Latest News From Conservation

Tom Ryan says this will be a transformational year for two reasons: the groundswell of efforts with USDA Climate Smart grants and a shifting focus to carbon insets.

Profitability and efficiency are big drivers for growers evaluating conservation-based farming practices. Each farmer who spoke at the Trust In Food Symposium said they have adopted at least one such practice, to date.

Indigo says its program doubled in acres in 2022. 

Cover crops sequestered nearly three times as much greenhouse gas as the check fields. And acres with cover crops were carbon negative

Norman Borlaug helped develop wheat varieties in Mexico, and later in Pakistan, India and other locations that helped feed and save the lives of millions of people, and his childhood is quite the story in itself.

Three key findings from the report include: Farmers are aware of carbon markets but not ready to engage; Producers want credit for existing practices; Data capture, management and validation is fragmented.

Dairy producers could soon serve up a climate solution that creates significant economic incentives for their farm. Jeff Simmons thinks dairy farmers are just years from making more money off carbon than milk products.

The future of voluntary carbon markets for agriculture is still coming into focus. As such, farmers continue to assess the landscape and weigh their opportunities.

There's a stick, a big stick, with potentially big consequences for those involved in the value chain—all the way down to the farm gate.

Land O’Lakes is aiming to straighten the path for more farmers to adopt more regenerative practices across their acres, and in doing so building a wider funnel of farmers who could enroll in carbon markets.

To foster a strong agriculture carbon market, three “science gaps” need to be addressed

Despite the exponential growth in agricultural carbon market options, most producers aren’t biting.

The definition of "sustainability" is changing, and that change is coming quickly to our doorsteps. 

Dick Billings passed away several years ago, but his wife, their son and granddaughters have been able to build upon his vision for the family’s operation, thanks to a team of farmers and a forestry consultant.

According to the USDA, 2020 farming activities in the U.S. made up 11.2 percent, or 670 of 5,981 million metrics tons, of the U.S.’s total carbon contribution.

“Everything we do is conservation minded for water and soil erosion, and there is no incentive for that except the viability of our farm,” says Tracy Zink. “And if we don’t do that, then we won’t be here.”

The Agoro Carbon program is a 10-year contract which pays for a change practice aiming to increase carbon sequestration. These include cover crops, no-till, reduced tillage, nitrogen management and rotational grazing.

Growers say they didn’t undertake sustainability efforts for the money, and it’s a good thing.

Lawrence M. Conyer attributes his conservation practices, including cover crops and minimum till, to his ability to manage his land to be resilient and to grow his operation at scale.

For 25 years, the Hypoxia Task Force has been working through its cornerstone of state nutrient reduction strategies to reduce the footprint of the low-oxygen, hypoxic zone in the Gulf of Mexico.

Mariah Murphy says, “The future state of carbon markets will continue to evolve over the next 1 to 2 years. We are still going to be in the messy space."

While companies have big aspirations for carbon programs, they are simultaneously recognizing changes that need to be made to increase participation. 

America’s Conservation Ag Movement is hosting a series of farmer-led, in-the-field agronomic events in five states this summer. 

Serving military veterans across the country, NCAT's Armed to Farm training provides resources and education for veterans to start and operate their own agricultural business.

The overall 40% of production being wasted seems a consensus number, but that is not for home waste but all waste. John Phipps digs up the true statistics when it comes to food waste.

Your crops depend on balance – both in your farm practices and in the surrounding habitat. But outside forces like weather patterns and surrounding land use can impact the productivity and efficiency of your operation.

Food and agriculture face a time of unparalleled change, both in the heft of the systemic issues they’re working through and in the speed at which seismic shifts will likely occur.

Local water sources are a necessary part of every community. When they’re healthy, they can do even more.

Farming practices that help you increase profitability and productivity are critical to the success of your operation.

Did you know that a streamside buffer, or tree buffer, can provide natural land protection with multiple benefits to your operation?

Did you know that a streamside buffer, or tree buffer, can provide natural land protection with multiple benefits to your operation?

As a farmer, increasing crop productivity and profitability helps your operation to succeed, both now and in the long term. That’s why protecting your land matters.

As a farmer, boosting productivity and profitability helps you – and your operation – succeed. Good soil is one of the easiest and most effective ways to do so.

Cover crops, conservation tillage, irrigation optimization, fertilizers and pesticides all have a fit on Rondo Farms, but only when they're right for the land, the agronomy and the financials.

Local waterways are an important part of your community. When they’re healthy, they have the potential to benefit everyone, including you:

Did you know that maintaining good soil is one of the easiest and most effective ways for farmers to improve production and their profits?

Adam Jones, a conservation agronomist at MFA Inc., came on The Scoop podcast to share how he helps farmers implement an entire system of soil health, conservation, and yield success on their farms.

According to Purdue University, the tree easily spreads to forests and parks, where it crowds out native plants at a rate that has earned it a spot on the invasive species list.

In April, Truterra announced a springboard for its focus in soil health. A network of agronomists will facilitate implementation of agronomic practices alongside its retail agronomists and their farmer customers.

Opponents of wind energy may be encouraged by the financial difficulties of the industry, since wind generated electricity costs are now rising after years of being driven lower by new technology and competition.

The program is open for corn, cotton and wheat growers, and outlines a specific parameter for participation: a 5% reduction in nitrogen rates.

In just a few years, the carbon markets available to farmers have accelerated to more than 16 different programs to choose from.

Sustainability is one of the hottest topics in the food and beverage industry today. For the fresh produce industry, it’s even more critical to increase consumption, sales, longevity and relevancy.

As planting gets underway for more farmers across the U.S., improving production practices continues to be top of mind. And now U.S. farmers are proof success in stewardship starts from the ground up.

If a given farming operation can accurately measure its carbon footprint out of the gate, and then seek improvement, the opportunity for greater payments expands in tandem.

Sometimes change stems from major events in our life and our farm that fundamentally shift your mindset. 

It is clear the current administration sees the USDA and its influence over domestic agriculture as critical to fight climate change. What is not so clear is the definition of a “climate-smart” commodity.

Living in the mecca for resistant weeds, Shane Burchfiel is determined to remain a strong proponent of conservation.

Grier Stayton touts his family’s agricultural longevity and attributes its success to the detailed attention to conservation and water management.

Conservation-first decisions drive the whole-farm philosophy adopted by Jamie and Brian Johnson. They are continuously tweaking their sustainable crops-plus-cattle approach.