DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today (Monday) announced that more than $6.75 million is available to help farmers and landowners install conservation practices through the state cost share program. Farmers can contact their local Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) offices to apply for assistance of up to 50 percent of the cost of the project.

Northey says “The cost share program is a partnership between the state and local landowners to help get conservation practices on the land that prevent erosion and better protect water quality. Now is the time for farmers to plan ahead and work with the local soil and water conservation district office so they are ready to move ahead with construction of the practices as soon as the crops are out of the field this fall.”

He said also “These funds are a great investment by the state and historically farmers contribute $1.50 for each dollar invested by the state. There continues to be strong interest in the cost share program, but there are funds available and we encourage farmers to contact their local soil and water conservation district office to discuss options for their farm.”

Conservation practices eligible for assistance through the program include terraces, waterways, ponds, buffers, cover crops, and several other conservation practices.

In addition to the statewide cost share, at least five percent of the funds will be used to protect several publicly owned lakes and cost share in these projects is available for up to 75 percent of the cost of the project. Eligible lakes include: Badger Creek Lake (Dallas SWCD and Madison SWCD); Lake Icaria (Adams SWCD); Prairie Rose Lake (Shelby SWCD); Three Mile Lake (Adair SWCD, Union SWCD) and
Twelve Mile Lake (Adair SWCD, Union SWCD).

A map of the targeted lake projects is available on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s website at www.IowaAgriculture.gov.