Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey recently announced that the State Soil Conservation Committee's Research and Demonstration Fund has financial assistance available to support research or education/demonstration projects that explore sustainable agriculture and projects focused on reducing nonpoint pollution. Funds are available to collaborative teams of scientists, farmers, institutions, soil and water conservation districts and educators.

Applications must be submitted to the State Soil Conservation Committee by April 3, 2013 and funding decisions will be made in July.

IMPROVE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY: Financial assistance is available from the state of Iowa to support projects focused on improving environmental quality. The conservation research and demonstration projects must explore sustainable agriculture and be focused on reducing nonpoint pollution. Funds are available for teams of farmers, scientists, institutions, soil and water conservation districts, educators, etc. For information contact the Iowa Department of Ag

"These funds are designed to help generate new techniques and conservation practices that can help landowners as they continue their work to better protect our soil and water," he says. "Landowners have many conservation tools available. This program is designed to help generate even more practices to reduce erosion and protect water quality."

These funds are designed to help generate new methods and conservation practices

Proposals must address issues of nonpoint pollution control. Successful projects should be focused on sustaining and improving environmental quality or the natural resource base on which agriculture depends. Applications should also explain how the projects would enhance the quality of life for farmers, rural communities, and society as a whole.

Proposals should clearly explain expected outcomes for the project and how they will assist in working toward these objectives, how project outcomes will be evaluated, and the impact of projects. "We are looking for projects that make a contribution to the greater good and help us continue towards our goal of better soil and water protection," says Jean Eells, a member of the State Soil Conservation Committee.

Funds are available for conservation research and demonstration projects

Funding level for the grant program is established by the State Soil Conservation Committee and it is anticipated that $250,000 will be available this year. Individual grants cannot exceed $75,000 total over a two-year period. Support for these projects comes from the state of Iowa's Environment First Fund. The assistance is available to support projects focused on improving environmental quality.

More information about applying for assistance can be found here and clicking on "Conservation" at the top of the page. Interested applicants can also contact Tarrita Spicer with the Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship at 515-281-5851 or [email protected].