Hancock Soil & Water Conservation District-Garner, Iowa

12/03/2025

11/21/2025

If you or someone you know might be interested in working with the Iowa Department of Agriculture, please pass this information along to them. Please NOTE that the position is located in Thompson NOT Lake Mills as the posting may indicate. Deadline to apply is December 4, 2025.

The approximately 345 employees of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship   (IDALS) are responsible for a wide range of programs that affect the quality of life of every Iowan.  Both Iowans living on the farm and those in our towns and cities are impacted almost daily by the wor...

10/20/2025

As the Federal Government Shutdown Continues, Iowans can contact Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship with conservation questions during the shutdown.
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship's (IDALS) employees that work in USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) facilities will be working from alternate locations during the federal government shutdown and can be contacted through the Department's office in Des Moines: 515-281-5258.
Hope Faris, IDALS Conservation Assistant at the Hancock SWCD, can be reached at: [email protected]

07/15/2025

Hancock Soil and Water Conservation District

The Hancock Soil and Water Conservation District gives scholarships each year to seniors who are pursuing study in any field of agriculture or natural resources. This year we presented three scholarships to Garner-Hayfield-Ventura seniors. The awards were presented to:

Isabel Stromer career plans are to attend college and major in Animal Science. Isabel has also been chosen as the district winner and her application has been forwarded to the regional competition with Conservation Districts of Iowa! Isabel’s parents are William and Mandy Stromer.

Madison Renner career plans are to attend college and major in Ag Business Communications. Madison’s parents are Brent and Nikki Renner

Logan Kudej career plans are to become a Precision Agriculture Consultant. Logan’s parents are Angie and Andy Kudej.

07/07/2025

Funding for FY2025-2026 has just been released for "first time users" through our Water Quality Initiative (WQI). Programs under WQI include Cover Crops, Strip Till/No Till, and fall application Nitrification Inhibitor.

**First time users of cover crops will receive $30/ac up to 160 acres. And previous users will receive $20/ac up to 160 acres.

**Strip till/no till for first time users is $10/ac cost share up to 160 acres.

**Fall application nitrification inhibitor for a producer that has never used this practice before is set at $3/ac up to 160 acres.

Don't wait too long to apply because funding is on a first come first serve basis and does run out. Stop in today or call the office at 641-923-2837, to see if you could benefit from these cost share programs.

06/27/2025

Hancock Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) Poster Winners

All poster participants are winners in Hancock County SWCD annual poster contest. Hancock County SWCD poster winners were awarded a cash award in the 2025 Hancock Soil & Water Conservation District (Hancock SWCD) poster contest with this year’s theme of “Home Is Where The Habitat Is”. First place winners received $15 in each age category and these posters were sent on to regional competition. Second place winners received $10, and 3rd place received $5. All 47 students who participated in the poster contest and teachers involved with the poster making received a $5 Avery Theatre gift card donated by the Hancock SWCD.

In the process of making the posters, we know these students learned about soil and water conservation through their teachers or on their own at home. Two teachers were recognized for their encouragement and help with making the posters by receiving a cash award from the SWCD. The teachers recognized are Hillary Dodge, 7th grade teacher and Natalee Dippel, 8th grade teacher at Garner-Hayfield-Ventura Community School District (GHV). Their hard work and dedication are much appreciated.

Division 4 category (7th, 8th and 9th grades) winners are Destiny Garcia-1st place (8th grade), Brooklyn Jenniges-2nd place (7th place), and Kathryn Maurer-3rd place (8th grade). All 3 students are from GHV.

Commissioners of the Hancock SWCD include: Jon Hollatz, Andrea Nedved, William Stromer, Josh Crawford and Chase Ulven. Assistant Commissioners include Eldon Gast.

05/07/2025

That time of year is here again! Last year IDALS ran out of funding for WQI funding.
New funding for FY26 has been released for WQI (Water Quality Initiative). Programs under WQI include Cover Crops, Strip Till/No Till, and fall application Nitrification Inhibitor.
Fiscal Year 26 offers first time users of cover crops $30/ac up to 160 acres and $20/ac for previous users of cover crops.
Strip till/no till qualifies you for $10/ac cost share up to 160 acres.
Fall application nitrification inhibitor is set at $3/ac up to 160 acres.
Stop in today or call Hope at 641-923-2837, to see if you could benefit from these cost share programs

Call now to connect with business.

03/15/2025

Tonight we thanked Terry Kaduce for his many years served on the Hancock SWCD board, as he ended his term back in January. He has been traveling since he retired from the board, but we finally caught him!
He has spent many years serving many boards in partnership with SWCD. He has been extremely active in agricultural and environmental progression in Hancock County. He can finally just relax.
He was awarded the beautiful statue that has been passed between many board members over many years as well as a special gift from the board.
Thank you, Terry! Happy real retirement!

08/28/2024

Attention! Those who are interested or even thinking about doing cover crops pr strip-till through IDALS/WQI this year, should get an application in this week!
IDALS just announced today that due to the very high demand for cover crops this year, the funds have been exhausted, and they are implementing a deadline of August 30th to have your application into the system.
This WQI cover crop program is currently cost shared at $30/ac for first time users and $20/ac for previous users.
Strip till is cost shared at $10/acre.

Your other alternative to this program would be through IFIP, which you might be able to utilize if you have not used this program before. You can do a 1-4 year contract at $25/ac. However, you can only use this program one time.
Stop in or call to get your application in!

Call now to connect with business.

07/29/2024

A few shots from the Bioreactor Field Day held on July 23.
Thanks to everyone who came out!

07/29/2024

It's time to think about Cover Crops! Our enrollment period is open.
With IDALS, you can opt to utilize cost share at $20/acre for previous uesr or $30/acre for new user, for up to 160 acres.
In addition to this, on the acres that are NOT enrolled in federal or state cost share programs for cover crops, you can utilize the Cover Crop Insurance Discount Program. There is no cap on this cover crop insurance discount. Whatever acres you have that you do not have enrolled in cost share, you can apply for this.
Visit cleanwateriowa.org/cropinsurancediscount to apply!

Crop insurance in an integral part of the farm safety net that provides protection for farmers after bad weather impacts their crops. Cover crops can help prevent erosion and improve water quality and soil health, among other benefits.

07/18/2024

The 2024 sign-up period is open for statewide cost share funds to help farmers install nutrient reduction practices. Practices eligible for this funding are cover crops, no-till or strip till, or using a nitrification inhibitor when applying fertilizer.