Secretary Naig, Iowa State University and USDA NRCS Discuss Fall Conservation Considerations, Cost-Share Programs
DES MOINES, Iowa (Sept. 2, 2020) – Today, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Agronomist Mark Licht, and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Agronomist Mike Henderson held joint media availability to discuss how crop damage caused by drought and the derecho may impact fall cover crop and tillage decisions.
Secretary Naig gave an overview of cover crop use in Iowa and state cost-share programs available to farmers and landowners. Licht, assistant professor of agronomy and ISU Extension and Outreach cropping systems specialist, explained how unharvested crops affected cover crop application and seeding this fall. Licht also described how planting fall cover crops can help improve soil quality for the spring planting season. Henderson discussed no-till soil management options and the USDA cost-share programs available to help farmers and landowners adopt conservation practices.