Latest News From Americas Conservation Ag Movement

Rain Check: How One Arkansas Farmer Banks Moisture
Rain Check: How One Arkansas Farmer Banks Moisture

Cover crops, reduced tillage and a simple water infiltration test help Adam Chappell capture and hold water and nutrients.

Act Now to Access Conservation Funding Through the Inflation Reduction Act
Act Now to Access Conservation Funding Through the Inflation Reduction Act

The Inflation Reduction Act is the most significant climate legislation ever enacted. The package includes more than $19 billion to support USDA conservation programs, but the money won't last forever.

Drought Mitigation Strategies For Operational Resilience
Drought Mitigation Strategies For Operational Resilience

Dry conditions in some parts of the Midwest are putting a strain on yield potential early this season. But some stands are thriving. Practices such as continuous covers and no-till are making the difference.

Dust Storms Shouldn’t Happen in the Corn Belt
Dust Storms Shouldn’t Happen in the Corn Belt

The recent soil dust cloud catastrophe in central Illinois is a wake-up call from Mother Nature suggesting all of agriculture needs to implement more sustainable production practices. We owe it to future generations.

Biden Administration Announces $11 Billion for Rural Clean Energy Projects
Biden Administration Announces $11 Billion for Rural Clean Energy Projects

Rural electric cooperatives, utilities and other energy providers will soon be able to apply for nearly $11 billion in grants and loans for clean energy projects, funded by the $430 billion Inflation Reduction Act.

How Habitat Management Plans Drive Healthier Land, Livestock and Forages
How Habitat Management Plans Drive Healthier Land, Livestock and Forages

Funding for habitat management is being examined as legislators and lobbyists evaluate how farm bill programs will be administered in the future. Many want more flexibility in the programs for farmer and rancher use.

 Can the $20-Billion Inflation Reduction Act Get Rolled Out Quickly Enough?
Can the $20-Billion Inflation Reduction Act Get Rolled Out Quickly Enough?

Industry experts say the new legislative package represents a 'generational opportunity' for conservation funding and needs to reach U.S. farmers and livestock producers sooner rather than later, starting this spring.

Research Shows 90% of Farmers Won’t join Carbon Markets Without Changes
Research Shows 90% of Farmers Won’t join Carbon Markets Without Changes

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

Indiana Farm Thrives Thanks to ‘Three-Legged Stool’ Strategy
Indiana Farm Thrives Thanks to ‘Three-Legged Stool’ Strategy

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.

How Conservation Farming in Southwest Nebraska makes Sunny Heights Farm Viable
How Conservation Farming in Southwest Nebraska makes Sunny Heights Farm Viable

“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.”

How an Arkansas Farmer Found Counsel for Climate-Smart Practices to Grow the Best Crop
How an Arkansas Farmer Found Counsel for Climate-Smart Practices to Grow the Best Crop

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.

Sustainable Farming Events Showcase ‘Struggles and Successes’
Sustainable Farming Events Showcase ‘Struggles and Successes’

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

New Report Anticipates 13 Food Production Trends of Tomorrow
New Report Anticipates 13 Food Production Trends of Tomorrow

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.

Conservation Practices With Customization
Conservation Practices With Customization

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.

Top Producer Summit: Profit from Carbon and Soil Health
Top Producer Summit: Profit from Carbon and Soil Health

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.

Avoidable Accidents and Conservation Agriculture Practices
Avoidable Accidents and Conservation Agriculture Practices

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

Indiana Farmer Steps Outside His Comfort Zone To Boost Resiliency, Reduce Pest Pressure With Climate-Smart Ag
Indiana Farmer Steps Outside His Comfort Zone To Boost Resiliency, Reduce Pest Pressure With Climate-Smart Ag

Aaron Krueger's conservation practices have created more resiliency on his land and reduced input use. He expects to gain additional rewards during his second phase of management and practice changes.

 Q&A With Idaho Dairymen’s Association CEO Rick Naerebout And Dairy West Vice President Of Sustainability Marissa Watson
Q&A With Idaho Dairymen’s Association CEO Rick Naerebout And Dairy West Vice President Of Sustainability Marissa Watson

Producers turn to their peers for insights on new practices and technologies while balancing environmental stewardship with daily priorities such as labor availability and succession planning.

