Forging a new path for accelerating and scaling agricultural conservation is at the heart of a new public-private partnership announced by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Truterra LLC, the sustainability business at Land O’Lakes Inc.
This new partnership will support conservation specialists deployed alongside agricultural retailers, who serve as farmers’ most-trusted advisors, to build knowledge and capacity in order to support conservation practices around the country.
NFWF and Truterra leaders said this new systems-approach to advance private sector delivery of on-farm stewardship would benefit both farmers and their agricultural retailers, while also complementing NRCS conservation programs and field offices. Truterra and NFWF will be expanding this network of conservation specialists and agricultural retailers in 2020, with the goal to build a national network of these experts to improve customer service for farmers.
“Farmers are incredible stewards of their lands and enhanced private sector involvement is a critical piece of the partnership-based approach we must take to support farmers’ land stewardship,” said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. “This collaboration is a new model that will provide a real boost for farmers’ conservation efforts by bringing together public-private involvement to enhance the capacity of retail advisors.”
Truterra and NFWF identified two initial states — Iowa and Ohio — to “field test” the concept in a range of geographies. Initial investment from agricultural retailers Heartland Co-op (Iowa) and Heritage Co-op (Ohio), matched through NFWF fundraising, is funding the three pilot positions. Conservation Specialists funded in the pilot will:
- Serve as dedicated in-house conservation specialists, co-located with ag retailers, training agronomists on how to include conservation practices in day-to-day services to farmers;
- Provide farmer outreach and lead training sessions with farmers and landowners;
- Connect local ag retailers and their customers with state and local conservation partners, including USDA NRCS and local Soil & Water Conservation District offices; and
- Serve as experts on federal programs included in the Conservation Title of the Farm Bill.
“Heartland Co-op is proud to be a partner in this endeavor to bring additional conservation resources to the farm,” said Dave Coppess, vice president of sales and marketing at Heartland Cooperative. “As an ag retailer in the Midwest, and a long-time participant in water quality improvement and conservation practices, we can attest to the positive influence and results our agronomists bring to our farmers. Truterra, LLC has established tools for gathering, analyzing, and providing environmental solutions. Launching Conservation Agronomists with the knowledge and expertise our farmers expect will allow us to position the right sustainability practices into place for the specific needs and circumstances of that individual producer. We are excited to be part of a pilot that provides a unique opportunity to test new strategies.”
