Conservation Security Program -
Cerro Gordo County
Cerro Gordo County
Conservation Reserve Program
Cerro Gordo County
Cerro Gordo County
Environmental Quality Incentives Program
Cerro Gordo County
Cerro Gordo County
Message from CDI
John Whitaker - Executive Director
CDI had a good year despite the pandemic. We have joined with the Illinois Association in participation
with the Saving Tomorrow’s Agricultural Resources or S.T.A.R. The pilot program is starting in 25 central
and eastern Iowa districts this fall and we hoper to be able to take the program statewide in 2021.
The Envirothon program continues to be in demand among high schools with an increase in teams this
year prior to the event being canceled due to the pandemic. We are looking forward to a great year
next year.
We again awarded a total of $9,000 in total scholarships and truly appreciate your generosity in
contributing to this program which helps young people gain a good conservation education.
We are continuing our Private Lands work in conjunction with the IA DNR and now have that grant
program secured through September of 2024.
The NRCS Planning Coordinator grant program is up and running and we have taken the first renewal of
a five-year Soil and Water Resource Conservation Plan to IDALS and have their approval. The new plan
template will allow easy reading of your goals and objectives for the next five years.
John Whitaker - Executive Director
CDI had a good year despite the pandemic. We have joined with the Illinois Association in participation
with the Saving Tomorrow’s Agricultural Resources or S.T.A.R. The pilot program is starting in 25 central
and eastern Iowa districts this fall and we hoper to be able to take the program statewide in 2021.
The Envirothon program continues to be in demand among high schools with an increase in teams this
year prior to the event being canceled due to the pandemic. We are looking forward to a great year
next year.
We again awarded a total of $9,000 in total scholarships and truly appreciate your generosity in
contributing to this program which helps young people gain a good conservation education.
We are continuing our Private Lands work in conjunction with the IA DNR and now have that grant
program secured through September of 2024.
The NRCS Planning Coordinator grant program is up and running and we have taken the first renewal of
a five-year Soil and Water Resource Conservation Plan to IDALS and have their approval. The new plan
template will allow easy reading of your goals and objectives for the next five years.
Director’s Hello
Susan Kozak, Division Director, Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship
Greetings! As I write this, the fall colors are just starting to emerge and the temperatures are starting to
dip. Fall always seems like a time to reflect and assess where I am at for the year and what I still need to
accomplish before the snow flies and all I want to do is hibernate. This year, with all the obstacles that
have come our way, reflection seems even more important than ever. It can be easy to focus on the
hardships, but I like to find the positives, too. For me personally, some of those positives have included
camping opportunities that I don’t always embrace and lots of outdoor adventures with my husband
and dog (or new “coworkers” as I like to call them).
For the Division of Soil Conservation and Water Quality, we have had many accomplishments to note.
Even with telework situations and figuring out new ways to keep our work moving, we have had one of
our best years for conservation programs and getting practices on the ground. Our cost share numbers
are the 2nd highest ever and signups for cover crops this fall are record-setting. It is so encouraging to
see that even during a difficult situation, we can make things work and keep our important land and
water stewardship ethic moving in the right direction. We have seen dramatic increases in our
implementation of edge of field practices, which include nutrient removal wetlands, bioreactors and
saturated buffers. We have a long way to go in our mission and we welcome everyone to check into
ways to get involved – whether that is a large conservation practice on your farm or a small rain garden
or pollinator habitat patch.
I want to make sure to thank all our hardworking staff, the District Commissioners, our conservation
partners, and all the landowners that reach out to our staff and start a conversation. Without each of
you, we would not have all these positives to reflect upon from the year. Please be safe and healthy as
we look forward to 2021.
