Iowa farmers can access a new round of cost-share funds for conservation and water quality practices, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) announced last week. The funds can be used to offset the cost of planting cover crops, adopting a no-till or strip-till program, or applying nitrification inhibitor.

“As Iowans, we must all work together to make measurable progress in our water quality initiatives,” said Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig. “The ag community recognizes the value of conservation practices, and we are committed to protecting our natural resources for future generations."

Last fall, 2,800 farmers participated in the cost-share program and invested an estimated $9 million in funding to match $5 million in state funding. Go to iowaagriculture.gov for more information.