Bob Lynch | Humboldt County

My wife, Linda, and I farm with my son, Jay, and his wife, Emily, near Gilmore City in Humboldt County. We strip-till our corn after soybeans and corn on corn acres. We no-till soybeans into standing corn stalks.

I'm an elected Humboldt SWCD Commissioner and Vice-President of the Conservation Districts of Iowa.

We do some custom Strip-till for our neighbors, so they can see how it can benefit their farming operation.

We were one of the awardees of the 2013 Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Awards.

Q. What water quality practices have you used on your farm?
A. Grassed waterways, terraces, CRP, Strip-till/No-till, cover crops, nutrient management, split application of nitrogen, use nitrogen stabilizers, stalk nitrate tests, grid soil sampling. Have implemented wellhead protection projects. Recently participated in a large ag drainage well closure project that closed two wells on our farms.

Q. Why did you voluntarily adopt these practices?
A. Protect the soil for future generations. Leave the farm in better shape for my son and grandsons. In our system, when the rain comes, the soil and nutrients stay where they belong.

Q. What, if any, assistance did you receive to incorporate these practices (financial as well as technical)?
A. Started gaining information in a ridge-till club in the 90s. A group of famers that met periodically to discuss ridge-till. About 240 acres enrolled in Conservation Reserve Program Enrolled in Conservation Stewardship Program because of the level of conservation practices already being implemented, but we continue to add new practices when feasible.

Q. What is your philosophy as it relates to farming and the environment?
A. We have the opportunity to use these practices that not only make us better stewards of the land, but also improve crop production. It's very important to me that I continue to improve my farm for my kids and grandkids.