AUGUST STEWARDSHIP ADVOCATE UPDATE

We just wrapped up Iowa Corn Day at the Iowa State Fair and are now getting ready for the Farm Progress Show, which is coming up on Aug. 30 - Sept. 1 in Boone. You should have received a postcard in the mail letting you know about our soil and water panel discussions each day during the show at 2 p.m at booth 26N. Come learn from Iowa Corn farmers and partner organizations and bring your postcard in exchange for a free ice cream treat! Be sure to check out the upcoming events and latest information that we have provided you below, as well as tips from Iowa corn farmers about measuring the success of cover crops in the farmer to farmer video.

FARMER TO FARMER:

Let's talk measuring success of cover crops.

CONNECTING WITH CONSUMERS: TELLING YOUR STORY

TIP 2: Transparency is key. It is no longer an option. It’s a must.

Consumers want real facts from real people, like farmers, and transparency is a must. Transparency builds trusts with consumers and gives them the peace of mind in knowing that they are getting the accurate information straight from the source. If farmers don’t tell their stories, special interest groups will, so it’s important that your story gets out there first.

A GOOD MESSAGE TO SHARE: Water quality improvements take time, and Mother Nature has a role, but there is evidence to show that Iowa’s water quality is trending in the right direction.

A common message has been that voluntary conservation guidelines are not cutting it when it comes to improving water quality. The problem is that, while farmers are making strides toward the improvement of the state’s water, it takes time and consumers don’t always realize that. Here are some key points you could share with them:

• We’re making progress. According to Des Moines Water Works data, in the Raccoon River in Des Moines, average nitrate levels have gone down between 1994 and 2014.

• A 2014 U.S. geological survey study of decades of nitrate concentration and flow data from 10 major Iowa rivers indicates that concentrations of nitrates decreased from 2000-2010 in all basins.

• According to the Iowa DNR, the number of Iowa streams with self-sustaining trout populations has grown 9-fold since 1980. 

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• 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

• prairie strips and saturated buffer field day: Dike, September 6

• INTERNATIONAL DRAINAGE SYMPOSIUM: MINNEAPOLIS, SEPTEMBER 6-9

• cover crop field day: Washington County, September 7

• research farm field day: Crawfordsville, September 8

• research farm field day: Kanawha, September 8

• prairie strips field day: cedar rapids, September 8

• soil health partnership field day: hastings, September 13

• bioreactor field day: tripoli, September 13

• prairie on farms field day: dysart, September 14

• cover crop and soil health field day: Sac county, September 15

• prairie on Farms Field Day: nashua, september 16

• upper mississippi river conference: quad cities, october 13 - 14

LATEST INFORMATION:

• Monsanto explains actions as dicamba drift fallout continues

• SEND YOUR MESSAGE TO THE EPA ON ATRAZINE RISK ASSESSMENT

• Soil Health Partnership plans field days in four states

• Branstad, Reynolds and Northey highlight water quality efforts underway statewide

• Illinois farmers impressed with Iowa’s water quality effort

• Farmers, scientists seek common ground on going green

• Cedar Rapids looks upstream for water quality partners

• Improving Iowa’s water quality

• New survey shows cover crops boost yields