Some 15 million tons of Iowa’s topsoil washed into waterways from Iowa fields in the first half of this year, says the Environmental Working Group in a report that calls for more erosion-prevention work. “Intense rainstorms are occurring more frequently, and as a result of inadequate conservation efforts, much of Iowa’s precious soil is washing away, costing Iowa farmers billions in yield and polluting waterways with fertilizers, chemicals and sediment.”
In the report, titled “Washout Revisited,” EWG visited 18 fields of highly erodible land in central Iowa that were hit by powerful storms last spring. At five fields, growers planted grassways and took other steps to prevent soil loss and at another five, soil-conserving structures were being adequately maintained. “The other eight fields showed no signs of any new efforts to enhance soil conservation,” said EWG. “Across the state, erosion rates are still intolerable and will continue to be if Iowans don’t act now.”
By coincidence, the Iowa Department of Agriculture announced on Monday that $6.75 million of cost-share money was available to landowners for installation of soil conservation practices such as terraces, waterways, ponds, buffers, and cover crops. The state will pay up to half of the cost of a project.