Keeping Nutrients in the Field and Out of Waterways.
Expert views from Ben Gleason, Executive Director, Iowa Nutrient Research & Education Council.
The Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy was adopted 12 years ago by the Iowa Department of Agriculture, Department of Natural Resources and Iowa State University to assess and reduce nutrients to Iowa waters and the Gulf. The three organizations have stayed coordinated ever since, with IDALS supporting the adoption of science-based practices on farms, DNR helping cities address wastewater discharges and ISU researching new practices and promoting proven practices.
The nutrient reduction strategy’s goal is to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus loss into waterways by 45% to reduce the dead zone (hypoxia) in the Gulf. Nutrient runoff fuels excessive algae growth, which eventually die and consume oxygen as they decompose. Not a good situation for aquatic life!
Nutrient reduction does not mean starving crops of nitrogen and phosphorus. It means better stewardship by keeping the nutrients in the field and out of the water. This increases nutrient use efficiency, enhances profitability and improves soil health and water quality—something all farmers can benefit from.
Nutrient reduction also improves local waters such as the Floyd River and the Iowa Great Lakes, protects drinking water, including private wells, and supports soil health and nutrient cycling. Coordinated efforts at the local level show improvements much more quickly than at tremendous scales, like the Mississippi River’s drainage, which includes parts of 32 states. However, it’s not just Iowa farmers and residents who see the impact. With connected waterways stretching across all areas of CFE’s territory, improved water quality benefits members across the region.
While many states have begun adopting nutrient reduction strategies, Iowa remains a leader in progress. The Iowa Nutrient Research & Education Council has surveyed hundreds of randomly selected ag retail locations since 2017 (thank you, participating CFE locations!), and great progress has been made by Iowa farmers in several areas:
- Cover crop acres have more than doubled from 1.6 million in 2017 to 3.8 million in 2023.
- No-till use has increased from 33.5% in 2017 to 40.1% in 2023.
- Nitrogen rates for continuous corn have decreased from 200.4 lbs/ac in 2017 to 185.7 in 2023.
But there’s much more to do to reach the enormous scale of 45% reduction. There’s plenty of room to increase the adoption of cover crops, reduce tillage and improve nutrient use efficiency by fine-tuning rates, timing and incorporation. Edge-of-field practices such as wetlands, bioreactors and saturated buffers reduce nitrogen loss from tile drainage. Land use can be improved by farming the best acres and considering other uses for marginal acres.
Two easy and free things you can do:
- Test your private well.
- Participate in a nitrogen rate trial with the Iowa Nitrogen Initiative.
Participating in these efforts can help preserve our land and waterways for the next generation while improving your yields at the same time. Together, we’re creating a more sustainable future for Iowa and the surrounding areas and waterways. <<
ABOUT BEN GLEASON
Ben Gleason is the Executive Director of the Iowa Nutrient Research & Education Council as well as the environmental and agronomic staff lead for the Agribusiness Association of Iowa. Previously, he worked for the Iowa Corn Growers Association and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. Ben resides in Ankeny and has a degree in Ecology from Iowa State University. He grew up in Charles City, Iowa, near his family’s farm on the Little Cedar River.
IOWA NUTRIENT RESEARCH & EDUCATION COUNCIL (INREC)
IowaNREC is dedicated to providing resources that benefit Iowa water quality and conservation, including the nutrient reduction strategy. Click the button below to watch a short video series providing a behind-the-scenes look at the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy.
