Visit with any of the attendees at the re­­cent Iowa Farm Bur­eau Young Farmer Conference, and they will tell you that water quality, and conservation in general, are top priorities on their farms.

In fact, the young farmers talk like scientists, explaining in detail the technology they use to help conserve the land, water and wildlife across the state.

Millennial farmers are returning to their family farms ready to apply their college degrees in engineering, agronomy and environmental studies. They’re comfortable with ever-changing technology and readily embrace it to continuously improve their farms.

And frankly, young farmers don’t want to do things exactly the way their parents’ have always done things on the farm.

"The young farmers today are probably the first to jump on board with modern farming practices (and) conservation practices," said Andy Muff, a farmer from Ventura and chair of the Iowa Farm...