The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Department of Natural Resources, and Iowa State University unveiled updates to the Iowa’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy (INRS). The INRS is a science and technology-based framework to assess and reduce nutrients to Iowa waters and the Gulf of Mexico. It is designed to direct efforts to reduce nutrients in surface water from both point and nonpoint sources in a scientific, reasonable and cost-effective manner. The goal is to improve soil health and water quality through modernized research, practices, partnerships, and funding.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig emphasized the importance of reflecting real-world scenarios and challenges to accelerate the adoption of conservation practices. Similarly, Daniel J. Robison of Iowa State University highlighted their commitment to providing scientific leadership and generating relevant water quality research.
Key updates to the strategy include recommending a three-year extended rotation to reduce nitrogen loss and evolving the measurement process from a static annual report to an online dashboard updated quarterly. The strategy also now lists the Iowa Water Resources Coordinating Council and 19 state and federal agencies as collaborators and advisors.
New implementation strategies outlined in the document involve the Batch and Build process to streamline conservation practices, partnerships with various organizations for research and funding, and new crop production technologies to reduce the need for synthetic fertilizers.
The revised Nutrient Reduction Strategy is now available online, aiming to continue making significant strides in improving Iowa’s water systems and benefiting the broader health of our environment and communities. View the full story from The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship here.
Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig was our guest on The Daily Grind today (Thursday, February 6, 2025). Listen to a replay of that episode on our Daily Grind webpage, and hear our discussion about many current topics, along with Naig’s journey into the Secretary role, and the policy, program, regulation, and advocacy functions of the position.
