Cattle and Conservation Working Lands Program

Keep Working Lands Working

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) is expanding its popular Cattle and Conservation Working Lands program to support more farmers and landowners. The program began as a pilot project in Taylor County in 2016, and is now serving cattle producers in 28 Iowa counties, including the Greater Des Moines watershed. In addition to increasing the program area, IDALS is adding two more project coordinators to be stationed in Calhoun and Greene Counties to lead outreach and engagement with local cattle producers. 

The program provides cost-share to help farmers and landowners convert underperforming or highly erodible acres of row crops into pasture or hay ground. This strengthens managed grazing systems and provides forage to support the growth of the U.S. beef herd while reducing soil erosion and improving water quality. 

To date, IDALS has six project coordinators who have helped enroll more than 1,100 producers in the program. More than 16,000 acres of less-productive agricultural land has been converted from row crops to pasture and hay. Participating producers have also established more than 195,000 acres of cover crops, which help hold soil in place, filter nitrates and provide forage for livestock.