Fall 2012
A newsletter for women
farmland owners who want
to improve soil and water
conservation on their land.
Women, Food and Agriculture
Network supports and informs
women landowners through our
Women Caring for the LandSM
program. Visit
www.womencaringfortheland.org.
Ruby Hendrickson, a central Iowa landowner who is working to preserve her
family’s farmland heritage for future generations.
Landowner Spotlight: Ruby Hendrickson Preserves Her Farmland “Quilt”
BY SARAH BURKE
Seen from above, Ruby
Hendrickson’s land resembles a
quilt – small patches of restored
prairie wetland and sharecropped
corn and soybeans. On this
property just outside of Stratford,
IA, Hendrickson has created a
healthy, diverse ecosystem steeped
in family tradition.
Hendrickson’s grandfather – or
“morfar” – emigrated from Sweden
to Bishop Hill, IL, in 1868. He
returned to Sweden, married and
had two sons, and moved his
family to Iowa, where his great
aunt sold him 80 acres of land for
a few hundred dollars.
“After his wife died, he sent for
my grandmother in 1898, and they
married,” Hendrickson said. “The
land was much prairie and
contained moss ponds.”
Once Hendrickson inherited
that land, she continued her
family’s tradition of defending the
native prairie. Just like her mother
and grandmother, Hendrickson has
preserved a small prairie remnant
in the property’s northwest corner.
“The prairie remnant was a
special place that my grandparents
retained, and after they died, my
mother had a tremendous interest
in the vast amounts of flowers that
bloomed each year,” Hendrickson
said.
By collaborating with the
USDA Natural Resource
Conservation Service (NRCS),
Hendrickson was able to turn her
dreams for her property into reality.
Knowing her land could support
more than just row crops, she
worked with local NRCS agent
Christine Taliga to restore 40 acres
of prairie wetland through a 15year contract.
“Ruby’s love of the land and
Iowa’s tallgrass prairie were
aspects that really struck me when
I first met her,” Taliga said. “She
was inspired by her deep ties to her
family’s farm…and had a very
strong desire to work toward
restoring an ecological system on
her land.”
“If it wasn't for Christine Taliga,
I would never have had the nerve
to proceed with this prairie
wetland program,” Hendrickson
said. “She recommended that I
remove the perforated tile and
replace with the non-perforated.
This was a major cost, and I was
Prairie Restoration
Ruby burns the prairie remnant that her mother and grandmother protected
from the plow. Burning invigorates the plants.
reimbursed [through the NRCS’s
Wetland CRP program].”
Hendrickson expressed pride in
the program’s environmental
contribution.
“Tentatively, the main purpose
of this prairie project is to filter the
massive [amount of] chemicals out
of the water table,” she said. “What
boggles my mind is how
completely disinterested farmers
are about this precious water of
life, and how they continue with
the toxic chemicals.”
Taliga also emphasized the
direct benefits to landowners who
enroll in Conservation Reserve
Program (CRP) contracts.
“CRP is a great program to offer
landowners an alternative to row
crop production and still recover
an income from the land,” she
said. “It provides soil and water
conservation opportunities and
wildlife habitat.” See page 3 for
more information on CRP.
Hendrickson and her husband
now live in San Carlos, CA, and
managing her land long-distance
has been an ongoing challenge.
“I’m probably doing a punk
job,” she joked. “Until this year, I
had a very competent contract
mower, and I have a new one
starting. My biggest problem now
is the invasion of willows in the
wetland.”
Despite these hurdles,
Hendrickson has ambitious longterm goals, including the
transformation of an old homestead
into a memorial area for early
Swedish settlers. By building on
the legacy of her ancestors – and
weaving in her own sense of
creativity – Hendrickson has
achieved an unusual blend of
tradition and innovation that will
sustain her land well into the
future.
Taliga urged other women
landowners interested in
conservation to follow
Hendrickson’s example and
explore options that match their
overall vision and goals.
