From Practice to Policy:

A Farmer-led Conversation

The Lobe Rangers— Three Farmers from the Des Moines Lobe

Watershed Talks Recap: A Farmer-Led Conversation with The Lobe Rangers

On May 19, we hosted a special Watershed Talks program featuring three Iowa farmers sharing firsthand experience building profitable operations through strip-till, cover crops, and in-season nitrogen management—not as an experiment, but as a business model that works.

The discussion offered candid insight into what’s possible across today’s agricultural landscape, why current conservation efforts are falling short, and what recent legislative outcomes could mean for conservation and water quality efforts moving forward.

Grounded in real-world results and personal stakes, the speakers challenged the idea that conservation and profitability are at odds, questioned whether voluntary approaches alone can deliver the scale of change required, and called for greater transparency about what is happening across Iowa’s landscape.

Together, the conversation provided a clear perspective on what it will take to achieve cleaner water and a more resilient agricultural future—and asked whether today’s leaders are prepared to meet that challenge.

Featuring:

• Zack Smith 
• Matthew Bormann 
• James Hepp

To learn more:  www.theloberangers.com