NICC signs a partnership agreement with the NRCS

The USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is getting a new partner in Northeast Iowa.

Northeast Iowa Community College has signed an agreement to help NRCS provide education and training on soil management.  Said NICC President Dr. Liang Chee Wee, "Soil health is critical to future food production and supply world-wide. "  Wee added NICC's collaboration with NRCS grows out of the school's efforts with the Winneshiek Soil & Water Conservation District since 2008.

Working with local customers and stakeholders, NRCS staff across the country are providing education and training on soil health management.To build partnerships and expand the impact of this effort, NRCS sought community college partners to engage in this effort.

"This partnership with the community colleges...will help build a network of the next generation of land managers, experts, educators and technicians who are actively involved in improving soil health," said NRCS Soil Health Division Director Dr. Bianca Moebius-Clune.

As part of the agreement, NICC will work with the National Corn Growers Association to test various soil health management systems designed to improve the health of soil to increase yield and profitability and, over time, reduce environmental risks using these practices.Test plots are implemented on the community college campuses, allowing students to learn about these practices and begin to understand their promise for higher yields and profitability, their effect on resiliency against extreme weather and improved utilization and retention of nutrients on the crop.