Soil policies should be driven by science not agrochemical companies
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Opinion
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the Sierra Club.
The last time soil health was perceived as a pressing public concern was at the peak of the Dust Bowl in the 1930s. Now, for the first time in nearly a century, it has once again piqued policymakers’ interest as awareness grows that the ground beneath our feet is a crucial carbon sink, making the soil a potentially powerful tool to fight the climate crisis. Speaking at an Earth Day summit last month, President Joe Biden said, the “soil of our Heartland [is] the next frontier in carbon innovation,” reflecting the momentum behind an idea known as “regenerative agriculture.” But just as the nation is waking up from its long slumber about the importance of soil, new research shows that the pesticides so commonly used in American agriculture are
By Amie Simpson
May 11, 2021 | 1:58 PM
The president of Solutions from the Land says investments in conservation, infrastructure, and biofuels could help U.S. agriculture become more efficient and address climate change.
Ernie Shea says investments in existing conservation programs like Conservation Reserve Program, Conservation Stewardship Program, and Environmental Quality Incentives Program are a good place to start.
“We think investing in conservation technical assistance either through the Natural Resources Conservation Service or through supporting the development of more private sector technical service providers is going to be important to help farmers and ranchers manage their lands for multiple outcomes,” he says.
Monday, May 10, 2021 - 9:13 am
EDWARDS Woodlot owners and the public are welcome to join a tour of Herb Bullock’s actively managed woodlot at 117 Campbell Rd on May 15.
Herb and Peter Smallidge, NYS Extension Forester & Director Cornell University Arnot Teaching and Research Forest, will lead the group and showcase the many management activities undertaken by Herb and his family. The event is sponsored by The New York Forest Owners Association.
Some of the topics include: impact of deer browsing on regeneration demonstrated at a deer exclosure; ash tree vaccination to halt the emerald ash borer; results of thinning cull trees; reforestation of white, red, burr and swamp oak; protection of plantings; and invasive shrub and fern management. Peter will also demonstrate how to conduct a simple field survey that uses plants as indicators of the severity of deer browsing.
CRP participation has declined, despite rising program cap
Michael Nepveux and Shelby Myers
First incorporated into a farm bill in 1985, the conservation title is what some would consider the original Green New Deal. Its voluntary conservation initiatives give farmers and ranchers flexibility to adopt practices in a market-based approach.
Farmers and ranchers are already good stewards of water and land, but the 2018 farm bill, the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, provided expanded conservation programs that could increase conservation initiatives. The goal is to improve water quality and wildlife habitats and populations, protecting natural resources and providing many other benefits. The conservation title of the 2018 farm bill spends $60 billion of the $867 billion of mandatory funding required for conservation programs over 10 years, equal to 7% of the bill’s total projected mandatory spending in that timeframe.