Farmers, agricultural suppliers and farm leaders last week kicked off an ambitious project to reduce nutrient losses from fields in the Elk Run watershed, which covers parts of Carroll, Sac and Calhoun counties.

The three-year project for the 23,380-acre watershed, which ultimately feeds water into the Raccoon River, will outline priorities that are key in reducing nutrient losses and will demonstrate practices that research from Iowa State University (ISU) has shown to be effective at keeping nitrogen and phosphorus out of surface water, said coordinator Diane Ercse. The Elk Run project will also provide cost-share dollars for farmers to help finance the implementation of those practices, she said.

The Elk Run watershed project plans to work with farmers...