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In Iowa, where the landscape is shaped by agriculture and rooted in stewardship, an exciting new partnership is showing how conservation practices can support both productive farms and thriving ecosystems. We, at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program have teamed up with the Iowa Soybean Association to restore wetlands and prairies across the state鈥攑rojects that are improving water quality and creating essential habitat for pollinators and other wildlife.
This innovative agriculture collaborative showcases the effectiveness of voluntary conservation practices on working lands, yielding tangible benefits for wildlife, water resources and agricultural producers. By leveraging funding made available through the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, the Partners Program and Iowa Soybean Association are uniting farmers, conservation professionals and local stakeholders to voluntarily adapt scientifically supported, economically feasible and environmentally beneficial practices.
Synergy between wildlife and water quality
For years, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has been at the forefront of recognizing the synergy between water quality objectives and wildlife habitat restoration. Through initiatives such as the Conservation Infrastructure Initiative and the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has encouraged practices like wetland restoration, prairie strips, and cover crops to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus runoff. Now, with targeted investments in strategic partnerships, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is further supporting projects aimed at enhancing these outcomes by restoring native habitats that provide essential resources for pollinators and other wildlife.
The Partners Program and Iowa Soybean Association are building on this vision by emphasizing multi-benefit conservation. Wetlands restored through this partnership are not only filtering runoff, recharging groundwater and mitigating flood risk, but also serving as habitat for species like the federally endangered Topeka shiner, migratory waterfowl and butterflies. Similarly, prairie restorations鈥攊mplemented in buffers, marginal lands and land retirement鈥攁re offering crucial resources for pollinators and monarchs, while simultaneously stabilizing soils and reducing erosion.
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The strength of this partnership lies in its focus on the practical needs of Iowa farmers. Through voluntary, incentive-based programs, farmers are integrating habitat considerations into their operations with technical support from the Partners Program and Iowa Soybean Association. The approach creates a win-win scenario for agriculture productivity and working lands. Many of the enrolled acres consist of non-productive or challenging areas where restoration can provide greater value for landowners. By restoring or enhancing these areas with prairie or wetlands, farmers can reduce the nutrients and sediment runoff from their farms and contribute to broader conservation goals.
The Partners Program contributes decades of experience in habitat restoration and species recovery, with a strong focus on conserving pollinators, including the monarch butterfly. While the Iowa Soybean Association engages producers and provides agronomic solutions, making them an ideal partner. This partnership guarantees that conservation efforts are not only environmentally sound, but economically viable.
A model for scalable, targeted conservation
This partnership embodies the future of conservation in agricultural states like Iowa, emphasizing local leadership, federal backing, private landowner engagement, and achieving outcomes that address multiple priorities. Whether the objectives are improving water quality, restoring pollinator populations, or ensuring agricultural sustainability, these initiatives demonstrate that we don鈥檛 have to choose between them鈥攚e can achieve these goals together.
Looking forward, the model developed by Iowa Soybean Association, the Partners Program and Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has the potential to expand into additional states and farm operations across the nation. As interest in regenerative agriculture and nature-based solutions continues to rise, these partnerships illustrate what can be accomplished when conservation is central to working lands.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proud to support efforts that empower farmers to take lead in conservation, strengthened by robust partnerships. Through programs like Partners for Fish and Wildlife and collaborations like the Iowa Soybean Association, we are not just increasing habitat for wildlife, we鈥檙e delivering meaningful results.
Learn more about working with our Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program.
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