Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey last week highlighted the Iowa Water Quality Initiative 2016 Legislative Report during his presentation to the Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee.

"We continue to see engagement and investment in water quality efforts, and it is exciting to see the progress that is being made," Northey said. "Thanks to the support we have received from the Governor and Legislature, the Iowa Water Quality Initiative continues to expand and work with additional farmers."

Northey released an eight-page report that provides an update on the $3.5 million made available for statewide cost-share for water quality practices and on the 29 demonstration projects that were operating across the state last year to help implement and demonstrate water quality practices.

The report from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship showed:

• Farmers invested $12.8 million for conservation projects in the state during 2015, with the state contributing $9.8 million in cost-share.

• More than 1,900 Iowa farmers accessed state cost-share funds to install conservation practices in 2015.

• There were 515 miles of terraces constructed in Iowa in 2015 using cost-share funds.

The report also gives an update on tracking/accountability and efforts by the Iowa Nutrient Research Center at Iowa State University. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources also provided an update on the efforts of point sources that is included in the report.

During the hearing, Northey highlighted the $10 million request for the Water Quality Initiative, which would allow the department to continue offering cost-share statewide to farmers trying new water quality practices, to expand work in targeted watersheds to achieve measurable water quality improvements and to continue to develop new programs to help engage all Iowans in water quality efforts.

The department received $9.6 million for the current fiscal year for the Water Quality Initiative.