Late this past fall, the Soil Health Institute (SHI) released a 60-minute soil health documentary, available now online. The documentary explores America’s soil and its journey through generations of degradation until today, as innovative farmers and soil health experts are facing the challenge head-on to rebuild our nation’s soil.

 

This film features both rural and urban producers from across the country, varying in size and production, united in their care for the soil. NACD Soil Health Champions Brian and Keith Berns of Nebraska were interviewed for the documentary. The Berns explain the concept of soil biology and how farmers can manage their land to positively impact their soil’s health and simultaneously increase their yields.

 

Visit livingsoilfilm.com for more information on the film. Links to view online or download for public viewing are posted here, as well as promotional materials and lesson plans for high school and college age students. Consider incorporating this film at your next outreach event or create an event for this coming Stewardship and Education Week, Apr. 28 – May 5, 2019.

When it comes to conservation, NACD Soil Health Champions are doing exceptional work—and as consumers are asking more questions on where and how their food is grown, it’s important to share that story. Partners and consumers down the supply chain are eager for information about sustainability outcomes at the farm and field level, which is why Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture works to help farmers shine a light on their practices and tell their sustainability story.

 

Field to Market is a diverse collaboration working to unite the agricultural supply chain around sustainability by providing tools and resources to farmers that help them document and demonstrate how their on-farm practices translate into improved environmental outcomes. Our membership spans from grower groups, agribusiness companies, food, beverage and clothing brands and retailers, to conservation-minded organizations such as NACD. Having members like NACD with an expertise in soil health allows us to ground our tools in a science-based approach to conservation. NACD is also a leader in Field to Market’s governance, represented by NACD CEO Jeremy Peters on the Board of Directors as well as NACD Director of Development Laura Demmel on the Verification Committee, which steers Field to Market’s approach to enabling members’ public-facing sustainability claims. In these roles, Petersand Demmel serve as leaders and advocates for engaging all of our members on the importance of conservation planning to advance sustainable agriculture.

 

NACD Soil Health Champions are already exceptional leaders when it comes to sustainability—and NACD’s partnership with Field to Market can help Champions amplify the story of their successful practices. One tool available to Champions is our Fieldprint® Platform , a resource which harnesses the power of sustainability metrics to allow farmers to engage the supply chain and consumers on their sustainability story.

 

Available through a free and confidential online version, or through integration of Field to Market’s Sustainability Metrics in existing farm management software, the Platform allows farmers to enter information about their management and stewardship decisions and translate their efforts to document the environmental impact on eight sustainability outcomes in which consumers and the supply chain are increasingly interested. The Fieldprint Analysis gives a full picture of your field’s sustainability performance and allows you to compare your results to state or national benchmarks. This analysis highlights areas of success as well as opportunities for improvement, and ultimately gives farmers a powerful set of results recognized across the industry, which allows Soil Health Champions like you to document and demonstrate your conservation excellence. 

 

Visit the Field to Market website to learn more about the Fieldprint Platform, or login to the Platform as a Guest to explore how farmers like you use the online tool. 

The special edition of Progressive Farmer which was published in mid-February featured many producers from across the country, six of which are NACD Soil Health Champions. The journalist specifically contacted NACD to find some farmers to help diversify the edition, showcasing different operations, farmers and regions of the U.S. Our network was a great resource, providing them with an abundance of great producers to cover. Annie Dee , a Champion from Alabama, even secured a spot on their cover. If you haven’t picked up this issue, flip through the electronic edition to read up on this outstanding group.

 

Other Champions in the spotlight include:

The 2019 CTIC Conservation in Action Tour— Conservation At The Leading Edge —will be held Aug. 20-21, 2019, in central Iowa.

From the starting point in Des Moines, participants will examine a wide range of edge-of-field systems and management practices, including:

 

 

The conference hotel will be the Embassy Suites Downtown in Des Moines. When the registration form goes live, it will link to a room block with a special CTIC rate for the nights of Aug. 20 and 21.

 

The itinerary and registration details will be added to the CTIC website as they are available, so save the date and check in periodically for more information. Registration will open by April 22 .