Conservation Awards

Jones SWCD honors Inglis as Conservation Farmer of the Year

The Jones Soil and Water Conservation District has named sixth-generation farmer Dan Inglis of Hale the 2024 Conservation Farmer of the Year, recognizing his dedication to conservation practices that preserve soil health and prevent erosion.

The award, presented annually by the Jones SWCD, highlights farmers making a measurable difference in conservation. The selection process includes nominations from the public, district staff and commissioners, who vote on the final recipient.

For Inglis, the honor came as a surprise.

“I appreciate it, but I did not expect it at all. It’s kind of neat to be recognized in some ways,” he said.

Conservation has been part of Inglis’s farming legacy for decades.

“My dad started no-tilling way back in the ’80s,” said Inglis. “We’ve gotten more integrated into the strip till, and that’s where we’re at now. Most of our fields are strip-tilled or have a little bit of no-tillage.”

Inglis farms alongside his family on 1,100 acres of row crops, a beef cow herd and swine. For the past five years, they have used cover crops to help protect hillsides and lighter soils from erosion.

“We’re seeing good results and we’re going to keep doing it,” he said. “It’s been really nice to see very little soil movement, even after heavy rains.”

He said conservation practices are especially important in eastern Iowa’s hillier terrain.

“The big thing is erosion,” he said. “For farms like ours, if we till too much, we have problems with that. We’re building organic matter and keeping carbon in the ground, and it works really well for us.”

Beyond soil health, strip tilling also offers efficiency.

“It’s a one-pass system that takes care of deep tillage, finishing and fertilizer placement,” said Inglis. “That’s another major factor, especially when you’re talking about a two-man or one-man operation.”

Looking ahead, he’s eager to see how his fields continue to respond.

“I’m excited to see how it handles different weather events, wetter years, drier years,” he said. “So far our yields have been going up, and cover crops help with water infiltration. I think it’s definitely made a difference.”

For producers considering no-till or strip-till, Inglis has one piece of advice: patience.

“It’s not for everyone, and it might take different timing than what you’re used to,” he said. “But if you want to try it, let it work its course.”