Izaak Walton League of America

Congress is considering the largest funding increase for farm and ranch conservation in two decades. The opportunity is too important to pass up. Full story

Enrolling an additional one percent of our nation’s farmland in the Conservation Reserve Program would mean massive benefits for all Americans. Full story

One easy fix to how wetlands are identified would ensure these vital natural resources get the protections they deserve – plus it would compensate farmers for being good stewards of their land and ensure taxpayers are funding responsible conservation instead of footing the bill for practices that damage our soil and water. Full story

Wetlands provide a long list of well-known benefits: They hold and store floodwaters, recharge groundwater, protect coastal areas, filter chemicals from our waters, provide food and habitat for fish and wildlife, and can provide forage for livestock in dry times. Wetlands also have a less well-known benefit: They combat climate change by storing vast amounts of carbon in their soggy soils. Full story

The House and Senate Agriculture Committees heard from 10 panelists about the role agriculture can play in combatting climate change. Committee members agreed on the solutions we need – and they agreed we must take action now. Full story

American farms are losing topsoil at an unsustainable rate. But farmers like Keith Badger are reversing the problem with practices that are profitable as well as regenerative. Full story

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has partially restored incentive payments for landowners who enroll in Continuous Conservation Reserve Program contracts, after having slashed those incentives earlier this year. Full story

South Dakota farmers Steve and Elaine Reimer focused on rebuilding the army of microbes that make their soil healthy. The result has been reduced erosion, increased yields and more carbon stored in their soil. Full story

Enrollment in the Conservation Reserve Program has fallen for the 13th straight year, leaving the program’s benefits for soil, water and wildlife at risk. Full story

By restoring the health of the soil on their Indiana farm, Mike Starkey and his family have been sequestering carbon and saving money on equipment, fertilizer and pesticides – all while reducing polluted runoff into nearby streams. Full story