Seven AAI member companies along with their project partners have been selected to receive funding for their watershed demonstration projects.
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship selected five watershed demonstration projects to receive a total of $1.7 million in funding through the Iowa Water Quality Initiative over the next three years. The five projects are within the large priority watersheds prioritized by the Iowa Water Resources Coordinating Council, which include the East and West Nishnabotna, Floyd, and Skunk watersheds and cover 345,449 acres.
In addition to the state funds, the five projects will provide an additional $2.2 million in matching funds to support water quality improvement efforts as well as other in-kind contributions.
Agriland FS, Aspinwall Co-op, Chem Gro Inc., Crop Production Services, Farmers Cooperative Company, Le Mars Agri-Center, United Farmers Mercantile Coop, and West Central Co-op along with more than 30 partners from agriculture organizations, institutions of higher education, private industry, the local, state and federal government, and others, are working together on these projects with the Soil and Water Conservation Districts serving as the project leaders.
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship received a total of eight project applications for this round of funding. The selected projects will join eight water quality demonstration projects selected to receive $4.1 million in funding last December.
All applications were reviewed by a committee including representatives from the Department, Iowa State University, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, University of Northern Iowa, and the University of Iowa. The committee made recommendations that were used by the Department in selecting the projects to be funded.
Another round of funding for new watershed demonstration projects may be available later this year depending on funding availability.