Visitor friendly weather helped draw a crowd to the Iowa Corn panel discussion on conservation at the 2016 Farm Progress Show in rural Boone. Iowa Corn held a three day water quality panel on August 30 - September 1. Environmental Services Director Shawn Richmond represented the Iowa Nutrient Research and Education Council (INREC) during the discussion on Wednesday. Richmond discussed topics that related to soil and water conservation, including the importance of on-farm conservation adoption and water quality education.
Wednesday's panel moderator was Ben Nuelle from Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network Farm Broadcaster. Other panelists included Iowa Corn Growers Association Chairman Bob Hemesath, a farmer from Decorah and Iowa Corn Promotion Board Director Roger Zylstra, a farmer from Lynnville.
With almost a full tent, panelists discussed how they got started in water quality and conservation efforts. Ben Nuelle, Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network (upper left), moderated the Wednesday session. Panelists shared their personal experiences with water quality and answered questions from the crowd.
At the 2016 Farm Progress Show visitors were able to pick up a copy of the latest Nutrient Reduction Strategy (NRS) brochure. "Farmers should look at the list of practices in the NRS and view it as a menu of their options to see what might fit into their operation. It shouldn't be viewed as a to-do list that they need to check off everything on." says Richmond.
Richmond explains the importance of being able to measure the progress that agriculture has been making on conservation efforts including water quality. It is not only needed but necessary to track progress but to then show that progress in a meaningful way. "It's critical that we have the means to document and demonstrate the progress being made by Iowa farmers to reduce nutrient losses. The INREC progress measurement system will allow us the ability to do that and show the progress that has been made in the past as well as going forward." says Richmond.