JULY STEWARDSHIP ADVOCATE UPDATE

We are in the thick of summer field work and field day season and Iowa Corn Sustainable Programs Manager, Ben Gleason, is here to keep you up to speed with the latest news and updates on water quality in the state. In this update, he talks about atrazine, cost share opportunities and the many summer events that are coming up, including Farm Progress Show. There are still several Soil Health Partnership field days on the schedule this summer and Northeast Iowa farmer, Mark Mueller, talks about what you can expect if you attend one in the farmer to farmer video below.

FARMER TO FARMER:

What can you expect to learn at a Soil Health Partnership field day?

CONNECTING WITH CONSUMERS: TELLING YOUR STORY

TIP 2: Listen first, ask questions, share your stories and invite them to experience farming first-hand

It’s important that we focus on shared values when connecting with consumers and use the mindset that “we are all in this together.” Use an inviting tone and start out by listening to the concerns of the consumer, ask them questions to better understand and then share your point of view. Lastly, invite them out to your farm so they can see first-hand what you are doing to address the water quality issues. There is no better way to explain to consumers what you are doing than to show them.

A GOOD MESSAGE TO SHARE: IOWA CORN FARMERS are investing to address water quality issues head on

Once you have let the consumers know why you care and have expressed that shared value, it’s important to let them know what you are doing to address the water quality issues head on. Examples of things you might say would be:

• Iowa corn farmers are committed to making long-term, dedicated and significant investments to continuously improve water quality

• Different fields require different practices to improve water quality. We're working with experts to understand what practices are most effective.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• SOIL HEALTH PARTNERSHIP FIELD DAY: WASHINGTON, AUGUST 2

• NATIONAL STRIP TILLAGE CONFERENCE: BLOOMINGTON, IL, AUGUST 3 - 4

• Small grain workshop: Waukon, August 10

• Cover crops and no till field day: Iowa Great Lakes Watershed Project, August 10

• PRAIRIE LAKES CONFERENCE: OKOBOJI, AUGUST 10 - 13

• Soil Health Partnership Field Day: Gilman, August 16

• IOWA FARM ENVIRONMENTAL LEADER AWARDS CEREMONY: IOWA STATE FAIR, AUGUST 17

• SOIL HEALTH PARTNERSHIP FIELD DAY: ALGONA, AUGUST 18

• SOIL HEALTH PARTNERSHIP FIELD DAY: ROCK VALLEY, AUGUST 23

• Research farm field day: Greenfield, August 23

• SOIL HEALTH PARTNERSHIP FIELD DAY: Eagle Grove, AUGUST 25

• Research farm field day: Nashua, August 26

• SOIL HEALTH PARTNERSHIP FIELD DAY: WEST LIBERTY, AUGUST 29

• SOIL HEALTH PANEL DISCUSSIONS: Iowa Corn Booth 26N at FARM PROGRESS SHOW, BOONE, AUGUST 30 - SEPTEMBER 1

• SOIL HEALTH PARTNERSHIP FIELD DAY: CORNING, SEPTEMBER 2

• International Drainage Symposium: Minneapolis, September 6-9

LATEST INFORMATION:

• COST SHARE AVAILABLE FOR WATER QUALITY PRACTICES STATEWIDE

• BECOME A SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT COMMISSIONER

• SEND YOUR MESSAGE TO THE EPA ON ATRAZINE RISK ASSESSMENT

• USDA seeking additional applicants for monarch habitat practices

• Voluntary conservation is reducing runoff

• DNR releases Minnesota buffer map

• Conservation groups stoke interest in farm nutrient management 

• reducing water pollution with microbes and wood chips

• USDA head points to progress, urges more conservation to slow pollution

• Local farmers change lifelong practice to enhance water quality

• plowing is polluting? Wheat farmer loses clean water case