Iowa LICA Demonstration Farm Helps Farmers and Landowners Learn About Soil Health and Water Quality Practices

The Clean Water in Iowa Starts Here tour stops at the LICA farm to showcase the benefits of pairing tile drainage systems with edge-of-field practices

DES MOINES, Iowa (Aug. 25, 2021) – The Clean Water in Iowa Starts Here tour visited the Iowa Land Improvement Contractors Association (LICA) demonstration farm, near Melbourne, Iowa, today. During the stop, Agri Drain Corporation joined conservation partners from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Agricultural Drainage Management Coalition (ADMC), Ecosystems Services Exchange and Iowa State University to discuss the collaborative, science-based approaches they’re using to scale up the design and installation of conservation and water quality practices in Iowa.

The 80-acre Iowa LICA farm features a variety of installed conservation practices, providing the ideal backdrop to discuss the water quality benefits that can be achieved by pairing agricultural drainage systems with edge-of-field practices, like bioreactors and saturated buffers.

“Agricultural drainage systems are critical to helping farmers and landowners manage standing water to protect their cash crops. These drainage systems can be paired with edge-of-field conservation practices, like bioreactors and saturated buffers, to help capture nutrient losses and protect our local water sources and neighbors downstream without negatively impacting drainage or taking valuable crop ground out of production,” said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. “I encourage all farmers and landowners to talk to their trusted agronomic advisor about what conservation practices are right for their fields, and then take advantage of state and federal cost share programs to get started.”

Farmers and landowners who are interested in conservation cost share programs should contact their local USDA Service Center for more information.

The Clean Water in Iowa Starts Here tour will also highlight the Central Iowa Water Quality Infrastructure Project, which created a new framework to streamline and scale up the adoption of saturated buffers and denitrifying bioreactors in Polk and Dallas Counties by simplifying the financing and construction processes for landowners. Project partners include the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Polk County, Polk Soil and Water Conservation District, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and ADMC. The construction work was completed by Iowa LICA contractor, Jacob Handsaker, owner of Hands On Excavating. This watershed-scale project added 63 saturated buffers to help improve water quality in the Des Moines and North Raccoon Rivers.

The water management equipment for the Central Iowa water quality project was manufactured by Agri Drain Corporation. The automation equipment will report flow rates from which treated and untreated flow will be calculated. Water quality testing will be monitored by Iowa State University.

To learn more about the Central Iowa Water Quality Infrastructure Project and how to get involved, visit cleanwateriowa.org/centraliowaproject.

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. 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.