ANKENY, Iowa — Agriculture’s Clean Water Alliance (ACWA) is leading a $713,000 Water Quality Initiative (WQI) in the Elk Run Watershed to engage farmers in parts of Sac, Calhoun and Carroll counties in discussion and implementation of water conservation practices outlined in the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy.

Through on-farm evaluations, collecting water samples, implementing practices from the Nutrient Reduction Strategy and uniting farmers, partners and urban entities, the Elk Run WQI will strive to further awareness and ultimately implementation of water quality conservation practices.

Outreach events across the watershed will highlight various technologies that significantly reduce loss of nutrients while maintaining productivity. Additional conservation practices to be implemented include bioreactors, saturated buffers, cover crops, nitrification inhibitors and drainage water management.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Services (IDALS) provided $354,000 to the project. IDALS funding will be dispersed over the course of the three-year project in addition to partner and landowner contributions.

For more information about the ACWA, visit www.acwa-rrws.org

CHESTERFIELD, Mo. – The U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA), a consumer-facing organization dedicated to leading the national conversation about how food is grown and raised, has grown to more than 80 organizations with the addition of nine new affiliates.

The mission of USFRA is for all of agriculture to work together to enhance consumer confidence and trust in today’s food production system. USFRA is excited about welcoming the following new affiliates this past year:

•Dairy Business Milk Marketing Cooperative

•Delaware Soybean Board

•Illinois Corn Marketing Board

•International Dairy Foods Assoc.

•Iowa Pork Producers Assoc.

•Maryland Soybean Board

•Oregon Farm Bureau

•Wisconsin Corn Growers Assoc.

•Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board

For a complete list of USFRA’s affiliates and industry partners, visit www.food dialogues.com/content/affiliates-board- participants-and-industry-partners

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Ziegler CAT is pleased to announce the opening of a new sales and parts facility in Willmar, Minn. The new 5,360 square-foot facility will offer a selection of compact construction and ag equipment.

The location will also bring Ziegler parts and service support closer to the surrounding area. It will open on April 20 and will be located at 2987 Highway 12 West. A full inventory of parts and maintenance items for Caterpillar construction equipment, AGCO ag equipment and LEXION combines, as well as hydraulic hose rebuilding capabilities, will be available.

A daily shuttle system will connect the Willmar facility with Ziegler’s 26 other locations, providing unmatched parts availability. Ziegler fulfills 98.6 percent of all parts orders within 24 hours. The facility will also enable Ziegler resident field service technicians in the Willmar area to provide fast and efficient service at customer locations.