Nearly 30 Iowa farmers sign conservation and crop insurance letter

Nevada, Iowa - Twenty-seven Iowa farmers, in support of conservation and crop insurance practices in the 2018 farm bill, signed and sent a letter to Iowa Sens. Grassley and Ernst and Reps. Blum, Loebsack, Young, and King.

“As farmers in Iowa, we write to you with concerns about the future of conservation in our state,” the letter began. “Conservation practices, such as planting cover crops, have been enormously beneficial for our operations.”

The farmers shared ideas on encouraging farmers to use conservation practices such as planting cover crops, engaging in no-till, and planting a diverse crop rotation. They asked for crop insurance to work hand-in-hand with conservation policy, proposing the removal of barriers within policies to plant cover crops.

The letter also asks that Congress protect existing conservation programs under the Natural Resource Conservation Service, particularly working lands conservation programs such as the Conservation Stewardship Program and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.

“As Iowa farmers, we believe these ideas are good for farmers, good for Iowa, good for our rural economies, and good for our soil and water,” the letter states. “Please provide strong support for conservation in the upcoming farm bill work.”

To view the letter, visit cfra.org.

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By county, the signers are: Black Hawk: Clark Porter; Allamakee: Charles Bieber and Dennis Nebendahl; Calhoun: Brian Heide; Cass: Ray Wilson; Cherokee: Nathan Anderson; Clinton: Kent Bennis; Delaware: Troy Deutmeyer; Greene and Sac: Jeff Pudenz; Hamilton: Larry Haren and Loran Seiser; Hardin: Keith Kuper; Humboldt: Gary Fisher; Johnson: William Furlong and Max Trimpe; Monona: Bo Fox; Montgomery: Mark Peterson; Page: David L. Williams; Palo Alto: Kipp Fehr; Plymouth: Bill and Dotty Zales; Pocahontas: Jerry Depew and Jerry Sobotka; Shelby: Daniel Rosmann; Van Buren: Tim Blair and Kim Steele-Blair; Washington: Levi Lyle; and Winnebago: Zack Smith.