American Farmland Trust’s Post

Illinois soybean farmers will now have additional education opportunities, agronomic guidance and assistance with evaluating field data to better implement conservation practices that benefit the environment. The Illinois Soybean Association has entered into a matching $750,000 contribution agreement with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service for a total of $1.5 million to fund increased education and adoption of climate-smart practices that will help increase carbon sequestration and reduce greenhouse gases. ISA will use part of the funding to hire additional staff, including agronomists, to help manage the efforts. “We want to complement the tools and information growers need to implement conservation practices with an agronomic focus,” said ISA Director of Agronomy Abigail Peterson. Climate-smart practices are on-farm actions that contribute to environmental benefits such as improving soil health, reducing soil erosion, suppressing excessive weed pressure, improving nutrient uptake efficiency and optimizing water management. These practices include:  • Reducing tillage  • Planting cover crops  • Applying precision ag technology  • Establishing wildlife habitats  • Enhancing grassed waterways See more at  https://lnkd.in/g6Y-tEsx and https://fieldadvisor.org #conservation #illinoisagriculture #sustainablefarming #regenerativeagriculture #regenerativefarming #regenerativefarm #agvocacy #agriculture #farmer #farmersofillinois #sustainability #covercrops #soilhealth #farming #farm #agriculturelife #conservationchampions

On May 17, the House Agriculture Committee released their full Farm Bill text, titled the “Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024.” You can find the full text, a detailed summary, and other information here: https://lnkd.in/epnqxeP8 Below are a selection of soil health-related policies and programs that have been included (at least to some degree) in the House Farm Bill that we, alongside countless partners, have worked to champion and are continuing to advocate for, including: Title II - Conservation - Reallocates all unobligated Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) conservation program dollars into the Farm Bill Conservation Title (note: the House bill removes the IRA’s climate guardrails)  - Streamline the Technical Service Provider (TSP) program and improves farmer access to conservation technical assistance (H.R. 3036) - Requires USDA to create a process for public participation in updating conservation practice standards and make more frequent updates, beginning with one year after enactment and every subsequent 5 years (H.R. 6877) Title VII - Research, Extension, and Related Matters - Increases the mandatory funding level for the Specialty Crop Research Initiative to $175 million per year (H.R. 5199) Title X - Horticulture, Marketing, and Regulatory Reform - Provides additional funding for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program and directs program administrators to consult with specialty crop producers when setting priorities for the program (H.R. 4838) The committee also held a markup on May 23, which lasted over 13 hours. While the bill received much criticism from Democratic committee members, at the end of the day four of the 24 Democrat members voted in support of the GOP-led Farm Bill. However, the fate of this bill will not be known until at least September, when House Agriculture Committee Chairman Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson hopes it will get floor time. While we applaud the inclusion or reauthorization of programs which support farmers in building soil health, we are also closely watching how these programs are paid for (to ensure that these don’t come at the expense of other policies that would more broadly benefit soil health, including core conservation programs). We are also continuing to educate lawmakers and stakeholders on the importance of ensuring that conservation funds prioritize soil health and achieve conservation outcomes.

Great blog by our partners at the UC Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources (UCANR) on last month's "Cover Cropping in the SGMA Era" report! The blog includes further reading materials around cover crops and their associated water benefits. Check it out!

Effective weed management strategies aim to minimize the impact of the weed seedbank on agricultural productivity, ecosystem health, and long-term system resiliency. Understanding the dynamics of weed seedbanks is essential for effective weed management strategies and sustainable land-use practices. The problem is enormous — in our recent work assessing the status of the weed seedbank, the numbers of seeds we are finding often exceed a billion per acre. Adaptation is a numbers game, just like in wheat breeding, and weeds exist in our wheat fields in numbers that are astonishing. It’s no wonder that weeds adapt so quickly to our inputs! Read more from Dr. Ian Burke in Wheat Life Magazine: https://lnkd.in/gAkXNuF8 #farmingpractices #research #weedcontrol #weeds

Helping farmers understand the value of cover crops and find the resources and knowledge to implement is one of the many ways that Conservation Districts are making a difference in their local communities. https://lnkd.in/e9WGvRUj

The USDA announced over $405,000 in funding for #Connecticut, awarded through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). Through this program, the Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg) will fund projects that strengthen the specialty crop industry through marketing, education, and research. Among the projects are research addressing the barriers to cultivate and sell ginseng and goldenseal by Yale University; increasing farm resiliency through utilization and promotion of existing critical small fruit pest management through the University of Connecticut; and bioprospecting of natural control agents of soilborne pathogens through The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. https://buff.ly/4eyTtWX #farming #agriculture #crops #specialtycrops #vegetables #fruit

The long-term environmental benefits of #covercrops often extend beyond the duration of current lease agreements, leading to considerations in lease negotiations, particularly regarding rental discounts for tenants who plant cover crops. Learn more » https://buff.ly/3Xr1LZS #NebExt #ag #agland

“‘Yes, cover crops require a nominal amount of water to establish – and sometimes rainwater is sufficient – but the myriad co-benefits are worth it.’ - Karen Ross, Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture.” Check out the latest developments in California’s groundwater management strategy, through new report findings in this recent Morning Ag Clips release: https://lnkd.in/g-QeHfcr #groundwater #cropwatermanagement #californiaag #covercrops #reducedrunoff #Californiawater #covercropwater

Optimizing Potato Crop Protection: Insights from Savacoop d.o.o. This article delves into Savacoop d.o.o.'s expert insights on weed management strategies in potato cultivation. By aligning weed control practices with the potato plant's phenological stages, Savacoop offers practical guidance for optimizing crop protection and maximizing yields. Through a holistic approach that integrates cultural, mechanical, and chemical control methods, Savacoop advocates for sustainable weed management practices that promote long-term success in potato farming. https://lnkd.in/e_8q8t4u

Optimizing Potato Crop Protection: Insights from Savacoop d.o.o. This article delves into Savacoop d.o.o.'s expert insights on weed management strategies in potato cultivation. By aligning weed control practices with the potato plant's phenological stages, Savacoop offers practical guidance for optimizing crop protection and maximizing yields. Through a holistic approach that integrates cultural, mechanical, and chemical control methods, Savacoop advocates for sustainable weed management practices that promote long-term success in potato farming. https://lnkd.in/eKibZMTM