Iowa: Severe Soil Erosion
June 24th, 2008Via: Des Moines Register:
Soil erosion has caused substantial damage to Iowa’s farm fields hit hard by heavy rain and flooding this spring, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey said after touring two areas of the state.
Heavy rains this spring came when the soil was most vulnerable to erosion – when the soil has been tilled for planting, but before plants’ root systems grow to hold it in place, he said.
It isn’t known yet how much damage was done to soil conservation structures, Northey said, but he expects the state Legislature will need to provide a fresh infusion of money to repair the damage.
The Iowa Agriculture Department is surveying counties to gauge the amount of damage that has been done. Survey results should be known at the end of this week, he said.
