Nrcs - Articles

‘Soil Wastage’: A Peek at What Soil Erosion Looked Like 90 Years Ago

By John Dobberstein posted on August 2, 2025 | Posted in Soil Health

Ever been frustrated when you couldn’t convince a neighbor to start no-tilling, or just stop plowing as much? Tired of seeing soil and nutrients wash into the ditch or waterways? Or reading about dust storms popping up again? You aren’t alone. This battle has been fought for nearly a century.

A Meeting of the Minds — Conservation Ag Style

By Mackane Vogel posted on July 31, 2025 | Posted in Investing in Regenerative Ag, Soil Health

NACD's Annual Summer Meeting moves around from city to city each year but with our home court as the location for this year, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to get together with like-minded conservation ag-focused folks and see what the week had in store.

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Ag Leaders Defend Conservation Funding as Farm Bill, Budget Cuts Loom

By John Dobberstein posted on June 4, 2025 | Posted in Agriculture Policy & Programs

Several high-ranking farm conservation officials recently implored U.S. Senators to minimize staff cuts and office closures, preserve technical assistance and fully fund conservation programs.

Senators Unveil Bill to Improve Farmer Coordination, Education

May 29, 2025 | Posted in Agriculture Policy & Programs

The Farmer to Farmer Act would authorize the NRCS to enter into cooperative agreements with community-based organizations in each state that are able to identify and build on established and burgeoning peer-to-peer networks and create new ones.

Myth from Reality: The Truth About the Conservation Stewardship Program

May 13, 2025 | Posted in Agriculture Policy & Programs

Source: Farmers.gov

The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is sometimes misunderstood. Here are a few “myths” about the program that I want to dispel.

The Legacy of ‘Big Hugh’ & New Challenges for Saving the Soil

An evolution in thinking, precision technology and science has given us new ways to farm more sustainably and efficiently without punishing the soil. The enemy, of course, is apathy.

By John Dobberstein posted on May 1, 2025 | Posted in Product Innovations & Introductions, Soil Health

An evolution in thinking, precision technology and science has given us new ways to farm more sustainably and efficiently without punishing the soil. The enemy, of course, is apathy.

Reports: USDA Closing Washington D.C. Office, Laying Off Thousands

By John Dobberstein posted on April 10, 2025 | Posted in Soil Health

The news isn’t exactly a surprise to those who follow the agency, as USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins has previously said the massive agency would undergo some restructuring to reduce management layers and refocus efforts on serving farmers, ranchers, foresters and consumers.

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Press Release

USDA Seeking Partners for Cropland Cover for Soil Health and Wildlife Project

February 28, 2025 | Posted in Investing in Regenerative Ag

Source: USDA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is now accepting applications from producers interested in participating in the Cropland Cover for Soil Health and Wildlife Project.

Assessing Production Potential of Fall-planted Covers in Western Nebraska

By Vesh R. Thapa posted on January 30, 2025 | Posted in Seeding Practices

Source: Cropwatch

UNL and NRCS researchers evaluated the growth and productivity of 30 commercially available cover crop species, varieties and mixtures planted in fall under the region’s unique climatic conditions.

Government and Corporations Funnel Billions into Cover Crop Research to Combat Climate Change: Is It Worth It?

By Dan Blaustein-Rejto posted on December 14, 2024 | Posted in Economics

With billions of taxpayer dollars in its hands for climate mitigation, USDA needs to prioritize efforts that are cost-effective, transparent, and science-based.