While farmers invest their own dollars in conservation, public support is necessary for farmers to continue to accelerate adoption of water quality practices,” said Iowa Corn Senior Manager of Sustainable Programs Ben Gleason. “This support allows freedom to innovate and adopt farming practices for improved water quality.”

This week’s Clean Water in Iowa Starts Here stop features several farmers who have made changes to their farms to improve water quality in the Raccoon River. These farmers rely on support and collaboration from a wide range of public and private partners.

Iowa Corn has collaborated with the Iowa Soybean Association and Iowa Pork Producers Association for many years and helped found the Iowa Ag Water Alliance. This alliance leverages checkoff dollars and other resources to advance its mission to increase the pace and scale of farmer-led efforts to improve water quality.

More recently, Iowa Corn is working together with the Iowa Soybean Association to help farmers research the effectiveness of soil health and water quality practices on their farms. This research will demonstrate the economic and environmental benefits of these practices and help other farmers evaluate and adopt them in their own operations.

About the Clean Water in Iowa Starts Here Campaign

The campaign, created by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa Soybean Association and Newsradio 1040 WHO aims to raise awareness about the conservation work underway all across Iowa. It also highlights opportunities for both rural and urban residents to use soil health and water quality best practices, and play an active role in conservation projects happening in their communities.

During the Clean Water in Iowa Starts Here campaign, The Big Show will visit locations throughout the state showcasing the people and practices that are having a positive and measurable impact on water quality. The conversations with farmers, landowners, agribusinesses and community leaders will be broadcast on Wednesdays during The Big Show airing from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. on WHO and 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. on WMT.

The Clean Water in Iowa Starts Here campaign is a collaborative effort between a dozen public and private partners, including Agri-Drain, Hagie Manufacturing, Hands on Excavating, Heartland Co-op, Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance, Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Iowa Pork Producers Association, Iowa Soybean Association, Montag Manufacturing, Practical Farmers of Iowa, The Nature Conservancy and TruTerra. 

The Clean Water in Iowa Starts Here campaign began in August 2020 and highlighted 16 conservation projects throughout the harvest season. For more information about the campaign, upcoming stops, and rural and urban soil health and water quality practices, visit CleanWaterIowa.org/CleanWaterStartsHere. For assistance implementing conservation practices or to get involved in a community-based project, visit a nearby USDA Service Center or Soil and Water Conservation District office.