With a forecast of lower commodity prices and farm income, Van Zante Creek Watershed Coordinator Terry McNeely encourages farmers to look at environmentally sensitive areas within their crop production fields.
He says one way to improve these areas is to enroll in the Conservation Reserve Program, or CRP. In exchange for a yearly rental payment, participants agree to remove environmentally sensitive land from agricultural production and plant grasses and legumes. The Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy shows an 85 percent nitrate and a 75 percent phosphorus load reduction when changing to perennial vegetation. McNeely says that landowners interested in CRP should contact their local FSA office to learn more.