Cover crop benefits, responsibility explored at workshop

     Why is there increased interest in cover crops, what are the benefits of planting them, and who needs to be involved in their expense?

     These and other questions were explored during a Cover Crop Workshop, sponsored by Iowa Learning Farms in February at American Legion Post 421 in Central City.

     About 25 farmers were on hand, listening, asking questions and making comments speakers from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

     Matt Helmers, Extension agricultural engineer, started the two-hour session by asking why cover crops have gained interest in recent years.

     Part of it, those in attendance agreed, has to do with the Nutrient Reduction Strategy, which has sought to reduce the nutrients in surface water from both point and non-point sources. Also bringing cover crops into the limelight was the recent Des Moines Water Works lawsuit that sought damages for water runoff from farms.

     The farmers generally agreed that cover crops can be beneficial to reduce runoff, soil erosion and improve soil health.               

     Less clear was how the cover crops should be paid for.

     Helmers and Mark Licht, Extension cropping systems specialist, divided the attendees into groups who went around the room answering questions that had been written on posters.

     Among the questions were, “What are the leading causes of water quality issues in Iowa? (Most common answers: production demands, tillage practices and weather events) and “What practices are most effective for improving water quality in your area? (Top answers: cover crops, nutrient management and knowledge.)

     Another question drew more discussion: “Whose responsibility is it to pay for infield and edge-of-field conservation practices?”

     The most common answers involved farmers, landowners and “all participants in the food chain.”

     One farmer said: “If they’re benefitting from it, they ought to be paying for it. You want clean water; we want to produce enough food for the world. We all have to share in the cost of that clean water.”

     Helmers said the general public already agreed to be part of the solution when it voted in a constitutional amendment that created the Iowa Natural Resources and Outdoor Trust Fund in 2010.

     “I think there’s some sentiment that people understand this is probably a shared responsibility, and not just the responsibility of the farmer,” Helmers said.

     For those who rent farmland, getting landowners involved was deemed important.

     “Landlords need to be part of that conversation,” said speaker Jamie Benning, Extension water quality program manager.

     Licht said he understands that planting cover crops involves some adjustments.

     “For first time cover croppers, think about how you are going to do it, and realize that you’re going to be changing your production system,” Licht said. “I’ve heard people who have been doing cover crops for years say that it’s a completely different field once you get in there.”

     Some of the farmers present believed that as others start to see the benefits from planting cover crops, more will get involved.

     “Those messages are moving out, but it’s going to take time,” Benning said. “We just need to be out there talking about setting everybody up for success.”

     “It’s been very slow to spread,” one farmer said.

     Licht and Benning displayed a poster that showed where Iowa stands in terms of Nutrient Reduction Strategy involvement as of late 2016.

     While the amount of no-till acres are at nearly half of the NRS goal of 11.1 million acres, other areas such as cover crops, wetlands and prairie strips have seen small gains.

     Helmers said: “Right now we have a voluntary approach. This is our opportunity. If we don’t show some progress, maybe a little more progress than we’ve seen, I think there will be continued calls for a more regulatory or mandatory approach to it.”

     Also on hand was Iowa Learning Farms events coordinator Liz Juchems, who took registrations at the beginning and offered door prizes at the end.