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EPA honors Iowa farmers for efforts to protect watershedIowa Iowa farmers who work hard to protect the fertile soils of Iowa have been honored with a third place Gulf Guardian Award for 2008 by the Environmental Protection Agency. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa Farm Service Agency and Iowa Farm Bureau Federation partnered on a project to help farmers reduce nitrates and phosphorous nutrients to the Gulf of Mexico. "Their efforts to preserve, protect and restore the priceless Gulf of Mexico resources deserve the highest commendation," said Jimmy Palmer, Regional Administrator of the EPA Office in Atlanta. The Gulf Guardian Award recognizes the businesses, community groups, individuals and agencies that take positive steps to protect the Gulf, a vital fishing ecosystem. This is the first year that the Iowa Farm Bureau has won a Gulf Guardian award. "Iowa farmers have taken great strides in protecting the watershed through a variety of measures," says IFBF Environmental Policy Advisor Rick Robinson. "We believe that constructing more strategic wetlands through the Iowa Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program can significantly reduce Iowa nutrients to the Gulf. Currently, we have 72 wetlands and a variety of other conservation measures which have reduced nitrogen by as much as 38 percent and phosphorous by up to 58 percent. Farmers want to do a lot more, and this award recognizes their efforts and reinforces the potential of what can be done voluntarily to protect some of the nation's most valuable, most productive soils and waters." The first place winner in the partnership division--Dickenson, Texas-the Parks and Wildlife Department/North Deer Island Protection Partnership. Second place in the partnership division--Port of Houston Authority/Clean and Green Program, Houston, Texas. For more information about Iowa farmers' conservation efforts, contact Iowa Farm Bureau at 515-225-5409 or go online at www.iowafarmbureau.com. 12/1/08 Date: 11/24/08
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