A record number of Iowa farmers signed up to install nutrient reduction practices on their farm through the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stew­ardship’s statewide water quality cost share program, Iowa Agri­culture Secretary Bill Northey said last week.

More than 2,600 farmers signed up to try cover crops, no-till/strip-till or nitrification inhibitors on more than 270,000 acres in 98 counties. The state will provide...