Mike Naig, Iowa secretary of agriculture, discusses progress so far in implementing Iowa's water quality inititiave and plans for the future.

Iowa farmers are taking on the challenge of improving water quality, as they also protect and improve their soils. The Spokesman visited with Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig about the conservation progress farmers have already made through the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy and the progress he expects in the future. Here are excerpts from that conversation.

Q: As we head into the 2020 growing season, how would you assess the progress that farmers and others in Iowa agriculture are making on improving water quality?

I’m proud of the fact that we can say, in the state of Iowa, that we have never had as much effort and as many resources focused on improving water quality and soil health as we do right now. That’s really saying something, because Iowa has been a leader when it comes...