A Jefferson business and an individual recently received statewide recognition for their efforts to improve water quality. 

Iowa Cover Crop, which is owned by Bill and Melissa Frederick and James and Megan Holz, were the recipients of the Team Impact Award from the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance (IAWA) and the Iowa Watershed Awards. According to IAWA, the Team Impact Award honors extraordinary teamwork and commitment to water quality. Megan Holz recalls when she found out, she was completely surprised that someone had nominated their business of cover crops as a way to keep nutrients in the soil after corn and soybean harvest, as well as preventing runoff into waterways.

Megan tells Raccoon Valley Radio what this award means to Iowa Cover Crop.

“It’s been really cool that we received recognition about our team, because it’s not just the people that own Iowa Cover Crop, it’s the employees and the dealers across the state that really make our company special.”

Megan adds that with their over 20 dealers across the state, over 16 million pounds of seed last year. 

Additionally, the Agriculture’s Clean Water Alliance Chair Harry Ahrenholtz was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his decades of helping to lead ACWA by advocating for nitrogen stabilizers, adding conservation agronomists and installing Iowa’s first bioreactor.