James Hepp admits some of his neighbors might have thought he was crazy the first time they saw him planting soybeans into 3-foot tall rye cover crops. But the 35-year-old farmer was undeterred, convinced by the environmental and agronomic benefits offered by the cover crops, which reduce erosion, absorb nutrients and suppress troublesome weeds. 

“Conservation is a big thing for our farm,” says Hepp, who grows corn and soybeans on his Calhoun County farm, where he and his wife, Paige, raise their two sons. “When the wind blows and you see dirt flying, it just makes you sick to your stomach.”

In addition to cover crops, Hepp uses reduced tillage practices, disturbing as little soil as possible while leaving crop residue on the surface of the ground to reduce erosion and filter nutrients from water runoff. The conservation measures are part of Hepp’s goal to make his farm financially and environmentally sustainable so his two young boys can have the opportunity to farm someday. 

“I want it to be the best it can be for them,” he says. 

Hepp hosts field days on his farm to share his knowledge about improving soil health with other farmers, providing opportunities to learn from each other and swap ideas so they can implement successful practices and avoid pitfalls others have experienced. 

“I think we can work together, and do better together,” he says. “That’s the only way we’re going to improve.” 

Thanks to the efforts of farmers like Hepp, 2024 was a record year for conservation in Iowa.

A survey of ag retailers shows Iowa farmers are planting more cover crops than ever while increasing adoption of other practices including reduced tillage and nutrient management.

The survey by the Iowa Nutrient Research and Education Council (INREC) shows that cover crop acreage in Iowa has more than doubled in the past seven years, rising from 1.6 million acres in 2017 to 3.84 million acres in 2023. Iowa farmers are now planting cover crops on 17% of their corn and soybean acres, according to the survey. 

Iowa State University research shows cover crops can reduce soil nitrogen and phosphorus losses by 30% or more.

The INREC survey also found that almost 70% of Iowa’s farmland is managed with conservation tillage or no-till.

The adoption of precision nitrogen-use technologies is also helping farmers reduce fertilizer inputs while maintaining yields. The INREC survey shows that a strong majority of farmers apply nitrogen only in the spring or in-season when it can be quickly used by growing crops. Farmers also reduced commercial nitrogen applications by nearly 10% in 2023 compared to three years earlier.

Other data compiled by the U.S. and Iowa agriculture departments show Iowa farmers lead the nation in various in-field and edge-of-field conservation practices, including buffers, waterways, filter strips, conservation tillage, water quality wetlands and pollinator habitat.

In addition, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship notes that 2024 was a record year for construction of water-quality wetlands in Iowa with 29 projects in progress or under development. 

Studies show that wetlands, which are strategically positioned to capture water and filter nitrates from field runoff, reduce nitrogen losses by 52% and provide wildlife habitat.

The pace of implementing all kinds of water quality and conservation practices continues to accelerate due to public and private partners working with farmers and landowners, notes Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig.

“Iowans continue to demonstrate that they are committed to conservation and water quality,” he said. “Whether you live on a farm or in the city, we can all play a role in protecting our natural resources, and I encourage all Iowans to add even more practices in the year ahead.”

For more information and to see conservation practices in action, visit conservationcountsiowa.com.