2026 August Stewardship Advocate

2026 August Stewardship Advocate

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Digging into the Conservation Compass

A few months ago, the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance (IAWA) unveiled a new platform to help farmers and conservationists navigate through the ever-changing and sometimes-confusing myriads of cost-share and incentive programs for conservation practices. This platform is called the "Conservation Compass" and is a suite of tools and educational materials to assist farmers find, compare, and get signed up for conservation cost share and other incentives. It can be found at The Compass.

Rebekah Jones, Communications Director of IAWA and architect of the Conservation Compass, talks about the reason for the incentives platform, saying "Conservation Compass is the only state-based tool that helps both farmers and professionals break through information overload on cost share. "We chose the name 'Compass' because in the end, the farmer is choosing their destination. We're just there to guide them to the right help along the way."

Through the Compass, farmers and conservation professionals alike can: 

1. Filter programs by practice and source of funding. 
2. Get connected with a Conservation Agronomist ASAP. 
3. Learn how to combine programs for maximum payment rates to incentivize change.
4. Invest time in the learning hub to learn about carbon markets, funding sources, and what to expect when signing up for a program.

The Iowa State University Nutrient Reduction Dashboard shows that Iowa utilized close to $600 million in state and federal conservation funding in one year (2023, the most recent available data). That doesn't even include private funding like carbon market programs. However, programs are scattered across the internet; some don't even have a website or informational landing page, making it hard for farmers to find or understand them. Even the professionals can get confused. The Compass changes that and empowers farmers to make a positive impact on their farms and their communities.Source: Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance

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Paul Gieselman and his family farm in Louisa County in southeast Iowa along the Mississippi River. Paul farms with his wife, Sara, and three teenage sons, August, Benjamin and Capp. Paul's dad helps with harvest in the fall. Paul says he started "carpet farming" when he was four years old but has been in the big machines for the last 28 years.

Paul and his family run a diversified operation with a corn-soybean rotation but also have a cow calf operation with a herd of purebred British White Park cattle, some of which they finish as fat cattle. They raise hay for the cattle and in an unusual twist, they also raise Aronia berries which are considered "superfood". They are a small berry that is densely packed with antioxidants and nutrients. These berries are native to the Midwest and require no inputs once they are established.

In talking about his goals for his farm, Paul says, "My number one goal is to remain profitable. I believe conservation goes hand in hand with profitability. When we reduce input dollars using cover crops and reduced tillage, it is a win for us and the environment in the form of reduced chemicals, fertilizer and labor inputs. We also burn less fuel and have lower equipment costs." He continues, "The soil we retain and improve will leave this farm better than it was when I began farming it and ready for another generation. My grandfather and father were both focused on conservation and created many terraces, waterways and buffer strips that are still on the farm today."

Paul plants 109-116 day hybrids at populations between 31,000 and 38,000 seeds per acre, depending on the hybrid and field. His corn crop is split applied anhydrous followed by UAN and sulfur with the planter. They have tried several microbials but are not currently using any of these products today.

Regarding tillage and cover crops, Paul uses one pass with a soil finisher ahead of corn planting and no-tills all of his soybean fields and has for the last 20 years. Following corn harvest, they broadcast cereal rye at a rate of 40 pounds per acre. In the spring, they terminate the rye 10 days before soybean planting when the rye is 20-24 inches tall. Paul says his cover crops "provide a hostile environment for weed germination and a great seed bed for the soybeans. We will also graze cattle on them in the early spring for added value." They find straight rye to be the easiest to work with and still achieve the goals of reducing nutrient rates, higher increased organic matter, better soil tilth, erosion control and lower herbicide usage.

Paul says they have fully embraced drones, "My son is a pilot and has helped use the drone to apply fungicides, conduct aerial crop scouting for plant health, population scouting and cover crop seeding. I think it is a neat technology that has many positive benefits. We continually look for new ways to use the drone to increase our efficiency."

In addition to being a full-time farmer, Paul finds many ways to give back to his industry and community. He is very active with Iowa Corn and is currently the incoming President of the Iowa Corn Promotion Board. He has been a member of the Research committee, Industrial Usage and Production committee, and presently on the Grassroots, Membership and Checkoff committee. In addition, he serves his fellow farmers and youth as an Extension council member for the last 16 years. When asked what he wants other farmers to know about him, Paul says, "There is no one way to do it right. Every farm and farmer is different. I am always trying to improve and be a better farmer than I was yesterday. My system works for me and allows me to do what I love for a living while raising a family rooted in agriculture."

Farewell:

Dear readers,

I have been writing the Stewardship Advocate since my first edition in February of 2023, and this is the last edition…I am retiring this September after nearly 40 years of working with and for farmers. It has been the privilege of a lifetime to serve them, both in good times and challenging times. I have tried to position the Stewardship Advocate as an educational publication with a focus on timely topics related to agronomy, nutrient management, water quality and conservation practices.

The second purpose was to celebrate Iowa corn farmers and their family farms. We hear all the time that every farm is different and that is true, and I have tried to demonstrate that truth by sharing individual farmer stories. But there is one unifying factor that connects every farmer that was featured, and that is their love of the land and their unbridled desire to leave the land to the next generation in better shape than they received it. Farmers want to leave a positive legacy, and they are working on that goal every single day.

Thank you for your interest in the Stewardship Advocate. Because of the readers, the newsletter's open rate has been around 50% every month, which is significantly higher than the vast majority of publications. Also, a special thank you to Amanda Fortman of Iowa Corn who made me seem like a better writer than I actually am and for faithfully publishing the Stewardship Advocate on the fourthWednesday of every month.

Sincerely,

Greg Wandrey

Director of Sustainability

Iowa Corn Growers Association

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