Cover Crop Activities In Iowa.

This project is located in the Northwest corner of the state of Iowa in Lyon and Sioux counties.  This area was selected to encourage adoption of cover crops because of significant soil and water quality concerns resulting from high nitrates in the tile water, removal of corn residue for cellulosic ethanol production and livestock bedding, and harvest of corn silage for cattle feed.  The purpose of this project is to reduce erosion from wind and water, increase soil organic matter content, capture and recycle nutrients, promote biological nitrogen fixation, and increase biodiversity.

Iowa is piloting an Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) cover crop initiative to promote the acceptance of cover crops and to demonstrate the soil quality and erosion control benefits to the producer.  Eligibility requirements for the FY2010 Cover Crop Initiative in Lyon and Sioux Counties are: 1) cropping systems must be at or below T soil loss level, and 2) Soil Conditioning Index (SCI) must be greater than zero after the application of the cover crop practice.  Incentive payments are prorated based on type of cover crop established (non-winter hardy, winter hardy, and living mulch).

Results to date include the development of three cover crop publications, allocating $208,700 dollars in EQIP funds for16 applications.  An additional 1026 acres of cover crops will be applied with 2000 more acres in unfunded applications.