Over the last decade, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) has enrolled over 94 million acres of farmland, ranchland, and forestland in conservation contracts. As of the end of 2018, over 74 million acres were enrolled in active CSP contracts – a landmass equal to the entire size of the states of Iowa […]
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New Beginning Farmer Analysis Highlights Value of USDA’s Economic Research Service
The Economic Research Service (ERS) is the primary federal research agency for economic and statistical information about our country’s food and farm sector and related policies within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). ERS publications and research findings provide essential data and analysis that helps identify trends and inform policymakers and other stakeholders about the […]
Report Highlights Barriers and Opportunities for Farmers Interested in Organic
Farmers enter into organic production for many reasons, chief among them are typically a concern for the conservation of natural resources and environmental protection and a desire to benefit from the higher price points that organic products typically demand. With consumer demand for organic products continuing to grow, one might expect more and more farmers […]
Conservation Practices Reduce Runoff and Erosion in Lake Erie Basin
Each year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) invests billions of dollars to help farmers, ranchers, and foresters conserve natural resources and wildlife habitat on and around their land. With thousands of producers across the country planning to implement conservation practices, understanding if and how conservation efforts are working is critical. According to the Conservation Effects Assessment Project […]