Twenty members of the Illinois Farm Bureau who visited Iowa this week on a nutrient issues tour left the state with a greater appreciation for Iowa’s collaborative approach to water quality issues after meeting with stakeholders across the state.

Illinois Farm Bureau President Rich Guebert said the purpose of the tour was to see Iowa’s different experiences with water quality issues and understand how ag groups can work with partners to address these issues.

Iowa Farm Bureau Environmental Policy Advisor Rick Robinson said the tour began with a stop in Des Moines for an overview of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy from Iowa officials, including Iowa Ag Secretary Bill Northey, Iowa Department of Natural Resources Director Chuck Gipp, NRCS State Conservationist Kurt Simon and other state water quality leaders.

Read the full Iowa Farmer Today story here.