The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship announced a new partnership with Agriculture’s Clean Water Alliance (ACWA) to expand the network of conservation agronomists working with Iowa farmers and landowners to implement proven water quality and conservation practices in priority watersheds. 

The partnership will utilize more than $2 million in public funding from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Gulf Hypoxia Program to extend the duration of three conservation agronomist positions and deploy two additional positions. 

The network will connect farmers and landowners with technical and financial assistance to install priority in-field and edge-of-field practices, and support ag retail engagement in conservation and nutrient reduction practices. The partnership will support the implementation of practices that will lead to an estimated reduction of 2 million pounds of nitrogen and 57,000 pounds of phosphorus.