Conservation counts in every corner of Iowa

As Iowans, we know our state’s farmers produce the most corn, eggs, pigs and renewable fuels in the nation.

But what you may find even more impressive is how they’re also leading the way in conservation.

Iowa is number one in buffer strips, filter strips, grassed waterways, water quality wetlands, conservation tillage, bioreactors, pollinator habitat, terraces and saturated buffers.

Through these efforts, Iowa farmers have cut phosphorus loads in Iowa’s waterways by a third. 

And U.S. Geological Survey monitoring data shows nitrate concentrations in the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers trended lower by 85% and 75%, respectively, between 2014 and 2024.

The farmers contributing to this success can be found in every corner of the state. 

Northeast Iowa

Eric Elsbernd’s family farm falls in both Winneshiek and Allamakee counties. For him, conservation doesn’t only benefit the land but the community at large. That’s why he uses no-till, which leaves soil undisturbed, and plants cereal rye as a cover crop.

Cover crops prevent soil and nutrients from leaving the farm. Eric plants soybeans into established cereal rye and grows rye for seed, too. Once those seed acres are harvested, he plants the area to a mix of sunflowers, turnips, radishes, oats and buckwheat. 

 “Our goal is to have some sort of living root covering all acres, if possible,” he says. “It gives us the ability to build soil biology and organic matter through more diverse cover crop mixes.” 

Eric has noticed these practices reduce soil erosion and improve soil structure. This helps hold water better, reduces runoff and protects water quality. 

Northwest Iowa

Mike Ver Steeg of Lyon County farms with his son, Cody, and family member, Nathan Nieuwendorp. Their conservation philosophy began with Mike’s dad who was a longtime no-tiller. Today, their family farm is home to grassed waterways, cover crops and a bioreactor—a woodchip pit that filters nutrients before they reach local streams.  

Cody and Nathan also plant cover crops for other local farmers. Because the cover crops act as a weed suppressor, Mike said last year they didn’t use a pre-herbicide on their soybeans and still saw positive results.    

Mike uses manure from the pigs on his farm as a natural source of fertilizer, and he takes responsible nitrogen management seriously. He samples the manure to better understand its nutrient content and uses a nitrogen stabilizer after injecting manure into the soil to prevent nutrient loss. 

In areas where they do not apply manure, Mike uses variable rate technology to make sure nutrients are only being applied in precise amounts where needed to grow a healthy crop.

“We’re looking for ways to decrease soil erosion and make our soils healthier,” he says. “The more organic matter in your soil, the less nitrogen you should need.”

Southwest Iowa

Frazee Farms in Montgomery County has been in the same family for more than 100 years. Iowa is home to nearly 21,000 of these “century” farms—a testament to Iowa farmers making sustainability a priority. 

On the Frazee family farm, sustainability has taken the form of buffer strips, no-till, cover crops and terraces. Terraces can be easily identified as you drive around Iowa because they look like grassy stairsteps.  

“It’s always a continual maintenance project to keep terraces up to snuff,” says Krista (Frazee) Huntsman. “From repairing washouts, pulling trees and identifying areas where additional terraces are needed to improve drainage and soil health.”

Terraces along with buffer strips on their farm help control erosion and runoff near creek banks and waterways. The strips naturally filter water before it reaches tributaries, keeping nutrients in the field for crops to use. 

Southeast Iowa

As a past Conservation Farmer of the Year award recipient, Jarad Weber of Lee County is no stranger to making conservation a priority. 

From buffer strips and waterways to more than 5,000 feet of terraces and a bioreactor—Jarad finds opportunity to put practices where they can best work on his land.

As a cattle farmer, he uses rotational grazing. He moves his cattle around the land to keep forage growing at all times. This keeps carbon locked in the soil and out of the atmosphere. He also plants cover crops which are an additional feed source for his animals.

“It seems like it all happened at once, but it’s just a little bit at a time, and then it starts rolling along and it snowballs,” says Jarad of all the practices on his farm. “Now, we’re kind of in the middle of something really cool, and it feels like we’re just getting started.”

Central Iowa

West of Boone, Jeremy Gustafson and his family say their goal is to catch every drop of water that enters their farm and keep it where it lands. 

They are doing that through cover crops, no-till and buffer strips. 

Jeremy has seen these practices work firsthand after heavy rainfalls. 

“The cover crop and the residue are holding everything in place. You can see it,” he says. 

He explains these plants help fields act like lawns instead of driveways, so rain can infiltrate the ground instead of running off.

He’s presented his experiences and data to fellow farmers and ag professionals across Iowa, showing the long-term benefits of these practices to soil health to help other family farms become more resilient. 

“We’re trying to do things right,” he says. “Not just for us, but for the next generation.”

To learn more about the winning team of Iowa farmers and what farmers in your area are doing, visit Conservation Counts: Farmers in Action. 

Learn more about author Caitlyn Lamm here.