(Des Moines) An Audubon Family is one of three finalists for the 2022 Iowa Leopold Conservation award.
According to the press release, Vic and Cindy Madsen of Audubon use a complex crop rotation and cover crops to manage weeds and build soil health while growing organic corn, soybeans, alfalfa, oats, and other small grains at Madsen Stock Farm. Rotationally grazing beef cattle on hilly areas of their farm maintains the ground cover needed to prevent erosion and promote biodiversity. Field borders and prairie strips of native plants provide wildlife habitat and water infiltration.
The two other finalists are Loran Steinlage of West Union in Fayette County; and Seth, Christy, Spencer, and Tatum Watkins of Clarinda in Page and Taylor counties:
The recipient receives $10,000, and their conservation success story will be featured in a video and other outreach. The recipient will be announced at The Big Soil Health Event in Cedar Falls in December.
THE LEOPOLD CONSERVATION AWARD is a competitive award recognizing landowner achievement in voluntary conservation. Sand County Foundation presents the award in California, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin, and in New England (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont). www.leopoldconservationaward.org.
