DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey will tour soil conservation practices in the Manchester area this Friday, June 13 at 9:30 a.m. to see the impact of the recent record rains and highlight assistance available to repair damaged conservation structures.

Those interested in attending should meet at the Delaware County Service Center in Manchester.  Transportation will be provided to area farms.

The heavy rains came when the soil was most vulnerable to erosion, often following tillage and before the plants were able to establish their root system which helps hold the soil in place.  Many of the conservation practices and structures farmers have implemented to prevent soil erosion helped significantly; some were overwhelmed by the record-breaking rainfall.

Local Soil and Water Conservation District Commissioners, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship provide technical and financial resources to protect our valuable resources for agricultural production.  They provide low interest loans to repair damaged practices and the local district can use cost share dollars to repair practices damaged by storms if other financial assistance is not available.

A total of $36.95 million was provided by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship in the past year for conservation and was matched by almost $20 million dollars of landowner investment.

            Who:                Bill Northey, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture

            Where:            Delaware County Service Center, 200 S. 12th St., Manchester

                                    Transportation will be provided

            When:              Friday, June 13, 2008, 9:30 a.m.

            What:              Tour of Damage to Soil Conservation Practices

How:      Media are welcome to join the tour.  For more information please contact Dustin Vande Hoef with the Iowa Department of Agriculture at 515-281-3375 or 515-326-1616 (cell)

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