Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig today announced a three-year extension of the popular, farmer-led Cattle and Conservation Working Lands Project. The extension renews program agreements in Taylor, Page, Carroll, Cherokee, Guthrie, and Ida counties through December 31, 2028. This allows participating counties to build on strong momentum to expand conservation and livestock-integrated systems on working farms.
Administered by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) in partnership with local Soil and Water Conservation Districts and other partners, the Cattle and Conservation Working Lands Program connects cattle producers with technical assistance and cost-share funding to implement conservation practices that strengthen soil health and keep more soil and nutrients out of Iowa’s waterways.
“Farmers take their responsibility to be good stewards of the land very seriously because clean water is non-negotiable,” said Secretary Naig. “This farmer-led project proves that conservation does not require taking land out of production. By evaluating every acre, producers can determine what makes sense to farm and what makes sense to hay or graze, optimizing land use, productivity and environmental benefits. That practical approach strengthens our cattle industry and delivers real water quality benefits.”
The program began in Taylor County in 2016 as a pilot project and has now grown to serve farmers and landowners in eight counties: Adams, Carroll, Cherokee, Guthrie, Ida, Page, Taylor, and Woodbury. While agreements in six counties are being renewed, the projects in Adams and Woodbury Counties continue under separate grant timelines and remain active components of the broader eight-county effort.
Source : iowaagriculture.gov