With farmers in the area now in the thick of the 2022 harvest, a local watershed coordinator reminds eligible producers and landowners not to miss out on a tremendous cost-share opportunity for cover crop implementation. Ethan Thies is the Black Hawk Lake Watershed Coordinator. He oversees the implementation of permanent and temporary practices to reduce erosion and improve local water quality.
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Thies adds the entire application process is a somewhat lengthy endeavor. However, the Oct. 7 deadline is just the first step and only requires a few minutes of a producer’s time.
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Cover crops are a growing trend in conservation agriculture, and recent studies show the benefits of programs like this are wide-ranging. Thies says it is even more attractive when considering the substantial cost-share available.
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The watershed stretches between Lake View and Breda and includes just over 13,000 acres. Thies says the benefit of cover crops can be seen in nearly every field they have been utilized in, and more and more producers are picking up the practice.
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Again, the initial application deadline for cover crop cost-share programs for next year’s contracts is Friday, Oct. 7. For more information or to register, contact Thies by calling 712-730-3018 or by email at ethan.thies@dnr.iowa.gov. Yesterday (Thursday), the Iowa Department of Agriculture announced they are continuing the state’s crop insurance discount program for cover crops, and signup for that begins Dec. 1.