Funding to prevent nutrient loss on hog farms

Apr 10, 2018

Pork producers encouraged to install saturated buffers and bioreactors to prevent nutrient loss

By Kaitlynn Anderson
Staff Writer
Farms.com

Iowa’s pork producers have a chance make a positive impact on the environment.

Farmers who would like to utilize new nutrient loss reduction technology in their operations can now obtain funding from the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS), according to a release March 30.

Interested producers can apply for funding to cover up to 50 percent of the cost of saturated buffers or bioreactors.

By implementing these projects, farmers can help protect the quality of local water.

“Pig farmers take environmental management and regulations designed to protect our natural resources very seriously,” Gregg Hora, IPPA’s president, said in the release. “Today’s barns … are designed to protect our rivers, streams and drinking water.”

Farmers can access this financial support thanks to a $25,000 investment from the IPPA.

The IPPA’s investment “will help support our efforts to scale-up the adoption of these edge-of-field practices focused on improving water quality,” Mike Naig, the Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, said in the release.

“Both bioreactors and saturated buffers are still fairly new practices and this investment will help us continue to place these practices throughout the state to show farmers how they might fit in their operation."

Iowa farmers who would like to be considered for funding can fill out this survey.

Farms.com has reached out to the IPPA for further comment.

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Video: You Be The Judge: Evaluating 8 Breeding Rams!

It's time for some honest feedback here at Ewetopia Farms! Today, we’re showing you all eight rams we used for breeding this year. Instead of just presenting them, we thought it would be fun to create a “Ram Report Card” — where we point out both their strengths and areas for improvement.

But here’s the twist: you be the judge! In the comments, let us know what you like about each ram and what you think could be improved. No ram is ever perfect, but every one of them brings something valuable to the flock. By sharing perspectives, we all learn more about what to look for in good breeding stock.

At Ewetopia Farms, we raise registered Suffolk and Polled Dorset sheep, focusing on high-quality genetics, structure, and friendly temperaments. Evaluating breeding rams is part of the bigger picture of building stronger flocks — and we’re excited to share the process with you.

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