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Find out what's new in soil

Videos and other information from selected past events

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Need to add an event? Send an email to leocenter@iastate.edu

New working lands program  Under a new USDA program, farmers and ranchers can conserve grasslands, rangeland and pastures while maintaining the areas as livestock grazing lands. The initiative is part of the  Conservation Reserve Program, called CRP-Grasslands. Read the news release

CRP acres  The USDA will begin the next general signup for the Conservation Reserve Program on December 1. Producers who have contracts expiring in September can extend their contracts for one year. The USDA is adding 800,000 acres to the CRP program for developing wetland and wildlife habitat. Read the announcement.  Producers should contact their local FSA office.

Cost-share funds  Iowa ag secretary Bill Northey announced $4.4 million for the Iowa Water Quality Initiative, some of which are available to farmers to try cover crops or use no-till, strip till or a nitrification inhibitor (used when applying fertlizer) to improve water quality. Farmers can submit applications to their local Soil and Water Conservation District office. See the news release

SARE partnership grants  The North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NCR-SARE) program will fund 8 projects that foster cooperation between ag professionals and small groups of farmers. Proposals are due October 29. More information here

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