Farmers across southeast Iowa are among those benefiting from millions of dollars invested in conservation efforts through partnerships with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
According to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Iowa farmers and private landowners worked with NRCS in fiscal year 2025 to implement conservation practices on more than 258,000 acres statewide. Those efforts included addressing soil erosion, improving water quality, and enhancing wildlife habitat, with a total of $75.3 million obligated through Farm Bill conservation programs.
In southeast Iowa, Wapello County ranked second in the state for Environmental Quality Incentives Program, or EQIP, participation. Sixteen contracts there will cover more than 5,400 acres, bringing nearly $1.7 million in conservation funding to local farms. EQIP allows producers to choose conservation practices tailored to local resource concerns.
Popular conservation practices across the region included cover crops, grazing management, fencing to support livestock rotation, brush management, and installation of watering facilities. These practices are aimed at protecting soil health while keeping farms productive.
NRCS also invested millions statewide through the Conservation Stewardship Program, Agricultural Conservation Easement Program, and Regional Conservation Partnership Program, supporting long-term conservation planning and land protection. Additional funding helped address water quality concerns in the Mississippi River Basin and supported wildlife habitat projects.
State conservation officials say Iowa’s strong participation reflects continued interest from farmers in protecting land and water resources while maintaining working farms. Enrollment for USDA conservation programs remains open year-round through local USDA Service Centers.