A Water Crisis Has The ‘Poster Boys’ of Iowa Farming Ready to Talk Regulation
Key takeaways
- June 7, 2026 Share This Article Republish Matthew Bormann, a fifth-generation farmer, is one-third of a trio of growers in Iowa’s flat and fertile Des Moines Lobe.
- The 36-year-old farmer manages about 1,600 acres of corn, soy and small grains in northern Iowa.
- In an effort to preserve soil health, he tills only narrow strips of land, leaving much of his field undisturbed.
Why this matters: environmental and climate reporting with long-term consequences.
June 7, 2026 Share This Article Republish Matthew Bormann, a fifth-generation farmer, is one-third of a trio of growers in Iowa’s flat and fertile Des Moines Lobe. Credit: Anika Jane Beamer/Inside Climate News Related An Iowa Town Spent $800,000 on a New Well. It Pumps Undrinkable Water. With Fertilizer Pollution on the Rise, Iowa Will Invest $100 Million in Water Treatment Iowa’s Water Crisis Could Help Tip the Scales for Control of US House Share This Article Republish Most Popular An Iowa Town Spent $800,000 on a New Well. It Pumps Undrinkable Water. Colorado River Faces ‘Devastating Consequences’ If Another Dry Winter Lands, Experts Warn Dolphins, Sharks, Turtles and Workers Are All Victims of Unregulated Squid Fleets ROCKWELL CITY, Iowa—James Hepp is sick of excuses.
The 36-year-old farmer manages about 1,600 acres of corn, soy and small grains in northern Iowa. He keeps a close eye on his bottom line and says he wants to build a business that his three young children would be foolish not to join. For Hepp, a first-generation farmer, that means doing things differently from his neighbors.
In an effort to preserve soil health, he tills only narrow strips of land, leaving much of his field undisturbed. Hepp also avoids applying nitrogen fertilizer when he’s not growing crops.