Secretary Naig Announces Another Record Year for Conservation in Iowa

AMES, Iowa (August 19, 2024) – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced that the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, working with Iowa’s 100 Soil and Water Conservation Districts and farmers and landowners, again shattered a record for conservation and water quality practice adoption within Iowa during the last fiscal year. Secretary Naig made the announcement today during remarks at the annual Conservation Districts of Iowa conference in Ames.

“For the third year in a row, we have set a record for conservation adoption in Iowa. I want to thank everyone who has said ‘yes’ to adding proven water quality practices on their land during the past year. Because public and private partners are joining together with farmers and landowners to add these practices, the pace of implementation continues to accelerate,” said Secretary Naig. “We have come a long way, and still have far to go, but Iowans continue to demonstrate that they are committed to conservation and water quality. Whether you live on a farm or in the city, we can all play a role in protecting our natural resources and I encourage all Iowans to add even more practices in the year ahead.”

During the last fiscal year, which ended on June 30, state cost-share leveraged $56.42 million in practice implementation, an increase of nearly $3.8 million over the previous record year. For every dollar the state contributed, farmers and landowners matched that with $1.15 in investment. A decade ago, state cost-share leveraged $34.12 million in conservation practice adoption, proving that the pace of implementation continues to accelerate. 

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Originally published by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship in August 2024.