(Radio Iowa) – A nonprofit that promotes soil and water conservation on Iowa farmland says federal grant money that was put on hold has now been released. Conservation Districts of Iowa executive director Dien Judge says they support 500 locally-elected soil and water conservation district commissioners. “These programs are really about the future and looking toward saving our precious natural resources here and making sure that farmers generations ahead of us will have the same opportunities we have,” he says. Judge says they can rehire staff laid off in February.

“What is means for landowners, farmers is that, if you’ve got projects you want to get done, there’s staff that can work on that,” Judge says. The nonprofit laid off 38 of 39 staff in February after the Trump administration froze federal funding. “Most of them are coming back, so we’re very happy about that,” he says.

Judge says Inflation Reduction Act funds are still frozen, but non-IRA grant money is coming through and invoices are being paid.