{"id":18940,"date":"2019-08-06T08:05:11","date_gmt":"2019-08-06T15:05:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/plantingseedsblog.cdfa.ca.gov\/wordpress\/?p=18940"},"modified":"2019-08-06T08:05:18","modified_gmt":"2019-08-06T15:05:18","slug":"studies-show-soil-health-practices-increase-farm-profitability-from-american-farmland-trust","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/plantingseedsblog.cdfa.ca.gov\/wordpress\/index.php\/2019\/08\/06\/studies-show-soil-health-practices-increase-farm-profitability-from-american-farmland-trust\/","title":{"rendered":"Studies show soil health practices increase farm profitability – From American Farmland Trust"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Lettuce<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

By Lori Sallet<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

American Farmland Trust<\/strong><\/a> (AFT)<\/strong>, the organization behind the national movement No Farms No Food\u00ae,<\/strong> has released four case studies that show that healthier soil on farmland brings economic benefits to farmers and environmental benefits to society. These case studies were developed in partnership with USDA\u2019s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The case studies were developed as part of a 2018 NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) project, \u201cAccelerating Soil Health Adoption by Quantifying Economic and Environmental Outcomes and Overcoming Barriers on Rented Lands,\u201d<\/a> and feature farms in California, Illinois, Ohio and New York.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIncreasingly, we understand that better soil health \u2013 and specific practices aimed at building soil organic matter, fostering microbial life in the soil, reducing nutrient loss, and protecting soil from erosion \u2013 lead to higher net income for farming operations. These case studies contribute to the growing body of quantitative evidence that improving soil health increases farmer profitability,\u201d said Dr. Perez.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The two-page case studies focus on corn-soybean production in Illinois and Ohio, almond production in California and a diversified rotation (sweet corn, alfalfa, corn for silage or grain) in New York. The four farmers featured implemented soil health practices like no-till or strip-till, nutrient management, cover crops, compost, and mulching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen it comes to conservation, producers have to make decisions based on what makes the most sense for their operations,\u201d said NRCS Chief Matthew Lohr. \u201cThese case studies provide information on the economic benefits of using soil health management systems, demonstrating the value of adopting these systems.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With soil health management, producers can increase their yield, decrease their risk and input costs, and improve their profits, all while conserving our nation\u2019s resources for the public at large, on their farms, in their watersheds, and beyond. Soil health management systems are good for farmers and for the public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIncreased implementation of soil health is critical to AFT\u2019s holistic approach to saving the land that sustains us. Ensuring a sustainable future for this planet and our society requires we value the land, the practices on the land and the people who steward that land. AFT\u2019s case studies showcase farmers who took the risk and are now enjoying the benefits of implementing practices that will support food production for a growing population while improving our environment and sequestering carbon. Farmers across the country can now embrace these practices and, with the help of staffers from AFT and our partner NRCS, put them into practice with greater confidence and profitability,\u201d says John Piotti, AFT president and CEO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Highlights from the case studies include:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n