Nick Helland: Leading the Way in Conservation

In Iowa, conservation is rooted in both tradition and innovation. Farmers across the state implement practices that are not only right for their operation, but also for the soil and water on their farms. 

Nick Helland, a farmer from central Iowa, knows the importance of being a steward not only for his farm, but also for the water, soil and community he lives in.  

Nick and his family farm in Story, Boone, Polk and Dallas counties. Their farm is truly a family operation with Nick working alongside his dad, uncle and cousin.  

Early Adopters of Conservation Farming Practices

Conservation is not new for the Hellands. During the mid-90s, a failure of a tillage tractor led them to try no-till on their operation. After seeing no penalties to their soybean yield, the Hellands decided the benefits of saving time, fuel and manpower was a strong advantage for switching to no-till.  

Today, 75% of their corn and all of their soybean acres are no-till, and between 20% and 50% of acres utilize cover crops. 

Sharing Conservation Farming Practices with Stakeholders and the Public

The Helland farm is uniquely positioned close to the Des Moines Metro, often a hot spot for conversations around water quality. As part of their farm is positioned on Big Creek, a key waterway feeding into the Des Moines water sources, Nick recognizes the importance of not only implementing conservation farming practices but also sharing about the work that he does.  

Last fall Nick hosted multiple field days showcasing their cover crops, bioreactors, saturated buffer and wetland on his farm. Through this field day, Nick was able to bring out individuals from Des Moines Waterworks and Central Iowa Waterworks, urban and rural legislators, as well as other farmers and neighbors, to show the real conservation work farmers are implementing.  

Nick shared how encouraging it was to see this engagement between waterworks and rural partners, feeling as if the relationship is becoming a partnership and finding common ground solutions to partner together. 

“We as farmers have to share not only what we are doing but also what the urban populations around us can do,” shared Nick. “We all want to do what is right, for not only water quality in the state but also our land.”  

Nick Helland Sees Iowa Corn as a Valuable Resource

Nick Helland knows that as a farmer, he can’t do it alone. He finds value in being an active Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) member.  

“I can wear a lot of hats on my farm, but there are things that I can’t do that ICGA can do on my behalf,” shared Nick. “Iowa Corn not only keeps me informed and lobbies on our behalf, but also bring our issues to wider, global audiences, to ultimately move more of our product.” 

Through ICGA, Nick has a seat at the table and has found multiple ways to get involved and engage. Currently, Nick serves as the President of District 5 Committee and on the Research and Business Development Committee. He is also a past participant of the Iowa Corn Leadership Enhancement and Development (I-LEAD) program. 

Supporting corn farmers is a key priority for Iowa Corn. Through research, conservation education and collaboration with partners across the state, Iowa Corn ensures farmers have access to the tools they need to find the best practices for their acres.  

Conservation isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, and empowering farmers with resources helps them make informed decisions. To learn more from Iowa Corn about farming practices that can conserve soil and water, visit iowacorn.org/growerguides.