The U.S. Department of Agriculture is gathering information on conservation practices. This news release from the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) says the agency is talking to farmers and ranchers through this month. During the first phase of the National Resources Inventory (NRI) – Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP), NASS will contact approximately 24,000 farmers and ranchers nationwide to determine … Read More
Soil Health Partnership to Host Soil Health Field Days
A series of field days is sharing some important environmental and economic benefits of the best practices when it comes to the health of the farmland. The Soil Health Partnership’s demonstration field days is sharing the ideas fueling the evolution of farming with other producers throughout the Midwest. The partnership will host soil health field days from August through the … Read More
Soils Curriculum For Classrooms Around the Globe
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) have developed a series of educational materials intended to teach children the importance of healthy soil. Created as part of the 2015 International Year of Soils, the curriculum is for children ages 5 to 14 and focuses on healthy soil for our food, environment, … Read More
Study: Strip-Till Outperforms No-Till in Improving Soils
A technique that’s a hybrid between tilling the soil and practicing no-till outperforms the latter when it comes to improving soil quality. This news release from the American Society of Agronomy says a new five-year study shows the benefits of strip-till, which has only the crop rows where seeds will be planted being tilled. “Strip-till is in between the two … Read More
Soil Health Partnership at White House Drought Symposium
The Soil Health Partnership had a seat at the table at the recent White House Drought Symposium which brought about 40 diverse groups together to discuss the federal government’s role in building drought resilience into water management systems. Soil Health Partnership director Nicholas Goeser talked with other stakeholders about the organization’s mission to advance agricultural sustainability and productivity by quantifying … Read More
New Conservation Incentives Offered for Grass, Pastures
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is offering new conservation incentives for working grasslands, rangeland and pastureland. This news release says the areas will still be able to be maintained as livestock grazing lands. The CRP-Grasslands initiative will provide participants who establish long-term, resource-conserving covers with annual rental payments up to 75 percent of the grazing value of the land. … Read More
Record Number of Producers Certify Conservation Compliance
More than 98 percent of the farmers and ranchers required to certify conservation compliance to qualify for crop insurance premium support payments have done so. This news release from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) says the conservation provisions in the 2014 Farm Bill are expected to cover an additional 1.5 million acres of highly erodible lands and 1.1 million … Read More
Iowa Gov Signs $9.6 Mil Support for Water Quality
Iowa’s Gov. Terry Branstad has signed into law $9.6 million in support for water quality. The Iowa Department of Agriculture says the measure to support the Iowa Water Quality Initiative also officially adds “Water Quality” to the Department’s Division of Soil Conservation. “Iowans in both rural and urban areas continue to be engaged in efforts to improve water quality. These … Read More
Soybean Growers Want to Hear Your Conservation Story
The American Soybean Association wants to hear your conservation story. This news release from the group says those chosen could win a Conservation Legacy Award, recognizing U.S. soybean farmers who distinguish themselves through outstanding environmental and conservation practices, while remaining profitable. Are you using a reduced tillage practice on your farm such as conservation tillage, strip-till or no-till? Do you … Read More
Conservation Program Pre-Proposals Due July 8
Pre-proposals for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) are due July 8, 2015. Eligible conservation coalitions nationwide will submit pre-proposals to improve soil health, preserve clean water, combat drought and protect wildlife habitat. USDA is investing up to $235 million through RCPP to improve the nation’s water quality, combat drought, enhance soil health, support wildlife … Read More