Innovation Drives Sustainable Success
Innovation Drives Sustainable Success

Named IDFA 2022 Innovative Dairy Farmer of the Year, the Hildebrand's have been at the forefront of innovation — from their processing plant to multifaceted industry partnerships to tapping into the A2 milk market.

Interested in Conservation Stewardship? Check out this Opportunity in Five States
Interested in Conservation Stewardship? Check out this Opportunity in Five States

America’s Conservation Ag Movement has a new opportunity for 10 farmers (two each) based in Arkansas, California, Indiana, Maryland and Nebraska.

'Farming Weird' Gets Pushback but Deserves Respectful Consideration
'Farming Weird' Gets Pushback but Deserves Respectful Consideration

It's easy to knock something you know little or nothing about. Farmers who are working to adopt conservation practices on their operations face ridicule routinely. Yet their efforts now could help us all in the future.

Executive Recounts Key 2021 U.S. Dairy Sustainability Highlights
Executive Recounts Key 2021 U.S. Dairy Sustainability Highlights

Dairy farmers made progress on the U.S. Dairy Net Zero Initiative and the industry advanced multiple partnership projects on many fronts, including research into methane reduction and collaboration with food companies.

Farmers Share 2022 Conservation Ag Goals
Farmers Share 2022 Conservation Ag Goals

As you plan for the New Year, how are you thinking about integrating conservation ag objectives into your list of priorities?

Soil Erosion Trends in the U.S.
Soil Erosion Trends in the U.S.

A USDA-National Resources Inventory report shows soil erosion rates on cropland decreased 35% from 1982 to 2017. Even so, some members of the agricultural community say rates are unsustainable for crop production.

U.S. Dairy Methane Research Trends Q&A With Dr. Juan Tricarico, VP, Environmental Research, Dairy Management Inc.
U.S. Dairy Methane Research Trends Q&A With Dr. Juan Tricarico, VP, Environmental Research, Dairy Management Inc.

Feed additives, metabolic pathways and methane-reducing gene traits all are part of new research efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from dairy cows.

Wisconsin Farmer Shares Climate Positive Tips For Producers, Trusted Advisers
Wisconsin Farmer Shares Climate Positive Tips For Producers, Trusted Advisers

A series of extreme rains prompted the Clark family to change the way it operates their farm and begin integrating more regenerative practices.

 ‘Additionality’ Issue keeps some Farmers out of Carbon Markets
‘Additionality’ Issue keeps some Farmers out of Carbon Markets

In most scenarios, companies want to incentivize growers by paying them to use regenerative farming practices, especially no-till and cover crops, on ground where they haven’t used such practices previously.

Computer Connectivity And Carbon Contracts 
Computer Connectivity And Carbon Contracts 

The two go hand-in-hand in farm country.

Computer Connectivity And Carbon Contracts 
Computer Connectivity And Carbon Contracts 

The two go hand-in-hand in farm country.

Computer Connectivity and Carbon Contracts go Hand In Hand
Computer Connectivity and Carbon Contracts go Hand In Hand

Good data forms the framework for management decisions Lukas Fricke and his brother make on their Ulysses, Neb., farm operation, including the one they made recently to sign a carbon contract.

3 Field-Based Learnings about Precision Ag and Sustainability
3 Field-Based Learnings about Precision Ag and Sustainability

Sustainability is being built as a separate pillar of focus within most every agriculture-related organization today.

How Soil Health Changes The Conversation
How Soil Health Changes The Conversation

“There’s real science around soil health, and this is a way retailers can have meaningful impact without directly selling anything,” says Dr. Jennifer Wells, Senior Agronomist and Account Manager at Truterra.

Data-Driven Collaboration Weaves Together Retailer, Farmers, and Ingredients Company
Data-Driven Collaboration Weaves Together Retailer, Farmers, and Ingredients Company

This is a three-year program through the corn/soybean rotation for farmers to adopt practice changes such as cover crops and more.

Iowa Farmer Shares Firsthand Experience with Carbon Markets
Iowa Farmer Shares Firsthand Experience with Carbon Markets

After participating in four carbon market pilot programs in the past two years, Kyle Mehmen has learned a lot about the opportunity, and perhaps even more about what not to do. 

