The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) is proud to announce the launch of the Conservation Connector, available now at Connector.ag. This innovative online platform is the first and only tool that allows farmers, ranchers, and farm advisers to easily evaluate conservation incentive programs and connect with technical support in one place.
The Conservation Connector was developed to uncover opportunities that farmers and farm advisers might be missing when evaluating the best incentive programs for their acres. Incentive programs are more abundant than ever as food companies, NGOs, agribusinesses, and foundations continue to invest in conservation agriculture, adding to traditional public-sector programs at the county, state, and federal levels. Connector.ag is a clearinghouse that captures the patchwork of programs in a single database that is searchable by geography, commodity, incentive type, and/or management practice. The platform furthers its local relevancy by including local crop advisers and other service providers and implementation consultants to help producers access the guidance they might need to evaluate and implement their opportunities and find the best fit for their operations.
“The good news is there are unprecedented opportunities for producers. The bad news is the process of evaluating incentive programs can be time-consuming and frustrating. With Connector.ag, farmers have a tool that takes the mystery out of things like eligibility, payment terms, and validation requirements,” says Ryan Heiniger, CTIC Executive Director and 4th-generation Iowa farmer. “We’ve simplified the process and provided farmers and ranchers the best opportunity to evaluate the programs and technical assistance in their area. Greater access to this information will mean that fewer farmers are leaving money on the table, and farm advisers have a powerful new tool to help reach producers with their services.”
The platform includes about 500 programs and service providers in the Midwest alone, and it is continually updated with the latest program offerings from trusted agencies, organizations, and conservation partners. It is designed for ease of use across desktops, tablets, and mobile devices.
CTIC invites farmers, ranchers, technical service providers, and conservation partners across the country to explore the platform at Connector.ag. You can provide feedback about your experience to help inform future iterations of the platform here.
For more information on Connector.ag, click here.
