The State of Sustainable Ag
An ongoing research collaboration with Field To Market to identify production trends and farmer perspectives in conservation farming. THE ISSUE: Understanding farmer perceptions around sustainable ag is a critical need Knowing how farmers understand, value, and perceive sustainable production practices is essential to good programming. OUR SOLUTION: Annual survey of farmers We collaborated with Field […]
Executive Conference Casts Vision for Produce Sector’s Sustainable Future
The unique composition of the produce sector—including growers, packers, shippers and retailers—makes convening leaders from across the supply chain important to keep on top of sustainability trends. Hosted by The Packer and Trust In Food, a Farm Journal initiative, the Sustainable Produce Summit provided virtual networking and continuing education opportunities for produce executives representing all […]
Spotlight on Innovations Advancing Soil Health
To help the produce sector glean insights into new innovations emerging for soil health in row crops—and what that might mean for fruit and vegetable production—we invited Mike Riffle, field development and sustainability manager at Valent U.S.A, to explain why a strong soil microbiome can lead to better yield, improved nutrient use efficiency and even […]
Ag Targets
A partnership with the University of Montana, Stroud Water Research Center, and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation using behavioral data to improve how conservation messaging is delivered. THE ISSUE: Reaching farmers at scale with the right message One of the primary challenges conservation outreach campaigns face is the juxtaposition between available investment dollars and the […]
Rental Relationships with Non-Operating Landowners
A collaboration with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) to empower landowners and their tenants to collaborate more effectively on conservation activities. THE ISSUE: Farm rental relationships are a barrier to conservation A significant amount of farmland in the U.S. is rented by a farmer rom a non-operating landowner. In the Midwest 62% of farmland is rented, […]
Activating the Raccoon Watershed
A partnership with Iowa Soybean Association and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to scale the number of on-farm consultations made by local conservation coordinators. THE ISSUE: Resource constraints limit conservation consultations Conservation partners across the Raccoon watershed in Iowa face resource constraints that limit their ability to meet with farmers to generate demand for conservation […]
Helping Farmers Take Their Next Step in Sustainability Through America’s Conservation Ag Movement
Too often, conservation agriculture activities and successes happen in isolation. It’s no one’s fault; it’s simply the product of stewardship-minded professionals from farm gate to supply chain, rolling up their sleeves and getting to work. Yet to advance, socialize and normalize sustainable agriculture, more is needed. And momentum can be difficult to quantify, illustrate or […]