Clarity in Carbon Marketplace Needed, say Iowa State and EDF Reports
Clarity in Carbon Marketplace Needed, say Iowa State and EDF Reports

Soil carbon sequestration can become an important mitigation strategy if there is agreed upon, credible, cost-effective and consistent measurement, reporting and verification behind the credits, according to researchers.

Diversifying Adds To Sustainability
Diversifying Adds To Sustainability

When the Borg family added chickens to their diversified beef and row-crop farm, they had enough opportunity to bring their daughters back into the business and start building a sustainable future for their operation.

Certis Biologicals Springboards From 2 Decades of Focused Expertise
Certis Biologicals Springboards From 2 Decades of Focused Expertise

This year marks the company’s 20th anniversary as well as a rebrand from Certis USA to Certis Biologicals. Through its legacy companies, Certis traces its historic roots back more than 70 years.

Will High Prices Hinder USDA’s CRP Goal?
Will High Prices Hinder USDA’s CRP Goal?

CRP acres often follow market forces, according to research from Farmer Mac. As such, today’s high cash grain prices may dissuade producers from enrolling acreage in CRP programs.

Field Work: Are Carbon Markets an Opportunity to Stack Multiple Benefits on the Farm?
Field Work: Are Carbon Markets an Opportunity to Stack Multiple Benefits on the Farm?

Zach Johnson and Mitchell Hora explore the roles of finance and government in building the markets with Cristian Barcan, vice president for sustainability for Rabo Agrifinance, and Iowa Secretary of Ag Mike Naig.

InfoAg Conference Partners With The Scoop, Trust In Food
InfoAg Conference Partners With The Scoop, Trust In Food

For more than 25 years, InfoAg has remained the premier conference on the practical application of precision agriculture.

Field Work: Rick Haney’s Uncommon Sense
Field Work: Rick Haney’s Uncommon Sense

Dr. Rick Haney joins the Field Work podcast to discuss the soil health test he developed helped farmers get a true picture of what was going on beneath the surface.

Arkansas Family’s Farm Legacy Spurs New Era Of Opportunity For Landowners Of Color
Arkansas Family’s Farm Legacy Spurs New Era Of Opportunity For Landowners Of Color

Shawn Boler’s great-grandfather once owned the acres he now oversees and plans to preserve for future generations, thanks to the Keeping it in the Family Sustainable Forestry and African American Land Retention program

John Kerry: 5 Steps to Stabilize Global Warming
John Kerry: 5 Steps to Stabilize Global Warming

From carbon adjustment mechanisms and energy to infrastructure and innovation, John Kerry shares five points geared to hold global warming to a 1.5-degree Celsius limit.

Field Work: The Promise of Perennials
Field Work: The Promise of Perennials

Perennial grain crops offer soil-boosting and climate-mitigating effects—while also bringing in cash.

Field Work: 5 Steps to Minimize Risk As You Adopt Regenerative Practices
Field Work: 5 Steps to Minimize Risk As You Adopt Regenerative Practices

Ready to bank on innovation? Consider this advice to increase your profitability and decrease your bank risk.

My Road to Using Cover Crops
My Road to Using Cover Crops

Brian Doerr recently introduced regenerative agriculture practices, including cover crops, on his family's Nebraska farm. He details his decision-making and implementation steps here.

Ag Retailer Navigates The Future With Technology
Ag Retailer Navigates The Future With Technology

Variable rate dry fertilizer acres have increased from 4,000 in 2015 to 45,000 acres in 2021. 

Creating a Sustainable Pig...All Starts in the Field
Creating a Sustainable Pig...All Starts in the Field

The pork industry is a buzz with carbon reduction goals and even carbon neutrality. Pipestone's Roger Cochrane shares strategies farmers can use to reduce carbon dioxide emission equivalents and improve sustainability.

5 Ways Farming Will Change in the Next 30 Years
5 Ways Farming Will Change in the Next 30 Years

Farmers are only 30 growing seasons from the biggest challenge agriculture has ever faced—growing 70% more food on the same amount of land they do today.

Field Work: Can Cotton Drive Sustainability in U.S. Ag?
Field Work: Can Cotton Drive Sustainability in U.S. Ag?

If you’re not from one of the 17 cotton-producing states, you might not realize that the United States is the world’s biggest exporter of cotton.