July 18, 2025
Local NewsState & National

Ide recognized as ‘Iowa Conservation Farmer of the Year’

By SARAH SCULL

Chad Ide, Iowa Conservation Farmer of the Year, tends to his cattle in a pasture at his family farm in rural Union County. Ide utilizes rotational grazing as a conservation practice in an effort to allow his ground to regrow and avoid soil erosion. To do this, Ide divided his pasture into four smaller paddocks, where he rotates his cattle from one to the other each week. (CNA photo)

In rural Union County, one farmer is proving he cares about conservation by continually implementing innovative practices to protect Iowa’s water quality and prevent soil erosion. Because of this, Chad Ide, 35, of Shannon City, is the 2018 recipient of the Iowa Conservation Farmer of the Year Award.

Ide, who farms with his wife Francine, and parents Monty and Diane Ide, was nominated for the award by the Union County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), which recognized him as a “steady leader in soil and water conservation in our county.” Along with being celebrated for his conservation efforts, the Union County SWCD noted the Ides’ willingness to promote conservation education through field days, tours and trainings which inspire other area farmers.

“We continue to see farmers making investments and doing more to improve water quality and protect soil health,” Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said in a Iowa Farm Bureau (IFB) press release. “These conservation awards are an opportunity to highlight and recognize farmers who take the extra step in their conservation efforts and serve as conservation leaders in their communities and across the state.”

For Ide, conservation practices are second nature. It’s been the standard on his family’s farm.

“Dad has always done a lot of conservation practices,” said Ide. “It’s just something I grew up with. I just want to take care of the land and livestock that God created here, and leave it better for the next generation.”

The practices Ide executes are in place in an effort to protect the environment and each provides benefits: rotational grazing, no-till planting and the use of cover crops boost the soil’s organic matter; terracing is in place to slow water runoff; buffer strips run the length of some crop ground to prevent chemicals from leaching into neighboring water ways.

The added benefit of Ide’s conservation practices is nutrient management.

“The soil health is better,” said Ide. “(With cover crops and no-tilling) Not only are you keeping it there, but you are technically feeding it.”

Ide said there is a learning curve when it comes to understanding conservation, but there are a number of local agencies available to help with information and cost-sharing programs, such as the IFB and the Union County SWCD office. Through these resources, Ide participates in field tours and demonstrations to gain ideas to implement on his own farm.

“No two things work for the same person,” said Ide. “Each person has different circumstances, purpose or objective … but, you can see things you can pick up for your own operation.”

Ide doesn’t consider himself a role model. However, he was chosen for leading by example.

“Everyone has a role to play in protecting our soil and water quality,” said Craig Hill, president of Iowa Farm Bureau Federation in a press release. “Our role as farmers is to do more than grow food; we must all work towards leaving the land and watershed better for the next generation. The regional and statewide award winners have certainly shown their commitment to protecting Iowa’s soil and water and a willingness to share their experiences with fellow farmers, so we can all work together to make big strides in conservation.”

As part of his award, Ide has been offered the free use of a John Deere 6E Series utility tractor for up to 12 months or 200 hours. The tractor prize is sponsored annually by Van Wall Equipment of Perry and John Deere.

The Iowa Conservation Farmer of the Year Award is sponsored by the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS). Ide will be presented with the award in early September at the Conservation Districts of Iowa (CDI) annual meeting in Des Moines.