“If it is good for soil and water
conservation, there is usually some
form of assistance for landowners
through USDA NRCS programs,”
she said. “Stay true to your
objectives, trust your knowledge
of the land, and don’t give up.”
Taliga may be reached at
[email protected].
Many landowners are
interested in exploring the
option of protecting or
restoring native prairie on
their farmland.
Prairie restoration
enhances the environment.
It increases the abundance
of native plants, increases
ecological diversity, and
therefore creates habitats
for native animals and
insects. Prairies absorb a lot
of rain, reducing erosion
and runoff.
For information on
restoring prairie in the
Mississippi basin, visit the
National Park Service
prairie restoration page:
http://www.nps.gov/
miss/naturescience/
prairesthome.htm
State Program Spotlight:
Iowa’s No-Interest
State Revolving Fund
Since 1983, the Iowa
Division of Soil Conservation
has been offering no-interest
loans through local Soil and
Water Conservation District
offices.
By design, the funds
revolve – meaning as
borrowers make payments on
their loans, the funds become
available to make new loans.
Loans made under the fund’s
Local Water Protection
Program can be used to fund
conservation practices that
protect soil and water
resources.
Federal Program Spotlight: Conservation Reserve Program
Examples include terraces,
water and sediment control
basins, grade stabilization
structures and waterways.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must own all of
the land where the
conservation will take place.
Tracts of land must be over 10
acres with a minimum of
$2,500 of agricultural
products sold annually
Terms
The primary purposes of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) are to
conserve and improve the soil, water, and wildlife resources by temporarily
removing land from agricultural production. Under the CRP general sign-up
provision, USDA offers annual rental payments and cost-share assistance to
farmers to establish long-term conserving cover, primarily grasses and trees,
on land that has been in row crop production. USDA periodically holds
general sign-ups and land is bid into the program on a competitive basis with
ranking based on environmental benefits and cost.
•Up to $10,000 loaned per
borrower
•$800,000 available in total
•Loans set up to be paid back
in equal installments over a 10year period
•Payments due March 1st
each year, with no penalty for
prepayment
For information or to
apply, contact your local Soil
and Water Conservation
District office, or visit
www.iowasrf.com.
The CRP also has a continuous signup provision, the CCRP (sometimes
referred to as the CRP buffer initiative), which provides payments to farmers
to establish riparian buffers, grass waterways, contour grass strips, and other
specific partial field conservation practices on land in agricultural production.
Farmers and landowners may enroll land on which those partial field
practices will be adopted at any time, hence the term “continuous” sign-up.
3 WFAN • Patchwork • Fall 2012!
In addition, USDA may enter into a Conservation Reserve Enhancement
Program (CREP) agreement with a state, under which the state provides
funding, in addition to the federal CRP funding, to pay farmers to address
targeted conservation issues within the state.
All CRP contracts between USDA and agricultural landowners are for 10
to 15 years, with the longer agreements for land planted to trees.
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For a complete overview of the program, including changes made in the
2008 farm bill, visit the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition’s CRP
information page at http://sustainableagriculture.net/publications/
grassrootsguide/conservation-environment/conservation-reserve-program/.
For more information about enrolling land in CRP, contact your county Farm
Service Agency office. In Iowa, you can locate your nearest service center at
http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?state=ia&agency=fsa
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Agency Partner Spotlight: Rose Danaher Lends a Hand to
Women and Watersheds
BY SARAH BURKE
Rose Danaher believes that women landowners
have the power to protect watersheds and meet
their conservation goals.
“Women are in a unique position to affect the
future of Iowa’s landscape because they own and
co-own over half of the land in Iowa, and those
numbers are going up,” Danaher said. “I think
sometimes women feel that they don’t have much
say in land management decisions, but as an
owner, they have every right to be involved.”
As Price Creek Watershed Coordinator for the
Iowa County Soil and Water Conservation District
(SWCD), Danaher works with private landowners
to cost-share the installation of conservation
practices on their farms, such as buffer strips,
terraces, grassed waterways, livestock grazing
systems, and cover crops.
