RCPP
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Farmer Demand far exceeds NRCS funding in Iowa; Is new funding on the horizon?
Posted onBy Rebekah Jones STATEWIDE, Iowa – March 28, 2026 – Only about one in five Iowa NRCS applications received conservation funding in 2025, according to NRCS data for three of the most popular farmer programs. Those programs pay for conservation practices like cover crops, prairie, and grazing infrastructure. Why it matters Demand grows, funding shrinks…
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Cover crop interest strong, despite tough farm economy
Posted onBy Dan Looker, IAWA writer DES MOINES, Iowa – March 25, 2026 – In a struggling farm economy, will Iowa’s progress with cover crops be dragged down by burdensome operational costs and prices? It’s too early to tell, but our insights say, “no.” Multiple vendors of cover crop seed and cost share say demand continues…
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Streamlined USDA Records Could Mean Faster, Easier Conservation Assistance for Iowa Farmers
Posted onWASHINGTON DC – March 18, 2026 – A new modernization effort from the U.S. Department of Agriculture promises to simplify how farmers interact with federal agencies, an update that could streamline conservation efforts. “Government red tape” and “too much paperwork” are often cited by farmers who avoid USDA service centers and government programs. It’s unsurprising…
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Collaboration Shines as Conservation Goes Underground in Benton County
Posted onBy Rebekah Jones BENTON CO. (IAWA) – Six Benton County landowners are installing underground filters to reduce nutrient runoff into Prairie Creek and the Cedar River through the county’s first “batch and build” conservation project. The collaboration brings together Iowa Soybean Association, Middle Cedar Watershed staff, and local contractors to make these edge-of-field practices easier…
Posted in Conservation agronomists, CRSWP, Edge of Field Practices, NE Iowa, RCPP, Spotlight Stories -
Urgent: Jan 15 Deadline for NRCS Conservation Funding
Posted onFarmers interested in USDA-NRCS conservation funding for the 2026 planting season need to get their paperwork in order ASAP to meet the upcoming deadline. The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has officially announced a national batching deadline of January 15, 2026, for the first round of funding for several key programs. While the NRCS…
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Iowa NRCS Sets Oct. 10 Cutoff for Conservation Program Applications
Posted onIowa NRCS Sets Oct. 10 Cutoff for Conservation Program Applications Photo Credit: Iowa NRCS DES MOINES, IOWA, Sept. 10, 2025 – The first application cutoff for Iowa farmers and other private landowners to apply for conservation practices in Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 through USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) programs is Oct. 10. NRCS accepts conservation program…
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Relationships, trust key to a sustainable future in Iowa agriculture
Posted onAg retailers join forces with farmers, local officials to scale up conservation practices in the Cedar River Source Water Partnership By Adam Sodders, IAWA NEWHALL, Iowa (IAWA) – In the rolling hills of eastern Iowa’s Cedar River watershed, an exciting new kind of soil and water conservation partnership is finding success. As interest in improving…