gREATER dES mOINES WATERSHED PROGRAM

Field with cover crops
 
 

NEW COST-SHARE PROGRAMS AVAILABLE

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) has launched a targeted initiative to drive the use of agricultural and urban conservation practices in 22 counties upstream from Central Iowa, where they can have a significant impact on water quality. The program prioritizes the adoption of cover crops and vegetative streamside buffers, and the Cattle and Conservation Working Lands program, which are proven to work. 

Farmers and landowners in these counties are invited to enroll in the conservation programs that meet the needs of their land and businesses, and may receive higher cost-share rates and increased acre caps compared to other statewide cost-share programs. 

 
 
Cattle grazing in field

PROGRAM DETAILS

  • Farmers and landowners within the following counties are eligible for the Greater Des Moines Watershed Program: Audubon, Boone, Buena Vista, Calhoun, Carroll, Clay, Dallas, Dickinson, Emmet, Green, Guthrie, Hamilton, Hancock, Humboldt, Kossuth, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, Polk, Sac, Webster, Winnebago and Wright 

  • New and existing cover crop users within these 22 counties can receive up to $25/acre in cost share and enroll up to 500 acres. 

  • The Cattle and Conservation Working Lands Program is expanding! Details coming soon. 

  • Farmers and landowners within these 22 counties are eligible for the streamside buffer initiative, which pays a one-time establishment cost and between $1,500-3,000 per acre for foregone income, to establish at least a 30 ft vegetative buffer.  

  • Precision nutrient management incentives – details coming this fall! 

 

SIGN UP TODAY

If you are ready to enroll in the Greater Des Moines watershed program, visit your local USDA Service Center or fill out the sign up form and an IDALS staff member will follow up with you.