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State soil conservation award winners announcedIowa Eight Iowa farmers are being honored this month for their environmental efforts to protect soil and water resources. The farmers will receive regional soil conservation awards at district meetings of the Conservation Districts of Iowa (CDI) starting Aug. 21. This is the 31st year that Farm Bureau is presenting the awards. "Iowa farmers are true stewards of the environment, taking the initiative to prevent soil erosion and nutrient runoff into streams and lakes," said Rick Robinson, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation environmental policy advisor. Robinson noted that the demand for funds to build terraces, waterways and more is nearly twice the amount allocated by the state. "Farmers are working to protect water resources, often without state cost-share funds," he said. Efforts by Iowa farmers have helped reduce soil erosion 43 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Erosion has been reduced statewide to an average of 5.3 tons per acre, down from 8.3 tons per acre in 1992 and 10.2 tons per acre in 1982. "But, there's still work to be done, and it's through the efforts of farmers, like this year's regional winners, that we'll continue to make progress," said Robinson. The purpose of the award is to encourage better land use programs and environmental control on Iowa farms. The award is sponsored by the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation and Conservation Districts of Iowa. The state winner will be announced Nov. 16 during the CDI annual meeting in Ames. Other regional award winners are as follows (there is no Region 2 winner this year): Region 1: Lisa and Nate Ronsiek of Hawarden. Their 344-acre farm has all acres properly treated to prevent erosion. They contour plant all crops, have terraced nearly all cropland, installed grassed waterways, use conservation till when planting, have seven acres filter strips, a nutrient management plan and 1.4 acres of windbreaks. Region 3: Holland farmer Fred Abels is the owner and operator of this 410-acre farm. He utilizes conservation tillage when planting, has 7.8 acres of grassed waterways, 72.1 acres of planned grazing on which he hosted pasture walks to show others his practice, 18.7 acres of field borders, a nutrient management plan and a windbreak. Region 4: Adams and Sons Farms of Colesburg is the winner. Rich Adams and his sons no-till, contour plant crops, have constructed terraces, have planted trees and built a grade stabilization structure on the 447-acre farm. Region 5: Senivac Farms Inc. owned and operated by Randy Caviness of Greenfield encompasses a variety of conservation measures across 2,531 acres. Contouring planting, conservation tillage, strip-cropping and terraces are the foundations preventing soil erosion. He has also installed 13 acres of field borders, 104 acres of filter strips and 160 acres of wildlife habitat. Region 6: Douglas Honeck of State Center is this year's regional winner. This 126-acre farm has been improved with grassed waterways, the use of conservation tillage, 1-acre of wildlife habitat, 2 acres of windbreaks and a nutrient management plan. Region 7: The 211-acre farm of Eleanor Stone of Wapello is this year's winner. She has nearly adequately treated all of her land using contour planting, waterways, 50 acres that are terraced, 21.6 acres of tree plantings, four water diversion structures, eight farm ponds, and by using conservation tillage to plant crops. She also has 57 acres of pasture and installed 28 acres of filter strips along streams. Region 8: James and Bonnie McGuire of Thayer have improved their farm around a planned grazing system on 191 acres. Grassed waterways and water diversions, two farm ponds and other structures are also used. They have also built 28 acres of filter strips along streams and created 33 acres of wildlife habitat. Region 9: Tom Hull of Ottumwa owns this winning 300-acre farm which features contour planting and conservation tillage on cropland, grassed waterways, 38 acres protected by terraces, two farm ponds, field borders and 15 acres of wildlife habitat. Date: 9/21/06
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