For more information, contact:

Claudia Dalbey, Secretary

Phone: 515-382-2217

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May is Conservation Month in Story County

May is typically the month of the year in Iowa when most of the fields are worked and exposed to the forces of nature. It is also the worst month of the year for soil erosion. Iowa experiences heavy rains at this time, and most of the residue from last year has rotted and been worked into the soil, leaving fields with very little protection.

What can we do to help minimize the annual loss of Iowa’s precious top soil? Planning for waterways, conservation reserve buffers, terraces, or even changing tillage practices can start to take place now. Producers and landowners can see where the problems and damage are occurring in the fields now and make plans for fall repairs after harvest. There are many programs and practices currently available through the USDA office (NRCS and FSA) in Nevada. With the new farm bill coming out in the very near future, this may be a good time to utilize these programs before they are changed or replaced.

Iowa’s most important natural resources are the fantastic soil and water with which we are blessed. Let’s not lose any more of our production capability down the streams and rivers. The next generation of farmers, landowners, and producers will depend on this productive soil and fresh water in the future.

For more details on these programs contact the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Nevada at 515-382-2217.