Carroll County Soil and Water requests county contribution to support cover‑crop and forage programs

John Coster, vice chair of the Carroll County Soil and Water Conservation District, and Tom Simons, the district chairman, asked the Board of Supervisors for a supplemental contribution to the district’s budget.

Coster and Simons described an expansion of local conservation programs, including an Iowa Lands and Forage initiative, cover‑crop promotion and programs that support livestock operations and water quality. They said a district employee (named Ashley) coordinates multiple programs and helped increase cover‑crop participation from roughly 5,000 acres last year to nearly double that this year, attributing the growth to the programs the district runs.

The presenters said the district’s request for county support this year is $6,000. They also referenced prior county support and said the district plans to continue seeking grant funds and low‑interest loans for producers (one program mentioned offers up to $500,000 at about 3 percent). Supervisors asked clarifying questions about whether the request matched last year’s request; presenters said it did.

No formal county vote to appropriate funds was recorded during the presentation. Supervisors thanked the district representatives and acknowledged the role of the district coordinator; the request will be considered through the county budget process.

John Coster summarized the presentation by saying, “That’s why we’re here,” explaining the district’s interest in continuing the programs that promote cover crops and support local livestock operations.