Horizon II
Established in 2017, the Iowa Watershed Awards honor conservation leaders who improve water quality and soil health. Organized by the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance and partners, the awards highlight efforts that support the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy, benefiting both local watersheds and downstream areas.
Project Area
Project Leadership
Roeslein Alternative Energy
Summary
Horizon II is a pilot project to create digesters in Iowa and Missouri, with a goal of producing renewable natural gas from cattle manure, organic matter from prairie, and cover crops.
By paying farmers for prairie strip and cover crop material, IAWA hopes the project can create new markets and more incentives for prairie and cover crops. At the same time, the project reduces greenhouse gas emissions and sequesters carbon in the soil.
IAWA’s contribution to the project is partner coordination and education and outreach about the needs and opportunities of digesters, prairie, and cover crops.
Horizon II is made possible by a Climate Smart Commodities grant from USDA and is led by Roeslein Alternative Energy. IAWA is among 13 other project partners.
Conservation Practices Implemented:
Horizon II Partners
- Roeslein Alternative Energy
- USDA-Climate Smart Ag
- IAWA
- Conservation Districts of Iowa
- Iowa Soybean Association
- Iowa State University
- Missouri Prairie Foundation
- Sievers Family Farms
- Soil and Water Outcomes Fund
- Smithfield Foods
- The Nature Conservancy
- University of Missouri
- Verdesian
- University of California-Davis
- Veterans in Agriculture