New Iowa Farm Poll Report Finds Growing Awareness, Mixed Views on Nutrient Reduction Strategy

Sep 25, 2025

By J. Gordon Arbuckle Jr.

A new report from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach examines awareness and attitudes among Iowa farmers regarding the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy, a statewide initiative launched in 2013 to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus runoff into Iowa’s waterways and contributions to Gulf hypoxia.

The report, authored by J. Arbuckle, professor, extension sociologist and Henry A. Wallace Chair for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University, draws on data from the Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll, an annual survey of Iowa farmers. The 2024 Farm Poll, which surveyed close to 1,000 farmers, repeated questions that were first asked in the 2014 survey, allowing a decadal comparison of farmer awareness and attitudes related to the INRS.

Key findings

Awareness: Nearly 90% of farmers reported some knowledge of the INRS in 2024, up from 80% in 2014. The farm press, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, government agencies and commodity groups were the most common sources of information.
Water Quality Concerns: While 70% of farmers remained concerned about agriculture’s impact on Iowa’s water quality, this marked a slight decline from 76% in 2014. Just under 50% agreed that nutrients from Iowa farms contribute to Gulf hypoxia, with 44% uncertain about the connection.

Source : iastate.edu

Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.