Dec. 24, 2025

Smart Brevity Score: 821 words, 5 min 8 sec

Merry Christmas, everyone! Time to brush up on what's happening in conservation news before the holiday so you have plenty to talk about at the dinner table besides the weather and politics!

🎇 Your 2026 resolution: Don't miss deadlines

USDA-NRCS says January 15 is the new deadline for getting conservation cost share applications in for several programs if you would like help paying for practices such as cover crops, no-till, wetlands, prairie, and more. Programs include:

• Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

• Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)

• Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP)

• The New Regenerative Agriculture Pilot Program

Zooming out: NRCS programs are continuous. If you miss this date, there will be other opportunities. However, it's a good idea to sign up for practices close to a batching deadline because it can shorten your timeline from application to contract significantly.

Why it matters: The last batching date was during the government shutdown when NRCS staff couldn't take applications. This is the first batching date since then. We hope it's a big one with many successful applications!

Go Deeper: Read more from NRCS.

🌼 Flower power

Prairie strips can improve key soil‑health metrics faster than expected, according to new research by Iowa Statue University in partnership with the Soil Health Institute.

Zooming out: Prairie strips are 30-100 foot strips of perennial plants within crop fields. The idea is to restore benefits of Iowa prairie without taking too much land out of production.

Prairie strips are proven to:

• Increase biodiversity
• Increase pollinator habitat
• Reduce erosion
• Improve water quality

Why it matters: This is the first study that's focused on soil health. It showed that prairie strips improved several soil health meaures within 10-12 years. That means farmers and landowners don't have to wait generations for soil health improvements!

Where prairie made the biggest soil impact:

• Soil aggregate stability (ability of soil to stick together and resist erosion)
• Microbial biomass (more life in the soil!)
• Soil organic matter
• Water holidng capacity

Go deeper: Iowa State CALS: Prairie strips can rapidly improve soil health

🌱 USDA bets big on soil

USDA has a new regenerative agriculture program to help farmers improve soil health, water quality, and long-term productivity.

Tracking the dollars: The pilot program is worth $700 million. Secretary Brooke Rollins says the program is aimed at putting "farmers first" and "reduces barriers to entry for conservation programs."

• In the first year of the pilot, $300 million will go to the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). $400 million will go to the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).
• For context of scale, in FY2024, USDA obligated $1.4 billion under CSP and $3.7 billion under EQIP. (Source: NRCS's Interactive Dashboard)

Why it matters: The press release states "current conservation programs at USDA have become overly burdensome and farmers are bogged down with red tape." It says the new Regenerative Pilot Program directly addresses those challenges.

We'll be monitoring program announcements closely to see what it means for farmers and program partners like us.

Farmers can apply for this funding by signing up through their local service center before the next batching deadline, Jan 15.

Go Deeper: You can read more in the USDA press relase.

🍷 Deflecting difficult dinner conversation

We've all been there... Christmas dinner turns into a deep dive on your love life, a batting practice about your career, or gossip about your old high school friends and what they're up to these days. Don't worry; you can deflect.

Conservation is always the answer! Below are four (unproven brilliant) strategies to change the topic to conservation. We've got your back. 😎

Here is what to say when...

🍗 The turkey is dry and everyone pretends it's fine...

“This turkey could really use the water holding capacity of Mollisol!"

• Molli-what??
• "A type of soil! Did you know that Mollisol soils in Iowa are among the most agriculturally productive soils in the world? It’s why it’s so important to prevent erosion and protect it! Let me tell you more about no-till.”

🎁 Grandma says she hopes you like the present you gave her because you're getting it back when she dies...

“Perfect Grandma. You are as thoughtful as Mother Nature who created the water cycle."

• What do you mean, dear?
• "Just as we share this Christmas gift, we share water with our neighbors near and far. Did you know that everything we do here in Iowa flows down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico?  Sharing is caring! Can I tell you more about watersheds?"

💰 When your know-it-all sibling starts convincing you to invest in (Insert crazy idea here)...

“Thank you for the info! I think I can probably learn a lot more about investing from dirt, though. "

• Excuse me, what?? 
• "Iowa soil has been investing way before Wall Street. Years of nitrogen fixation has created a bank of about 10,000 pounds of nitrogen per acre. Earth teaches us that it's all about patience, the right investments, and diversification. Some even call our soil black gold.”

👶 Mom *casually* brings up how wonderful babies are (hint, hint)...

"Mom, do you know how worms make babies?"

• *Coughs up her drink** 
• "It's super interesting. Their heads point in the opposite directions as sperm is passed from one worm to the other. Then a cocoon forms where the baby grows. I only tell you this because worms are a sign of healthy soil. And healthy soil is good for water. So fascinating, right?”
• 😶

My super supportive loved ones recommended that I don't share all 12 conversation diversions I wrote because I'm not that funny. But don't worry. If you're craving more, IAWA has a lot of fun facts to help you have more educated conversations over dinner about water quality.

• Go Deeper: Water Quality 101 (We especially love the water quality history timeline, which will prepare you to talk about the evolution of agriculture as we know it! Dad will be so proud.)

More news from around the web:

THE LATEST WATER QUALITY PROGRESS RESULTS

Join the Iowa Nutrient Research and Education Council for a virtual convesration about the latest survey results on statewide adoption of cover crops, nutrient application strategies, no-till, and more. Get insights on the INREC survey, the INRS dashboard, and N-FACT.

Register here.

KERNZA: THE PERENNIAL GRAIN REVOLUTION

Scientists in Kansas believe Kernza could cut emissions, restore degraded soils, and reshape the future of agriculture - maybe even becoming a more sustainable alternative to wheat. Here in Iowa, some farmers are testing out the crop but are still looking for reliable markets. What makes kernza unique is that it is perennial. It grows back year after year. Researchers say this reduces soil erosion, limits runoff, and stores carbon in the soil.

Read more.

FROM YOUR TOILETS TO THE FIELDS?

The Des Moines Metropolitan Wastewater Reclamation Authority is looking at recycling wastewater and selling it as crop fertilizer. The WRA says it's a $45 million plan that could save $1 million in maintenance expenses annually.

Read more in the Des Moines Register.