March 18, 2024

Taking care of our land

As a fifth-generation family farmer from Clarke County, it is important to me to take care of the land and protect our precious resources for the next generation.

We all know that farming practices impact everyone. The majority of Iowa farmers use conservation tillage practices and grass buffers to protect soil and water quality.

In fact, Iowa is a national leader in acres devoted to grass filter strips and buffer strips to protect rivers and streams from runoff. We are also planting cover crops to control erosion and add valuable organic matter to the soil.

Soil tests and precision ag technology help us place the right nutrients in the right amounts. We are also investing in nitrogen stabilizers to retain these nutrients in the soil, where they can nourish our crops.

On my farm, I have seeded hay fields around my highly-erodible land and built grassed waterways to control water flow and prevent erosion. These eco-friendly management practices are among the many reasons why Iowa’s farmers have always been able to produce enough corn for food and renewable fuels like ethanol.

Going forward, we want to build on these successes while supporting targeted, voluntary water quality efforts like the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy.

Iowa farmers will continue to find new solutions that benefit all Iowans. It is important to me to pass on a productive farm to my children and grandchildren so they can enjoy raising their families on this farm just as my wife and I have.

Protecting water quality is everyone’s responsibility. Remember that the next time you fertilize your yard or play golf on your local golf course.