“I think there is a misconception that
conservation practices cut into production and
profits, but as input costs continue to rise, farmers
are looking for ways to streamline their operations,”
Danaher said. “With careful planning, practices
such as cover crops and long-term no-till can
reduce input costs substantially – and they keep a
significant amount of soil and nutrients in the field,
where we need them.”
By reducing the bacteria and sediment being
washed into the stream, Danaher hopes to see
Price Creek removed from the impaired waters list,
and the SWCD is monitoring changes in water
quality to measure success. Over the years,
Danaher has enjoyed learning about the history of
the Amana Colonies and residents’ connections to
the Price Creek landscape.
“Many of the landowners who grew up in the
area have stories about swimming and fishing in
Price Creek, which is not possible today. These
deep ties help foster an interest in conservation and
water quality,” Danaher said.
For women with an interest in watershed
stewardship, Danaher recommends connecting
with resources like WFAN’s Women Caring for the
LandSM program (and website – see
www.womencaringfortheland.org), Women, Land
and LegacySM teams; Practical Farmers of Iowa; and
your local office of the USDA’s Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS).
“Your local NRCS office would be glad to offer
conservation planning assistance that will
maximize both environmental benefits and
production on your land,” Danaher said.
Rose during spring 2012 turkey season.
Visit nrcs.usda.gov to find your local office.
New WFAN Website and Video Series Offer Resources
for Women Landowners and Conservation Professionals
Women Food and Agriculture Network now offers even
more resources for women landowners and conservation
professionals on our new Women Caring for the LandSM
website: www.womencaringfortheland.org.
For women landowners
Listen to Women
Landowners LIke You Talk
about Conservation, Good
Tenants, and Helping Young
Farmers Get Started
Browse our Explore page, which contains:
• a series of short video interviews with women landowners
about conservation (see sidebar)
• issues of our Patchwork newsletter
• current conservation news items
• a conservation FAQs list for landowners
• a contact list for conservation programs and agencies
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The website also has an improved events calendar. Users
may search for conservation-related meetings and conferences
by state, listing, or date.
For conservation professionals
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If you are a conservation professional
interested in hosting women-only
conservation meetings for non-operator
landowners, WFAN’s 80-page curriculum
manual is your guide. The manual, found on
our Resources page, provides users with an
overview of the rationale and!methodology
for targeting outreach to non-operator
women landowners. It also provides a selection of 10
conservation demonstration activities, which
Contto
range from very simple to more complex
actfitUs Talk
to your
all audiences. (Free PDF download, 90 pp.)
Tenant
For everyone
Any visitor to the site may also access our
growing collection of outreach materials
designed specifically for women landowners,
including brochures and a booklet promoting
cover crops, and a booklet on wildlife
management, hunting and trespassing rights.
Suggestions for our next topics? Email us.
5 WFAN • Patchwork • Fall 2012!
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Protect your land.
Prote
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can do both.
Chris Henning (right) works in
partnership with her tenant farmer
Jerry Peckumn to make sure her land in
Greene Co., IA, is farmed sustainably
while still generating an income. Hear
!
their story on one of the videos.
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Women
landowners
praise WFAN’s
Women Caring
for the LandSM
program:
This was just what I
needed. Hope we can
continue to support
each other.
This has been so
informative and
helpful. I'm excited for
the future of my
father's land.
What a relief to be
able to ask ‘dumb’
questions!
Just cannot imagine
how it could have been
better – unless it was a
Day Two.
Keep up the good
work!
WFAN hears your voices. You want healthy soil and water on your farm. We can help.
WFAN has been working with women farmland owners for more than a decade. We have met
with you in learning circles and listening sessions, and read your responses to our surveys and
polls. We know that women currently own or co-own half the farmland in Iowa. We know you have
very strong conservation values. But – especially if you are a recent inheritor – you may be unsure
of how to turn your dreams and values into action.
All you need to make soil and water improvements on your land are information and support.
