Introduction
Environmental stewardship within production agriculture can contribute to significant improvements in water quality. Since the mid-1980’s Iowa State University Agronomy Extension has participated in many water quality and watershed special projects. These projects are funded by both state and federal programs and have been targeted to watersheds throughout the state where water resources are threatened by agricultural non-point source pollutants. Agronomy Extension's role is to demonstrate refined management practices and deliver education programs about effective management methods that reduce potential agricultural pollution while maintaining farm profitability.
The Heartland Regional Water Coordination Initiative, Agriculture and Biosystems Engineering Extension, Agricultural Economics Extension, and Extension to Communities are frequent partners in these water quality projects, as are many state and federal agencies and organizations. There is increasing emphasis on partnering with Community Development programs to foster citizen involvement in management of agricultural watersheds.
For additional information contact Susan Brown, Agronomy Extension Water Quality Program Specialist.
Contacts for staff of active projects are given on their sites.