Latest News From Americas Conservation Ag Movement

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

“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.”

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.

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

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.

Rhizo-Flo is a unique and leading soybean inoculant designed to deliver high concentrations of viable and effective Bradyrhizobium cells and ultimately improved yields.

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

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

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.

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

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.

Greater integration of data and technology on U.S. agricultural operations can help producers tell the story of their stewardship while identifying new ways to manage resources and participate in emerging opportunities.

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

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.

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.

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

“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.

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

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

Farmers John and Kara Boyd share the challenges of practicing regenerative ag in Southern Virginia. John leads the National Black Farmers Association and Kara founded the Association of American Indian Farmers.

A Farm Journal Pulse Poll reveals what farmers think about Biden’s goal to cut greenhouse gas emissions 50% by 2030.

Researchers try to tease out what makes some areas more inclined to plant cover crops.

We asked farmers what was their biggest reason they would choose NOT to participate in a carbon market. Here’s what they said.

This Indiana farmer says pollinator habitat practices are effective at reducing costs, establishing a year-round cover that protects the soil from erosion, protecting water quality, as well as providing wildlife habitat.

Trust In Food, a Farm Journal initiative to accelerate the adoption of sustainable agriculture, announces the completion of the first wave of regional conservation agriculture programming for farmers in five states.

By compensating farmers per pound of nutrient loss reduction, pay-for-performance conservation motivates farmers to find the most cost-effective ways to reduce nutrient losses for their specific fields.

Walmart and Danone are among the companies announcing public commitments to help farmers transition to regenerative agriculture systems. Here’s what that means for producers, says Lucy Stitzer, Dirt to Dinner founder.

The contracts available differ from one entity to the next and can be confusing. Make sure you know and understand the contract details and whether they align with your goals.

Curious how carbon markets can add new revenue streams to your farm? Hear from producers who are exploring the possibilities of carbon markets and learn the ins and outs from carbon-market experts and scientists.

For the past year and a half, AEM has helped spearhead a study to quantify how technology used in agriculture improves environmental stewardship including reduction in carbon, water quality, and more. 

Switching part of your acres to no-till is as simple as just parking the tillage tractor, right? Maybe not. Here are a few considerations before trying no-till for the first time.

With renewed focus on no-till and reduced tillage, how can you experience the greatest financial and positive environmental impact? Do you have to cut back on tillage every acre to maximize the benefits?

More global produce marketers and retailers are taking measures to become regenerative companies.