Lenexa, Kan., (Nov. 9, 2020) – A first-of-its-kind, free Resource Stewardship Planning guide, designed to help all U.S. farmers take the next step on their conservation agriculture journey, published this month on AgWeb.com. An extensive promotional program supported by the partners of America’s Conservation Ag Movement is planned on “AgriTalk” radio, “AgDay” and “U.S. Farm Report” TV programs as well as across Farm Journal’s vast digital portfolio and social media channels. A printed edition of the guide will be bound into the mid-December issue of Farm Journal magazine, mailing to more than 500,000 farms nationwide.
“Change is hard, and our goal with the Resource Stewardship Planning guide is to make taking a first step easy,” said Amy Skoczlas Cole, executive vice president of Trust In Food. “This is an important part of our work providing producers with the information, tools and inspiration they need to continue on their conservation agriculture journey. We are proud to partner with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and a growing group of industry-leading organizations to deliver this service to our nation’s farmers.”
Additional workbooks on improving soil health and preserving water quality resources are planned for release this winter and in spring 2021, respectively. The first free Resource Stewardship Planning Guide is available now.
“Farmers, ranchers and forest managers are at the forefront of proactively conserving the nation’s natural resources. We want to encourage all producers to use conservation on their working lands,” said Kevin Norton, acting chief of NRCS. “Through partnerships like this one, we’re able to broaden our reach and to make sure our nation’s agriculture producers have the information they need – like this new workbook – to make conservation improvements on their land.”
In parallel, the Movement has initiated watershed-level programming to help across five states, starting in Nebraska, and actively developing place-based farmer-to-farmer learning networks there and in California, Illinois, Indiana and Maryland. The networks will support farmers, as they exchange ideas, by facilitating ongoing conversation and providing an authentic sounding board for likeminded professionals seeking to future-proof their businesses with soil and water stewardship as a shared priority.
To listen to a free webinar on the value of soil health for farmers and how soil health principles can address resource challenges, such as nitrogen leaching, go to AgWeb.com. This represents the first of five place-based, virtual educational programs planned for producers in the Movement’s five water quality outreach areas. More resources and new farmer-to-farmer learning network locations will be introduced in early 2021.
The Movement is organized by Trust In Food, a Farm Journal initiative, in partnership with the Farm Journal Foundation. Financial and technical support is provided by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and a broad coalition of partners: American Farmland Trust, Corteva, Ducks Unlimited, National Corn Growers Association, National Pork Board, Sanderson Farms, SIMPAS, The Nature Conservancy and Valent.
About Farm Journal
Farm Journal is the nation’s leading business information and media company serving the agricultural market. Started 144 years ago with the preeminent Farm Journal magazine, the company serves the row crop, livestock, produce and retail sectors through branded websites, eNewsletters and phone apps; business magazines; live events including conferences, seminars and tradeshows; nationally broadcasted television and radio programs; a robust mobile-text-marketing business; and an array of data-driven, paid information products. Farm Journal also is the majority shareholder of the online equipment marketplace, Machinery Pete LLC. In 2010, the company established the non-profit public charity, Farm Journal Foundation, dedicated to sustaining agriculture’s ability to meet the vital needs of a growing population through education and empowerment.
About Trust In Food
Trust In Food is a purpose-driven division of Farm Journal, dedicated to rebuilding consumer confidence in the U.S. agricultural value chain by partnering with farmers and ranchers to accelerate conservation agriculture-practice adoption and maintenance benefiting land, water, air and farm businesses. It advances this mission through data science, research, strategic communications and Farm Journal platform in collaboration with conservation organizations, government agencies, agribusinesses, food companies and retailers and other food system stakeholders. www.farmjournal.com