Conservation Agronomists: The Bridge Between Farm Sustainability & Profitability

Conservation Agronomists

The Bridge Between Farm Sustainability & Profitability

Find a Conservation Agronomist

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a conservation agronomist?

Conservation agronomists are agronomic experts who can be trusted advisors for farmers. Their focus is driving positive ROI and sustainability at the same time. They give one-on-one support for tactics to improve profitability and water quality.

Why work with a conservation agronomist?

Here are a few of the many ways conservation agronomists can advise farmers.

Seasonal or multi-year planning and goal setting
Helping you find which conservation practices are (or are not) a good fit for you
Figuring out how cover crops can drive your ROI
Looking for places to save money on inputs
Giving one-on-one support, such as helping you to determine if it’s time to terminate your cover crop
Finding payment programs to mitigate risk and increase profitability

CA Spotlight

Evan Brehm & Jim O’Connell

“Twelve years ago, I field-scouted Jim’s fields. Now as an industry professional, over the past two and a half years I’ve had the opportunity to re-engage in greater detail with Jim’s farming operation.

One of Jim’s biggest challenges is time. He is also a varsity football coach, so hours in the fall are hard to come by. To help with cover crop efficiency, we connected Jim with Red Barn Solutions to install a Harvest Seeder, which means he can harvest soybeans and corn while applying cereal rye cover crop seed. Multi-tasking at its finest!

We are also currently water monitoring his wetland through the Iowa Soybean Association. EPA-approved lab testing shows the wetland has reduced nitrates by 90%. It means a lot to be on the journey with him!”

-Evan Brehm, Iowa Soybean Association

When to reach out to a conservation agronomist:

A conservation agronomist can help answer questions with agronomic expertise, science-backed research, and anecdotal results from farmers they work with in your area. If you’ve ever asked one of these questions, they can help!

What is “batch and build” and should I do it?
How can I improve my yields with soil health?
How can I improve my farm’s ROI?
How can I reduce inputs?
How can I navigate the risks of cover crops or no-till?
How can I improve a low yielding spot in my field?
Where can I find cost share and which program is worth my time?

What to expect:

Conservation agronomists exist to help you achieve your goals in profitability and sustainability. Their focus is on helping you succeed. They will likely start with a number of questions about you, your farm, your biggest challenges, and what problems you need solved.

Because they are focused on building a strong, long-term relationship that serves you, they will never force you to do something you don’t want to do or sign you up for a program you aren’t comfortable with.

Find a Conservation Agronomist

Statewide

Mike Gilman
Employer: Iowa Soybean Association
Region: Statewide
Email: mgilman@iasoybeans.com
Phone: 515-577-5600
Office location: Iowa Soybean Association, Ankeny, IA
ACWA affiliated: Yes
Website: https://www.iasoybeans.com/research/about-rcfi

Brock Webb
Employer: Iowa Soybean Association
Region: Statewide
Email: bwebb @iasoybeans.com
Phone: 319-759-0309
Office location: Iowa Soybean Association, Ankeny, IA
ACWA affiliated: Yes
Website: https://www.iasoybeans.com/research/about-rcfi

Cory Lundgren
Employer: NEW Cooperative
Region: All NEW Cooperative territory
Email: clundgren @newcoop.com
Phone:
Office location: NEW Cooperative Red Oak office
ACWA affiliated: Yes
Website: https://www.newcoop.com/

Ruth McCabe
Employer: Heartland Co-op
Region: Statewide
Email: conservationagronomy@heartlandcoop.com
Phone: 515-974-4516
Office Location: Clive
ACWA affiliated: Yes
Website: https://conservation.heartlandcoop.com/

Brianna Serum
Employer: Landus
Region: Statewide
Email: Brianna.duwa@landus.ag
Phone: 319-591-1480
Office Location: Landus, Des Moines
ACWA Affiliated: Yes
Website: https://www.landus.ag/sustainability/sustainability-leaders

Eastern Iowa

Evan Brehm
Employer: Iowa Soybean Association
Region: Northeast Iowa
Email: ebrehm@iasoybeans.com
Phone: 319-310-5468
Office location: Linn Coop, Cedar Rapids
ACWA affiliated: Yes
Website: https://www.iasoybeans.com/research/about-rcfi

Emery Davis
Employer: Heartland Co-op
Region: Eastern Iowa
Email: conservationagronomy@heartlandcoop.com
Phone: 515-974-4516
Office Location:
ACWA affiliated: Yes
Website: https://conservation.heartlandcoop.com/

Western Iowa

Alex Logan
Employer: Iowa Soybean Association
Region: Western Iowa
Email: alogan@iasoybeans.com
Phone: 515-729-9831
Office Location: Ankeny
ACWA Affiliated: Yes
Website: Alex Logan, Iowa Soybean Conservation Agronomist

Garrett Wagner
Employer: Agstate
Region: NW Iowa
Email: gwagner@agstate.org
Phone: 712-291-0721
Office Location: Calumet
ACWA Affiliated: Yes
Website: https://agstate.org/conservation/

Central Iowa

Nolan Grove
Employer: Heartland Co-op
Region: Central Iowa
Email: conservationagronomy@heartlandcoop.com
Phone: 515-974-4516
Office Location:
ACWA affiliated: Yes
Website: https://conservation.heartlandcoop.com/

Zach Timm
Employer: Landus
Region: Central Iowa, South Central Minnesota
Email: zach.timm@landus.ag
Phone: 319-480-7165
Office Location: Landus, Des Moines
ACWA Affiliated: Yes
Website: https://www.landus.ag/sustainability/sustainability-leaders

Kayla Bergman
Employer: Innovative Ag Services
Region: Central Iowa
Email: kbergman@innovativeag.com
Phone: 641-858-7614
Office Location: Garden City
ACWA affiliated: Yes
Website: https://innovativeag.com/

Matt Swanson
Employer: Gold-Eagle Cooperative
Region: North Central Iowa
Email: mswanson@goldeaglecoop.com
Phone: 515-371-6189
Office Location: Clarion
ACWA affiliated: Yes
Website: https://www.goldeaglecoop.com/

Partner Spotlight: ACWA

IAWA is an associate member of Agriculture’s Clean Water Alliance (ACWA). ACWA’s ag-retail members commit to sustainability metrics and employ a network of Conservation Agronomists. This is their 2019-2023 impact:

250k acres of cover crops
20k acres of no-till and strip till
Almost 200 edge-of-field practices

VISIT ACWA