How landowners can encourage conservation on rented farmland
By Sara Berges, Allamakee SWCD Project Coordinator
We know that lower commodity prices mean that profit margins are tight. So how can landowners encourage conservation on their ground? One important aspect of rental arrangements is good communication. It is important that both parties understand what is expected for the maintenance of the land including what crops will be planted and what conservation practices will be utilized.
There are many ways landowners can play a role in ensuring that their land is well-managed and protected against erosion and the destruction of soil health. They can take on some (or all) of the cost of conservation practices. Landowners typically cover the cost of structural practices like terraces and ponds, but they can also help pay for cover crops or other practices. An alternative would be to reduce rent if specific practices, like cover crops or no-till, are used.
Several cost-share options exist to help cover the costs of conservation practices. The Iowa Department of Agriculture provides cost-share for contour buffer strips through the Buffer Initiative. This program pays a one-time payment of $300/acre for the buffers. The strips have to be laid out by NRCS/SWCD staff, can be between 15’-60’ wide, and must be maintained for 5 years. They can be hayed or grazed.
Cover crops are another practice that have been popular in this area due to their protection against spring erosion, soil health benefits, and improved infiltration. Cover crops are eligible for cost-share either through the IDALS funding or Federal EQIP. In this area, it is most beneficial to plant winter-hardy species due to the shorter window for fall growth. If cover crops are a practice that interest the landowner, they could cover part of the cost (seed/establishment) to encourage the renter to plant them.
With lower corn and soybean prices, some producers may be looking at trying alternative crops, such as small grains. Landowners’ willingness to allow other crops to be planted can help encourage producers to try something new. Small grains have lower input costs due to lower fertilizer and pesticide/herbicide needs and help break up pest and weed cycles. They also help to improve soil health by increasing the diversity of roots and microbes in the soil. In addition, planting and harvest occur at different times than corn or soybeans, so planting small grains helps to spread out the work load. Since they are usually harvested in July, cover crops could be seeded early enough to get substantial growth and allow for fall grazing.
Landowners may want to consider CRP for less productive acres. For example, if you have areas where gullies are common, you may want to consider installing CRP waterways. Just keep in mind that the waterways must be maintained at the specified width and care needs to be taken when spraying the crops so that the waterway doesn’t get killed. There isn’t currently a General CRP sign-up, so the available practices are the following: field windbreaks (CP5A), grass waterways (CP8A), shelterbelt establishment (CP16A), filter strips (CP21), riparian buffers (CP22), bottomland timber on wetlands (CP31), habitat buffers for upland birds (CP33), or pollinator habitat (CP42).
If landowners or producers would like to know what is written in the conservation plan for their land and/or would like to update their conservation plan, please call or stop by the NRCS/SWCD office and we’ll be happy to discuss options with you. We can also talk to you about cost-share options for different practices.
