Switchgrass system shows encouraging results

USDA, IDALS, NRCS and FDC Enterprises partner with farmers to provide alternative income opportunities and environmental advantages.

Southern Iowa farmers are embracing a climate-smart switchgrass cropping system, a relatively new program that offers alternative revenue opportunities while promoting environmental benefits like reduced soil erosion, decreased nutrient loss and improved water infiltration.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) are providing cost-share funds for switchgrass seeding and soil rental payments for landowners through a five-year Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) grant and 10-year IDALS program.

Additionally, FDC Enterprises, a leading conservation and bioenergy company, is cost-sharing the switchgrass establishment and is providing planting, maintenance and biomass harvesting and transportation services at no cost to landowners.

To date, 35 landowners across 13 counties have seeded roughly 1,500 acres in switchgrass, with early results showing promising results.

FDC Enterprises Conservation Biologist John Murphy said the primary objective for both the RCPP and IDALS is to promote land stewardship through water quality and...