The recently awarded Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) funds will be used to install bioreactors, wetlands, oxbows and seed about 150,000 acres of cover crops over five years in the North Racoon Watershed. RCPP is a partner-driven approach to conservation that funds solutions to natural resource challenges on agricultural land. (Photo Credit: Joseph L. Murphy/Iowa Soybean Association)
Iowa Soybean Association, NRCS and Partners Announce $25.8M Collaboration to Enhance Conservation in North Raccoon Watershed
April 16, 2020
Farmers and landowners in the North Raccoon River Watershed will soon receive a major boost in establishing more conservation practices on more acres.
The Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) and eleven partnering organizations are recipients of a Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) award courtesy of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) announced today.
A defining feature of the five-year program totaling $25,828,730 is the establishment of area conservation agronomists working in cooperation with ag retailers located within the watershed. This localized approach will boost the delivery, efficiency and effectiveness of conservation services to farmers.
“We appreciate working in partnership with NRCS and this investment is a much-needed boost,” says Roger Wolf, ISA’s Director of Innovation and Integrated Solutions.
Over the next five years, farmers will be implementing practices that will reduce an estimated 781,000 lb. of nitrogen export from the watershed as well as 33,600 tons of reduced sediment loss.
The North Raccoon River Watershed extends roughly 160 miles north and west of Des Moines to Buena Vista County. It touches roughly a dozen counties, with 85 percent of its land area devoted to soybean and corn production.
Funding from the RCPP totals $9.8 million and will support the following conservation practices:
- Enrolling 150,000 acres of cover crops over 4 years
- Achieving 57,600 acres of reduced or no-till management
- Construction of 22 bioreactors and 25 saturated buffers
- Construction of an additional 5 wetlands in tile drained stream segments
- Restoration of 20 oxbow wetlands for wildlife habitat and water quality improvement
Partner contributions totaling $16 million will support additional conservation practice implementation, program administration, communication and monitoring.
NRCS Chief Matthew Lohr says the innovative program deploys conservation practices and systems through collaboration and aligning resources toward a common goal.
“We’re excited to be engaging agricultural producers and our partners to implement conservation practices and systems generating positive environmental outcomes for farmers as well as downstream water and recreational users,” Lohr says. “In doing so, we’ll make an impact for natural resource conservation that could never have been realized on our own.”
The NRCS is investing $206 million in 48 partner-driven conservation projects across 29 states through its Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). Partners, like those involved in the North Raccoon Watershed, are making nearly $300 million in contributions.
“To implement the number of practices involving the number of acres needed to make an impact, resources and partners must be aligned and leveraged,” Wolf says. “This project does both.”
The project’s goals are ambitious, as are the expected outcomes.
The RCPP is a partner-driven approach to conservation that funds solutions to natural resource challenges on agricultural land. By leveraging collective resources and collaborating on common goals, RCPP demonstrates the power of public-private partnerships in delivering results for agriculture and conservation.
Partners include:
- Ag Partners LLC
- Agriculture’s Clean Water Alliance
- City of Des Moines
- Heartland Co-op
- Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance
- Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship
- Iowa Department of Natural Resources
- North Raccoon River Watershed Management Authority
- Syngenta LLC
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- Upstream Tech
Work is expected to begin later this year with farmers and landowner enrollment occurring around October 2020.
Farmers and stakeholders interested in participating or receiving additional information are encouraged to contact Wolf at rwolf@iasoybeans.com
The Iowa Soybean Association (www.iasoybeans.com) is “Driven To Deliver” increased soybean demand through market development and new uses, farmer-focused research and results, timely information and know-how and policy initiatives enabling farmers and the industry to flourish. Founded in 1964 by farmers to serve farmers, ISA is governed by a board of 22 farmers to advocate on behalf of the state’s 40,000 soybean producers, including more than 15,000 ISA farmer members and industry stakeholders.
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