Iowa Soil and Water Conservation Week will be celebrated April 29 – May 6, 2012. This is an opportunity to recognize the important conservation practices that have been placed on the Iowa landscape, and bring attention to the ongoing work by farmers, landowners and urban residents to protect the state's soil and water resources.

Soil and Water Conservation Week recognizes that the abundance of our agricultural products and the quality of life we enjoy are dependent upon the proper use and management of soil and water resources. Iowa Soil and Water Conservation Week this year is being coordinated with national Stewardship Week, which is sponsored by the National Association of Conservation Districts. This year's Stewardship Week theme is "Soil to Spoon" and is designed to focus the nation's attention on the stewardship of our natural resources.

The severe erosion during the "Dust Bowl" years of the 1930s brought about the first efforts to prevent soil erosion, which also helped protect water resources. Iowa passed a law in 1939 to establishing a state agency and the means for soil and water conservation districts to organize. This legislation declared it the policy of the State of Iowa to: preserve soil and water; protect the state's tax base; and promote health, safety and public welfare of people of Iowa.

Today, Iowa is a national leader in the implementation of water quality and watershed projects, soil conservation and buffer programs. Iowa currently leads the nation in the continuous conservation reserve program buffer initiative with more than 600,000 acres. Iowa also has more than 60 active watershed and water quality projects across the state.

Together with our partners, we are planning events throughout the week, including a great urban conservation tour in downtown Des Moines. We'll post details as they become available at www.iowaagriculture.gov/conservationweek.asp, in addition to facebook and twitter. Many local soil and water conservation districts are also hosting events across the state. Contact yours today to find out what's going on and how you can get involved!

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