ISA conservation agronomists can help optimize conservation efforts in 2025

December 12, 2024 | Kriss Nelson

Farmers planning their 2025 growing season can contact the Iowa Soybean Association’s (ISA) conservation agronomists this winter for advice on cost-sharing conservation and assistance with their conservation work.

For four years, Iowa’s conservation agronomist network has aided farmers and landowners in implementing proven practices that improve water quality, soil conservation and farm profitability.

“How do you envision conservation on your farm, and how can the Iowa Soybean Association help you with your conservation journey? Our conservation agronomists are available to all Iowa farmers to sit down with them and have that conversation about their conservation goals for their farm,” says Mike Gilman, ISA conservation agronomy lead.

Farmers for Soil Health

ISA conservation agronomists are actively promoting Farmers for Soil Health – an initiative designed to advance soil health practices such as cover crops, to meet sustainability and profitability goals.

This 20-state farmer-led initiative was launched in 2023 as a collaborative effort led by Soy Checkoff, Pork Checkoff, and the National Corn Growers Association in partnership with state commodity groups and conservation organizations. 

ISA is providing technical assistance for Iowa farmers and conservation agronomists are currently enrolling farmers for the 2024 fall season before the Feb. 28, 2025 deadline. With a three-year commitment, farmers will be given a $25 an acre cost share payment for implementing cover crops the first year, $15 for the second year and $10 an acre for the third year.

Evan Brehm

ISA Conservation Agronomist, Evan Brehm serves farmers helping them to implement conservation practices largely in the Middle Cedar Watershed in eastern Iowa. He also works closely with the City of Cedar Rapids leading efforts to improve water quality, protect drinking water and mitigate flood risk through the Cedar River Source Water Partnership.

Like all four of ISA’s conservation agronomists, Brehm works closely with ag retail in his area, specifically helping farmers with dual enrollment cost-share opportunities.

“Ag retail sales agronomists have the relationships and connections to farmers. They are able to pinpoint which farmers are interested in potential cost-share programs, implementing cover crops or other edge-of-field practices,” says Brehm. “The carbon programs offered by some agricultural retailers could spark interest in other cost-share opportunities available to farmers, and we can help them obtain them as some can be stacked together.”

Ryan Johnson

Located in northwest Iowa, Ryan Johnson, ISA conservation agronomist works closely with county Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and district conservation in his area. He is also a farmer implementing a variety of conservation practices on his own farm.

“As a conservation agronomist, it has been very helpful to stop at the local NRCS offices,” he says. “There is a mutual benefit when I can tell them about programs we are promoting, and they can help me identify farmer champions from their counties who they have a great relationship with, provide conservation updates and collaborate on meetings and current events.”

 Joe Wuebker

ISA Conservation Agronomist, Joe Wuebker leads the Farm to River project in west central Iowa.

The Farm to River project is a state-funded Water Quality Initiative (WQI) focused on increasing the adoption of in-field water soil quality practices. Most recently, it has expanded further into Sac and Greene Counties.

This fall, with the help of the local NRCS conservation assistants and others, 5,000 acres of cover crops were enrolled in Greene County this year.

“It appears that we reached the location at the right time, as the county was experiencing a surge in acreage growth, yet there were insufficient opportunities for cost sharing available to growers,” says Wuebker. “Consequently, we stepped in to support and enhance the expansion of cover crop acres.”

Wuebker is also currently working to promote the batch and build in Sac County.

“We hope to have some sites identified to begin surveying and engineering on sometime this coming spring and summer,” he says.

Matt Swanson

Located at ISA headquarters in Ankeny, ISA Conservation Agronomist Matt Swanson provides conservation and general agronomy expertise to farmers and ag retailers across Iowa.

Most recently, Swanson has worked alongside Practical Farmers of Iowa on the Cover Crop Business Accelerator program, offering technical assistance to find cover crop seed dealers.

“I collaborate with more than 45 cover crop dealers statewide,” he says. “My assistance includes seeding rates, cover crop mixes and incentive programs.

In addition to helping to sign up acres for Farmers for Soil Health, and other cost-share programs, ISA conservation agronomists work to promote the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund, which will resume signups this spring.

They’re also preparing presentations for the February Innovation to Profit winter meetings.

“There will be some solid information on how growers and landowners can utilize Iowa Soybean Association research and conservation resources to enhance their operations,” says Joe Wuebker.

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