Water quality is one of Iowa’s most pressing issues, with nitrate levels in waterways like the Raccoon River often exceeding federal limits. Experts warn that contamination contributes to Iowa’s nation‑leading cancer rate.
Against that backdrop, a Lake City farmer has been honored for showing how agriculture can be part of the solution.
At the Iowa Pork Congress banquet in Des Moines last week, the Iowa Pork Producers Association presented Mark Schleisman of M&M Farms with the Iowa Environmental Steward Award. The recognition highlights producers who go above and beyond to protect natural resources while raising livestock.
Schleisman explains what the award means to him.
Schleisman farms with his family across more than 5,500 acres in Calhoun, Sac, and Carroll counties. Their diversified operation includes corn, soybeans, popcorn, cattle, and hogs.
He says conservation practices are central to the farm’s success—everything from filter strips and waterways to bioreactors and saturated buffers. Most notably, Schleisman plants cover crops on every acre.
Those practices have produced measurable results.
Schleisman points to nitrate reductions of 40 percent with buffers and bioreactors—and up to 80-100 percent with a water reuse system that captures tile drainage, creates a wetland, and irrigates fields before excess water reaches the river.
For Schleisman, the commitment is personal. His farm sits along the North Raccoon River, one of Iowa’s most nitrate‑polluted waterways. Yet he and his family drink directly from their own well water.
Schleisman says voluntary conservation is key—farmers leading the way rather than waiting for regulations. He encourages other producers to start small and seek help from groups like Practical Farmers of Iowa and the Iowa Soybean Association.
The Iowa Pork Producers Association says Schleisman’s example shows how innovation and stewardship can strengthen both agriculture and Iowa’s environment.