Susan Kozak, Division Director, Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship
Greetings! As I write this, the fall colors are just starting to emerge and the temperatures are starting to
dip. Fall always seems like a time to reflect and assess where I am at for the year and what I still need to
accomplish before the snow flies and all I want to do is hibernate. This year, with all the obstacles that
have come our way, reflection seems even more important than ever. It can be easy to focus on the
hardships, but I like to find the positives, too. For me personally, some of those positives have included
camping opportunities that I don’t always embrace and lots of outdoor adventures with my husband
and dog (or new “coworkers” as I like to call them).
For the Division of Soil Conservation and Water Quality, we have had many accomplishments to note.
Even with telework situations and figuring out new ways to keep our work moving, we have had one of
our best years for conservation programs and getting practices on the ground. Our cost share numbers
are the 2nd highest ever and signups for cover crops this fall are record-setting. It is so encouraging to
see that even during a difficult situation, we can make things work and keep our important land and
water stewardship ethic moving in the right direction. We have seen dramatic increases in our
implementation of edge of field practices, which include nutrient removal wetlands, bioreactors and
saturated buffers. We have a long way to go in our mission and we welcome everyone to check into
ways to get involved – whether that is a large conservation practice on your farm or a small rain garden
or pollinator habitat patch.
I want to make sure to thank all our hardworking staff, the District Commissioners, our conservation
partners, and all the landowners that reach out to our staff and start a conversation. Without each of
you, we would not have all these positives to reflect upon from the year. Please be safe and healthy as
we look forward to 2021.
A Year of Successes for Iowa’s Soil and Water Conservation Programs
Will Myers, Field Services Bureau Chief – Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship
Even as we collectively faced many challenges this year, our strong conservation partnerships have
continued to provide customer service and maintain business operations, which have resulted in one of
the best years ever for state cost share program expenditures. I’ve spent the last several weeks compiling
state fiscal year end cost share expenditures for 2020 and the results so far have been great. We have
completed and processed a record number of conservation practice claims this year and are just below
our highest year yet for total cost share expenditures. Additionally, our Water Quality Initiative statewide
program offering has recently wrapped up and we have record number of applications again this year and
an increase in cover crop acres signed up in over 60 Districts.
What’s especially noteworthy this year is that while we started strong in 2020 with successful completion of many field and urban based conservation projects, we also finished strong at a time when many of our staff, Commissioners, and partners were unable to meet for in-person meetings or face-to-face. We were able to quickly transition our traditional approach, often finding new and alternative methods to keep things moving in a timely manner. While challenges still remain, and we continue to move forward in our current environment, I think it’s appropriate to recognize our partnership and the collective successes of our programs. I would like to personally thank all of our dedicated an innovative Field Staff, District Commissioners, Federal Staff, and our many local partners, as well as our farmers and landowners for making this year a success. I look forward to our continued hard work and successes in the years to come.
Will Myers, Field Services Bureau Chief – Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship
Even as we collectively faced many challenges this year, our strong conservation partnerships have
continued to provide customer service and maintain business operations, which have resulted in one of
the best years ever for state cost share program expenditures. I’ve spent the last several weeks compiling
state fiscal year end cost share expenditures for 2020 and the results so far have been great. We have
completed and processed a record number of conservation practice claims this year and are just below
our highest year yet for total cost share expenditures. Additionally, our Water Quality Initiative statewide
program offering has recently wrapped up and we have record number of applications again this year and
an increase in cover crop acres signed up in over 60 Districts.
What’s especially noteworthy this year is that while we started strong in 2020 with successful completion of many field and urban based conservation projects, we also finished strong at a time when many of our staff, Commissioners, and partners were unable to meet for in-person meetings or face-to-face. We were able to quickly transition our traditional approach, often finding new and alternative methods to keep things moving in a timely manner. While challenges still remain, and we continue to move forward in our current environment, I think it’s appropriate to recognize our partnership and the collective successes of our programs. I would like to personally thank all of our dedicated an innovative Field Staff, District Commissioners, Federal Staff, and our many local partners, as well as our farmers and landowners for making this year a success. I look forward to our continued hard work and successes in the years to come.