We created the Women Caring for the LandSM program to address those needs. We have met with
more than 500 women landowners across the Midwest since 2009. Two thirds of you took at least
one conservation action in the year following your first meeting. That’s amazing! And it’s just the
beginning. Women can help each other transform the landscape.
Help us continue this vital program for women landowners by making a donation today.
Yes! I want Women Caring for the LandSM to continue and grow. Enclosed is my donation of $__________.
Name: ________________________________________________________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________________________________________
City/State/Zip: _________________________________________________________________________
Email: _________________________________________ Telephone: _____________________________
I am a:"
___ farmland owner "
___ future farmland owner " ___ conservation supporter
My donation is in ___ honor or ___ memory of ________________________________________________
Please notify my honoree by mailing them at this address:
________________________________________________________________________
Clip this form and mail with your check made out to WFAN to: WFAN, PO Box 611, Ames, IA
50010. Or donate securely online. Visit www.wfan.org, click Donate Now, and choose “Women
landowner assistance” when prompted. Thank you for your support!
Septic System Facts and Fallacies
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While septic system replacement may not be the most romantic-sounding approach to natural
resource conservation, it can have a huge impact on the health of your community.
According to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), Iowa has an estimated 100,000
buildings with inadequate septic systems, endangering people, animals, and watersheds. If bacteria-laden
fecal material is released directly into a stream or ditch, it can expose people and pets to pathogens,
pollute drinking supplies, and pull oxygen from the water, posing a threat to fish and other aquatic life.
“Many people don’t understand that a septic tank does not constitute a septic system,” said Dan
Olson, senior environmental specialist at IDNR. “In order to have a legal septic system, it must have a
septic tank and a secondary treatment system such as a drain field or sand filter. Systems with no
secondary treatment are illegal and require repair.”
“The biggest misconception is that old, illegal septic ‘systems’ are grandfathered in, but they are not,”
said Steve Hopkins, non-point-source water pollution coordinator at the IDNR.
For landowners considering replacement, Olson and Hopkins recommend visiting the county
sanitarian for more information and resources. Although replacing a septic system costs $7,000 on
average, rural homeowners can access low-interest loans to replace failing systems through the Iowa State
Revolving Fund’s On-site Wastewater Assistance Program (OSWAP). You can learn more about this
program at www.iowasrf.com, under the heading “Other Water Quality Programs.” Also check out the
other drinking water and wastewater improvement project loans listed at the website.
Photos of Buttermilk Creek, Wright County, IA
These photos of Buttermilk Creek in Wright County, IA, show how the water looks during times of high
flow (left), and low flow (right), when septic contamination is evident. Buttermilk Creek is listed on the Iowa
impaired waters list due to pollution from failing septic systems that discharge into the creek. DNR estimates
there are 100,000 failing septic systems in rural areas of Iowa. Could yours be one of them? Photos by
Greg Soenen.
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Whole-Farm Conservation Planning Help Available – Free!
Well-managed land can provide many things: !
sustainable income, shelter for wildlife, clean air and
water, and a peaceful, beautiful retreat. But making
the right land management decisions can be
challenging and overwhelming.
then your county, and you’ll find a listing for your
nearest USDA Service Center. Their conservationists
are waiting to hear from you!
Did you know there is free assistance from USDA
to help you decide how to best manage your land?
Conservationists with the Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS), located in nearly every
county in the country, can help you write a whole
farm conservation plan. This voluntary plan will
explain how to best protect your land and meet your
goals for your farm or property. It will describe how
your land should be farmed and whether additional
items are needed to protect your soil, provide wildlife
habitat and promote cleaner water.
Just start by finding the office nearest to you by
going to:! bit.ly/PDTM5U.! Click on your state and
WFAN
PO BOX 611
AMES, IA 50010-0611
NRCS District Conservationist Lori Altheide (Wapello Co., IA)
suggests filter strips to Wapello County farmers and other
landowners as one of the options to protect the land, improve
wildlife habitat, and improve water quality.