The U.S. Department of Agriculture released a report from its Natural Resources Conservation Service with a decade or more of key data points in the area of conservation.
A March 10 news release noted the Conservation Practices on Cultivated Cropland: A Comparison of CEAP I and CEAP II Survey Data and Modeling report, developed through the Conservation Effects Assessment Project, "demonstrates progress made through voluntary conservation." The report will inform future conservation strategies and recognize the things that have been done right, as well as address potential areas of improvement.
“This latest CEAP report shows that farmers have done an outstanding job over the years in using innovative conservation strategies that help mitigate climate change. But we have more work to do," said Terry Crosby, NRCS chief. "Reports like this one help us better understand conservation approaches and make improvements to increase positive impacts. This report will help steer our conservation efforts well into the future to help us adapt to changing trends in production, climate and technology.”
According to the release, the use of no-till, crop rotations and more efficient irrigation methods has increased substantially in recent years and notable progress has been made in the past 10 years when it comes to voluntary conservation methods.
In addition to showing that farmers have done a great job with conservation in recent years through voluntary measures, the report also shows cropping practices have changed in response to climate, policy, trade and other factors, which has effects nutrient management. USDA highlighted the importance of improving the timing and application method of nutrients to meet production demands and reduce the environmental impact of crop production.
USDA emphasized that conservation is a fluid situation that must be monitored closely.
