Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced this week a series of new efforts to help Iowa’s farmers and livestock producers conserve water and soil resources and improve nutrient management practices on the state’s 30 million acres of farmland. Vilsack said the U.S. Department of Agriculture will expand access to USDA’s signature conservation programs for Iowa producers, making available up to … Read More
Trimble Enhances Irrigate-IQ Solution
Trimble is excited to introduced its Irrigate-IQ™ optimal flow solution. Now even growers without a variable frequency drive can focus irrigation onto areas of a field that produce at the highest rates. Irrigate-IQ optimal flow enables growers who have standard irrigation pump equipment to incorporate no spray areas within their irrigation plan. By utilizing no spray areas, growers concentrate their … Read More
USDA Announces $350 Million to Protect and Restore
Agricultural Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that $350 million has been designated to help landowners protect and restore key farmlands, grasslands and wetlands. The funding comes from the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), which was designed in the 2014 Farm Bill to protect water resources and wildlife habitat, as well as to encourage owners to maintain land for farming and ranching. “The … Read More
USDA Expands Water Conservation in Ogallala Aquifer
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has made an announcement that the USDA will be putting $8 million in the Ogallala Aquifer Initiative (OAI) in 2016. The purpose of the investment is to help farmers and ranchers conserve water annually while strengthening agricultural operations at the same time. The Ogallala Aquifer expands through eight states, including most all of Nebraska and a large part … Read More
GYPSOIL to Sponsor Nutrient Management Conference
A Nutrient Management and Edge of Field Monitoring Conference will be held in conduction with Healthy Soils for Healthy Waters, thanks to the sponsorship of Beneficial ReuseManagement, makers of GYPSOIL brand gypsum. Clear your schedules for December 1-3 and head to Memphis, Tennesse for an opportuinty to discuss edge of field monitoring research, nutrient reduction strategies and activities, and conservation programs … Read More
USDA Invests In Improving Water Quality
$30 million will be invested in Mississippi watersheds this year according to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. 33 new projects and 40 existing projects to improve water quality in high priority watersheds are included in the project; these projects affect waters that flow into the Gulf of Mexico. “By targeting small priority watersheds within the Mississippi River basin, we are … Read More
AgriLife Extension Tests Sprinkler System
In an effort to conserve water, manufacturers have been making smart irrigation for landscapes. These sprinkler systems sense the water in the ground and apply just the right amount of moisture to lawns. Now Charles Swanson of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Services is testing those irrigation systems to see if they are as accurate as they say. Originally, Swanson and Dr. … Read More
AFBF Releases More EPA Overreach Maps
The American Farm Bureau Federation has released even more maps to help visualize the EPA’s overreach in the new WOTUS rule. The maps show how the government intends to radically expand its jurisdiction over land, highlighting the fact that nearly all of the total acreage for the four states illustrated would full under EPA jurisdiction. The maps prepared by Geosyntec Consulting show … Read More
1,800 Farmers Commit $3.5 Million to Water Quality
Bill Northey, Iowa Secretary of Ag, has announced that $3.5 million in cost share funds have been obligated to 1,800 farmers in each of Iowa’s 99 counties. The funds come from the Iowa Water Quality Initiative, which was established in 2013 to address the problem of reducing nitrogen and phosphorous in the water. Practices that were eligible for this program are; cover … Read More
UF/IFAS Help Unravel Complicated Water Policy
The University of Florida/IFAS Center for Public Issues Education has a new program to help those who need information about water policies. The mobile-friendly website provides people with access to the policies and aids them in deciphering complicated information. In addition to several tools that help residents understand Florida policies, the website also contains ideas for thoughtful conversations about water … Read More