Trusted Adviser Leads Producers Through Conservation Programs

For over seven years, Laura Ellingson has been working to help farmers in Iowa through the Howard County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD). Beginning as a contractor and now serving as a district technician, Ellingson has reached over 250 farmers on over 280,000 acres.

Ellingson’s primary focus is on the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), leading producers from start to finish within them. Every application is different, she says, ranging anywhere from 80 acres of cover crops to 3,000.

“We really aim to work with both spectrums, whether you’re large or small,” explains Ellingson. “It all makes a difference in the watershed.”

Cover crops are the number one conservation practice adopted by producers in her area, but she gets to work on several other practices as well. She has helped producers in her county with streambank work, the installation of field borders, adoption of no-till or reduced-till, and more.

“Every year we have an average of 100+ EQIP and 120+ CRP applications, and Laura is responsible for working through all of them,” says Hunter Slifka, Howard County SWCD Watershed Project Coordinator. “Without her working with the farmers every day and helping them work towards their goals, Howard County would not have anywhere near the output we do right now.”

The Howard County office is always busy, with lots of farmer involvement in local, state and federal programs. Without Laura, a lot of farmers wouldn’t receive the help and service they need.

“With the number of applications we have in Howard County, Laura gets buried in the office a lot, but the determination and dedication to get through every single application takes much more,” remarks Slifka.

Laura Ellingson
District Technician
Howard County Soil and Water Conservation District
Howard County, Iowa

“Our job as trusted advisers is to listen, give advice, find advice, and bring the right people together to answer the questions farmers have.”

Laura Ellingson
District Technician
Howard County Soil and Water Conservation District

Sustainability is incredibly important to Ellingson for many reasons, but most especially because of water. “Water is one of our most precious resources, and that’s become more evident year after year,” she says.

Her local watershed connects to the Mississippi River, and she knows how crucial it is for upstream individuals to play a role in keeping the water quality clean and safe.

“That long-term sustainability of saving our soil and saving our water by less tillage, more cover crops, etc., slows down infiltration and prevents pesticides and herbicides from getting into our water,” explains Ellingson. “It’s a job that we all need to get involved in and share, whether you’re an urban landowner, a big farmer, or a little farmer – we all make that difference.”

To Ellingson, all that has been accomplished through the SWCD office is thanks to the team involved. “Sometimes there’s no one right answer, so by working as a community together in trial and error, we can come up with the best solution for someone,” she says.

In Howard County, they have a statement on every conservation plan that reads, “working to improve water quality, enhance wildlife habitat, & increase net farm income.” Ellingson takes this statement seriously, working with farmers to ensure each aspect is addressed.

“Our job as trusted advisers is to listen, give advice, find advice, and bring the right people together to answer the questions farmers have,” says Ellingson. “Our role is to make that farmer sustainable and profitable at the same time.”