When it comes to farming practices, increasing profits goes hand-in-hand with protecting the environment. Healthy soil and water management lead to more resilient and profitable crops. That's why farmers in northern Iowa are working hard to protect the local Rock Creek watershed.

These farmers have set a goal to reduce nutrient runoff to the watershed, which feeds into the Cedar River, by 45% over the next 20 years. Nutrient runoff includes elements such as nitrogen and phosphorous, which are good for crops but can create harmful buildup in water.

Iowa's nutrient runoff is contributing to pollution in the Mississippi River Basin, which is why the federal government has designated the Rock Creek watershed as a priority for nutrient reduction. Runoff also contributes to downstream flooding and the University of Iowa - Iowa Flood Center (IFC) has designated the area as a priority for flood damage reduction.

The Iowa Soybean Association (ISA), a local nonprofit organization, is helping farmers increase their revenues from soybean production by using environmentally responsible methods. With support from the Walton Family Foundation, ISA is developing a plan with IFC to promote farming methods that have shared benefits for water quality and flood mitigation.

As part of this plan, ISA is leading efforts to help farmers implement agricultural practices that help both the environment and their budgets. Iowa farmers are planting cover crops, applying fertilizer at rates and times that are best for crop growth and implementing conservation tillage practices to reduce soil erosion. By using these methods more strategically, farmers are improving water quality, reducing flood risks in the Rock Creek watershed, while saving on costs and increasing their profits.

Learn more about the Iowa Soybean Association >