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Iowa coops agree on best environmental practices

ACWAlogo-editMembers of the Agriculture’s Clean Water Alliance (ACWA) in Iowa have agreed to a “Code of Practice for 2014”, a set of guidelines for the responsible application of nutrients.

ACWA is an association of 13 agricultural cooperatives and other ag retailers operating in the Des Moines and Raccoon River basins.  Harry Ahrenholtz, chairman of ACWA, says the main focus of their Code of Practice is fall nutrient application.

“We want to delay those applications in the fall—if nitrogen is applied in the fall—until the soil temperatures are below 50 degrees, if they’re not using a nitrification inhibitor,” says Ahrenholtz.

ACWA’s Code of Practice has been modified in recent years to align with the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy, Ahrenholtz says.

“In fact, we’ve added language in the code that suggests we adopt measures, wherever we can, like tile line bioreactors, which will reduce the nitrates in the water coming out of tile lines—(also) buffer strips and cover crops,” he says.

The Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy is a science-based initiative that seeks to reduce nitrate and phosphorous loads in Iowa waterways by 45 percent from point and nonpoint sources.

AUDIO: Harry Ahrenholtz

 

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