161A.62 - DUTIES OF COMMISSIONERS AND OF OWNERS AND OCCUPANTS OF AGRICULTURAL LAND -- RESTRICTIONS ON USE OF COST-SHARING FUNDS. - Iowa Statutes

161A.62 DUTIES OF COMMISSIONERS AND OF OWNERS AND OCCUPANTS OF AGRICULTURAL LAND -- RESTRICTIONS ON USE OF COST-SHARING FUNDS. The commissioners of each soil and water conservation district shall seek to implement or to assist in implementing the following requirements: 1. Each farm unit shall be furnished a conservation folder complying with the rules of the department by the soil and water conservation district in which the farm unit is located, not later than January 1, 1985, or as soon thereafter as adequate funding is available to permit completion of a conservation folder for every farm unit in the state. Technical assistance in the development of the conservation folder may be provided by the United States department of agriculture natural resources conservation service through the memorandum of understanding with the district or by the department. The department shall provide by rule that an updated farm plan prepared for a particular farm unit within ten years prior to the effective date of this subsection shall be considered an adequate replacement for the conservation folder for that farm unit. Upon completion of the conservation folder for a particular farm unit, the district shall send the owner of that farm unit, and also the operator of the farm unit if known by the commissioners to be other than the owner, a letter offering that person or those persons a copy of the folder. The district shall keep a record of the date the folder is completed and the letter is sent. The folder shall be updated from time to time by the district as it deems necessary. 2. The commissioners of each soil and water conservation district shall complete preparation of a farm unit soil conservation plan for each farm unit within the district, not later than January 1, 1985, or five years after completion of the conservation folder for that farm unit, whichever date is later, or as soon thereafter as adequate funding is available to permit compliance with this requirement. Technical assistance in the development of the farm unit soil conservation plan may be provided by the United States department of agriculture natural resources conservation service through the memorandum of understanding with the district or by the department. The commissioners shall make every reasonable effort to consult with the owner and, if appropriate, with the operator of that farm unit, and to prepare the plan in a form which is acceptable to that person or those persons. The plan shall be drawn up and completed without expense to the owner or operator of the farm unit, except that the owner or operator shall not be reimbursed for the value of the owner's or occupant's own time devoted to participation in the preparation of the plan. If the commissioners' plan is unacceptable to the owner or operator of the farm unit, that person or those persons may prepare an alternative farm unit soil conservation plan identifying permanent or temporary soil and water conservation practices which may be expected to achieve compliance with the soil loss limit or limits applicable to that farm unit, and submit that plan to the soil and water conservation district commissioners for their review. 3. Within one year after completion of a farm unit soil conservation plan for a particular farm unit which is acceptable both to the commissioners of the soil and water conservation district within which the farm unit is located and to the owner and, if appropriate, to the operator of that farm unit, the commissioners shall offer to enter into a soil conservation agreement with the owner, and also with the operator if appropriate, based on the mutually acceptable farm unit soil conservation plan.          Section History: Early Form [C81, § 467A.62; 81 Acts, ch 153, § 1]          Section History: Recent Form 86 Acts, ch 1238, § 22; 87 Acts, ch 17, § 10; 87 Acts, ch 23, § 39 C93, § 161A.62 95 Acts, ch 216, §25 Referred to in § 161A.63