Soil Matters

Conservation agriculture, sustainable gardening, Farm Bill legislation, and other topics related to soil health.

  • Wetlands Reserve Program - credit USDA NRCS

    Will Congress Double Up for Conservation?

    10/07/2021
    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
  • Doe and fawn SD by Dennis Larson, NRCS

    Increasing CRP Enrollment Good for Wildlife, Soil and Water

    09/02/2021
    Enrolling an additional one percent of our nation’s farmland in the Conservation Reserve Program would mean massive benefits for all Americans. Full story
  • Ducks on a farm wetland

    See No Wetlands, Protect No Wetlands

    05/17/2021
    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
  • Wetland in Washington State - credit David Mark, Pixabay

    This Simple Thing Is a Powerhouse in Combatting Climate Change

    05/10/2021
    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
  • CRP in Wisconsin - credit Bob Nichols, NRCS

    Congress Considers Climate Change and Agriculture

    03/23/2021
    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
  • Keith Badger

    Soil Health Yields Rewards for Farmers and Community

    02/09/2021
    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
  • Buffer strip - Lynn Betts, NRCS

    League Gets Partial Win on CRP

    12/15/2020
    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
  • Farmer holding handful of soil

    Steve Reimer: Soil Health Yields Multiple Benefits

    11/16/2020
    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
  • Buffer strip - Lynn Betts, NRCS

    CRP Enrollment Falls for 13th Straight Year

    11/09/2020
    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
  • Starkey Farms: Storing Carbon, Saving Money

    10/23/2020
    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

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