2022 September Stewardship Advocate

The USDA recently announced $2.8 billion in funding for 70 Climate Smart Agriculture proposals.  See the full list of projects funded here. There will be additional announcements for another round of funding in the near future. Iowa Corn wrote letters of support for the following three proposals that received funding and will continue to work with these organizations in the implementation of the projects. 

Farmers for Soil Health Climate-Smart Commodities Partnership  

This project proposes to accelerate long-term cover crop adoption by creating a platform to incentivize farmers. The platform will quantify, verify, and facilitate the sale of ecosystem benefits, creating a marketplace to generate demand for climate-smart commodities.  

Lead Partner: National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Other Major Partners: Farmers for Soil Health (National Corn Growers Association, United Soybean Board, and National Pork Board), National Center for Appropriate Technology, National Association of Conservation Districts, Soil Health Institute, University of Missouri, Sustainability Consortium, Data Transmission Network, The Walton Family Foundation Primary States Expected: IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, MN, MI, MO, NE, OH, SD, TN, ND, NC, MD, DE, NY, WI, PA, VA Major Commodities: Corn, Soybeans  

Approximate Funding Ceiling: $95,000,000 

National Pork Board’s Advancing U.S. Pork Sustainability and Market Value Proposal

The goal of this project is to increase the sustainability of U.S. pork products by advancing climate-smart agriculture practices within the feed supply, thereby maintaining market demand and price premiums in a rapidly evolving consumer world. The geography of focus – Minnesota, Iowa, and Missouri – encapsulates a concentration of pork facilities supported by local grain production, representing a key region of the overall supply chain.  

Lead Partner: National Pork Board Other Major Partners: Nestle, Sustainable Environmental Consultants, Ducks Unlimited, Trust in Food (Farm Journal), Farm Credit Council, Millborn Seed Primary States Expected: IA, MN, MO Major Commodities: Pork, Rice, Soybeans, Corn  

Approximate Funding Ceiling: $20,000,000 

Horizon II: A Climate-Smart Future for Corn, Soybean, Livestock, and Renewable Natural Gas  

Production This project will enhance climate-smart markets, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve carbon sequestration in the production of corn, soybean, pork, and beef commodities, while creating opportunities for small and underserved producers and benefitting soil health, clean water, flood control, and habitats for native wildlife.  

Lead Partner: Roeslein Alternative Energy, LLC Other Major Partners: Biostar Renewables, Conservation Districts of Iowa, Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance, Iowa Soybean Association, Iowa State University, Missouri Prairie Foundation, Sievers Family Farms, Soil and Water Outcomes Fund, Smithfield Foods, The Nature Conservancy, University of Missouri, Verdesian, Veterans in Agriculture” Primary States Expected: IA, MO Major Commodities: Corn, Soybeans, Pork, Beef, Grass  

Approximate Funding Ceiling: $80,000,000

LATEST INFORMATION 

Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship Announces Availability of Cost-Share for Urban Water Quality Projects 

Bayer & Perdue Announce Program To Reduce Carbon Emissions, Pay Farmers 

Testing the waters: How groups monitor toxic algae in the absence of state testing 

Iowa DNR to treat East Okoboji against invasive species 

5 Conservation Needs to be Met in Farm Bill 2023 

New public-private partnership seeks Iowa farmers to advance nitrogen fertilizer recommendations 

Iowa Nitrogen Initiative – Recruiting Farmer Collaborators for 2023

UPCOMING EVENTS 

September 28 – Iowa Learning Farms Webinar: Developing Reliable Perennial Groundcover Systems – Webinar 

September 28 – National Ag Law Center Webinar: Considering Carbon: A Farmer’s Guide to Carbon Contracts – Webinar 

September 28-29 – Iowa Water Conference – Dubuque  

October 5, 12, 19, 26 – Iowa Learning Farms Webinars – Webinar 

October 8 – Creating a Diverse Slivopasture Farm on Former Row Crop Ground – Clemons 

October 12 – INRC Water Monitoring and Remote Sensing Webinar –  Ames & Webinar 

October 19 – Madison County Soil & Water Conservation District – Winterset 

October 20 – Virtual Field Day Exploring a Pumped Bioreactor System for Improved Water Quality – Webinar 

October 25 – Monarch Joint Venture: What We Talk About When We Talk About Monarchs – Webinar

FARMER TO FARMER VIDEO

Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig joined Iowa Corn at the Farm Progress Show during our Pay Dirt seminars, sharing the important role that every Iowan plays  in improving water quality.