Iowa Code Title V. Agriculture [Chs. 159-215A] § 161A.76. Cost-sharing for certain lands restricted

1. It is the intent of this chapter that each tract of agricultural land which has not been plowed or used for growing row crops at any time within the prior fifteen years shall for purposes of this section be considered classified as agricultural land under conservation cover. If a tract of land so classified is thereafter plowed or used for growing row crops, the commissioners of the soil and water conservation district in which the land is located shall not approve use of state cost-sharing funds for establishing permanent or temporary soil and water conservation practices on that tract of land in an amount greater than one-half the amount of cost-sharing funds which would be available for that land if it were not considered classified as agricultural land under conservation cover. The restriction imposed by this section applies even if an administrative order or court order has been issued requiring establishment of soil and water conservation practices on that land. The commissioners may waive the restriction imposed by this section if they determine in advance that the purpose of plowing or row cropping land classified as land under conservation cover is to revitalize permanent pasture and that the land will revert to permanent pasture within two years after it is plowed.

2. When receiving an application for state cost-sharing funds to pay a part of the cost of establishing a permanent or temporary soil and water conservation practice, the commissioners of the soil and water conservation district to which the application is submitted shall require the applicant to state in writing whether, to the best of the applicant's knowledge, the land on which the proposed practice will be established is land considered to be classified as agricultural land under conservation cover, as defined in subsection 1. An applicant who knowingly makes a false statement of material facts or who falsely denies knowledge of material facts in completing the written statement required by this subsection commits a simple misdemeanor and, in addition to the penalty prescribed therefor by law, shall be required to repay to the department any cost-sharing funds made available to the applicant in reliance on the false statement or false denial.