Groups gather to talk about soil and water conservation

Environmentalists, policy makers and farmers are gathering in the Quad Cities this morning for the start of a three-day conference on soil and water conservation. Jeff Zimprich, of the southwest Iowa town of Atlantic, is helping organize the event. He says they hope to get a good look at the current conditions facing Iowa.Zimprich is president of the Iowa chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society. He says speakers will include officials from the federal E-P-A, the U-S-D-A and the National Corn Growers Association.Zimprich says this year’s theme is “The Changing Faces of Conservation and Agriculture: The Future of Working Lands.” He says it’ll present a chance for people to examine issues that are affecting the Upper Mississippi River Basin. The conference at the Moline (Illinois) Holiday Inn/Airport runs through Thursday. It’s open to anyone but focuses on soil and water conservation in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin.