Remote Sensing Technology Drives Conservation Solutions
New Data Show Soil Health Practices on IA, IL and IN Farmland Is Moving in the Right Direction
Today marks the first release of regional-scale data from the Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS), a new tool that has the potential to unlock conservation solutions for a variety of food and agricultural supply chain stakeholders. These data document the level of adoption of so ... more. |
Adoption of Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices
Data are available for the adoption of cover crops and conservation tillage. Remote-sensing derived, CONUS-wide cropland data for the adoption of two important conservation practices (cover crops and reduced tillage).
Data are currently available for the years 2015-2021. All data are available at the watershed (HUC8) and Crop Reporting District (CRD) geographic scales.
Explore the Climate-Smart Data Applications
Cover Crop
The extent o ... more. |
Remote-sensing derived, CONUS-wide cropland data for the adoption of two important conservation practices (cover crops and reduced tillage), as well as soil and GHG outcomes based on the use of these practice-adoption data as input to the DNDC model.
Data are currently available for the years 2015-2021. All data are available at the watershed (HUC8) and Crop Reporting District (CRD) geographic scales.
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By David Gustafson, departing interim executive director, CTIC
With the welcome arrival of CTIC’s new Executive Director Mike Komp, I bid a fond farewell to this interim role. There are many to thank for this wonderful opportunity, and I begin with Chair Terry Tindall, a true gentleman and also a genuine champion for conservation agriculture. I also offer sincere thanks to Vice Chair Mark Schmidt, Treasurer Mark White, and the entire CTIC Board of Directors. The CTIC staff have also been a true joy to get to know, and I look forward to continuing to work alongside these dedicated professionals – now in the role of OpTIS Project Director.
As I pass the CTIC reins to Mike, I offer some parting thoughts on ... more. |
Over the course of six years, the Indian Creek Watershed Project proved to be a significant model for voluntary water quality improvement efforts—not just in Livingston County, Illinois, but across the country.
Project organizers talked to every single producer in the watershed about conservation practices and water quality, and by the end of the project, conservation systems and best management practices (BMPs) were in place on at least 57% of the agricultural acreage in the Indian Creek drainage.
Goals and Recipes
Key concepts at the heart of the Indian Creek Watershed Project included:
The importance of locally led conservation efforts
The power of including stakeholders ... more. |
... crop acres climbed from 2.8 million to 7.5 million between 2015 and 2021
WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana (February 2, 2023)—A new tranche of data from the Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS) tracked a 250% climb in cover crop acreage—from 2.8 million acres in 2015 to 7.5 million acres in 2021—led by row crop farmers in the southern portion of the region. The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), which hosts free access to OpTIS data on its ctic.org website, dubbed this week's release "OpTIS 3.0."
"The new OpTIS 3.0 release consists of two elements," notes Dr. Dave Gustafson, project director at CTIC. "The first is the 2021 data, which identify established cover crops and tillage practices across a region that ... more. |
... website allows visitors to explore trends in tillage and cover crop adoption through maps and charts while manipulating geography, date range and crop rotation. OpTIS data will be visibe on our interactive portal at the HUC 8 or USDA crop reporting district level.The visualization tool also allows the user to see changes in soil carbon and other variables based on the level of adoption of conservation practices, as predicted by theDe-Nitrification/De-Composition (DNDC) model via the visualization tool.
OpTIS runs publicly available remote sensing data through a unique algorithm to track trends in tillage practices and the adoption of cover crops. The system was developed by Regrow Ag in collaboration with CTIC and The Nature Conservancy (TNC). Click here for more about OpTIS.
... more. |
THIS IS THE PERFECT YEAR TO BE PART OF CTIC
2022 is the perfect time to join CTIC- join CTIC as a member as we celebrate our 40th anniversary and hostour annual tour.
https://ctic.org/Membership/Membership_Info
YOUR MEMBERSHIP IN CTIC SUPPORTS:
• Innovations in tracking the adoption of conservation on the ground...from field-level validation to online surveys to remote sensing
• Demonstrations of conservation systems
• Education on everything from cover crop establishment to cutting-edge tools and models
• Training for farmers, CCAs and retail agronomists, conservation agency staff, federal staffers and more
• Ongoing dialogues with policymakers and regulator ... more. |
... will include water quality monitoring data associated with NUE in-field calculations as well as demonstrations of the usability of tile outlet monitoring by producers, the cost effectiveness of these monitoring solutions for measuring nutrient loss and the impact of associated outreach efforts to increase adoption of nutrient management practices.
The project will demonstrate conservation practices that show promise of leading to better nitrogen (N) management—spring applied N over fall applied N and enhanced-efficiency fertilizer sources. These practices will be demonstrated within N management systems and compared according to N levels, to measure the impacts of these practices on water quality. During the growing season and winter months, we will monitor water flowing fro ... more. |
Conservation Technology Information Center Announces Creation of Cover Crop Coaches Program and Hires Dan Coffman as Minnesota Soil Health Specialist
WEST LAFAYETTE, NOVEMBER 16, 2023- Thanks to a generous grant from General Mills, a global food company deeply committed to regenerative agriculture, the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) is excited to announce the creation of their farmer-led ... more. |
... to map tillage, residue cover, winter cover, and soil health practices using remote sensing data. The latest version of the OpTIS data are available below for Croplands. With this latest update (April 2024), the partners are now also releasing analogous data for Grasslands. All pages include charts and maps to further enhance identification of trends and opportunities to promote the adoption of conservation practices. As with previous releases, all data are undergoing various forms of peer review and may be updated in the future.
Data Provider: Regrow| License
Explore The Data
Croplands
Remote sensing-derived, CONUS-wide cropland data for cover crops and tillage, spanning 2015-2021. The available data includesoil carbon and GHG outcomes based on application ... more. |
... the environment. The Survey has been compiled and tracked by CTIC since 1982 and is the only survey in the U.S. to measure and track the type of tillage used by crop at the county level. Tillage methods tracked include no-till, ridge-till, reduced-till and intensive/conventional tillage, according to NRCS definitions.
Project Partners
State offices of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, local NRCS field offices, Conservation Districts and Extension offices
Project Description
The nationwide survey of conservation tillage practices started as a partnership effort between CTIC and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), conservation districts and Extension. After the 2004 collection cycle, NRCS no longer required field staff to collect the ... more. |
... decision-making,the primary hypothesis is that the way in which information is presented will significantly affect farmers’ interest in and eventual adoption of offset-eligible practices. In many cases,it isbelieved thatthis framing effect will be as strong as or stronger than the effect of a modest offset payment.
The information presented promotes conservation tillage with an environmental stewardship frame versus a neutral, control frame, and discussing the potential for offset payments for conservation tillage or not. As noted, we intend to determine if the framed treatments will generate greater interest in conservation tillage than unframed treatments, including unframed treatments that mention potential offset opportunities.
Partner
Purdue ... more. |
A massive new data set chronicling residue management and winter cover crop use in Iowa, Illinois and Indiana from 2005 through 2018 is now in the final stages of preparation for release on CTIC's website. The resource—the Operational Tillage Information System, or OpTIS—uses publicly available remote sensing data to monitor the adoption of no-till, conservation tillage, and winter cover crops. Data covering the rest of the Corn Belt, extending from eastern Ohio to eastern Kansas and Nebraska and from the Missouri Bootheel to the Red River Valley of North Dakota, will be available in the next few weeks.
Analyzing satellite images of the landscape through software developed by Applie ... more. |
... In all, just 15.6% of cover crop users said receiving incentive payments was one of their goals for cover cropping.
These findings were among many conclusions drawn in a report, issued jointly by the USDA-NIFA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) and the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA), based on insights from nearly 800 farmers in 49 states.
"Some people mistakenly assume that farmers only stick with cover crops because of payments, but this year's National Cover Crop Survey provided a very different perspective," ... more. |
... among industry and agricultural producers as a viable market-based alternative to achieving water quality improvements. New projects in the Midwest explore how to structure a large-scale trading program, the feasibility of trading in the Wabash River watershed and the support role that agricultural industry can play.
Water quality trading assigns economic value to the benefits generated by conservation practice implementation, according to the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) publication, “Getting Paid for Stewardship: An Agricultural Community Water Quality Trading Guide.”
Nutrient or sediment reductions resulting from agricultural conservation practices are the “currency” in water quality trading. Producers sell the reductions realized from conser ... more. |
... among industry and agricultural producers as a viable market-based alternative to achieving water quality improvements. New projects in the Midwest explore how to structure a large-scale trading program, the feasibility of trading in the Wabash River watershed and the support role that agricultural industry can play.
Water quality trading assigns economic value to the benefits generated by conservation practice implementation, according to the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) publication, “Getting Paid for Stewardship: An Agricultural Community Water Quality Trading Guide.”
Nutrient or sediment reductions resulting from agricultural conservation practices are the “currency” in water quality trading. Producers sell the reductions realized from conser ... more. |
... posted on YouTube. Soil peds are aggregated particles of sand, silt, clay and organic matter. Like their namesake, PED Talks combine soil-related topics including explanations of soil health, how we can improve it, and the progress that’s being made to ensure we have the healthy soils necessary to feed, clothe and fuel the world in the future.
The PED Talks series was created by the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), Soil Health Institute (SHI), Soil Health Partnership (SHP), Soil Science Society of America (SSSA), Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) and U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
The inaugural PED Talks include a video introduction from NRCS Chief Matt Lohr and the following presentations:
... more. |
... on YouTube. Soil peds are aggregated particles of sand, silt, clay and organic matter. Like their namesake, PED Talks combine soil-related topics including explanations of soil health, how we can improve it, and the progress that’s being made to ensure we have the healthy soils necessary to feed, clothe and fuel the world in the future.
The PED Talks series was created by the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), Soil Health Institute (SHI), Soil Health Partnership (SHP), Soil Science Society of America (SSSA), Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) and U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
The inaugural PED Talks include a video introduction from NRCS Chief Matt Lohr and the following presentations:
... more. |
Automated Use of Remote Sensing Data to Monitor Conservation Practices
The Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS), a Regrow technology (https://www.regrow.ag), uses remote sensing (satellite-based) data to monitor conservation practices in agricultural systems, including various forms of reduced tillage and the planting of winter cover crops. While the OpTIS calculations are performed and validated at the farm-field scale, the privacy of individ ... more. |
2020 Conservation In Action Tour- In Person EventPostponed
Join us virtually!
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, CTIC's 2020 Conservation in Action Tour has been postponed to 2021. We will instead host a virtual event in collaboration with the American Society of Agronomy's Sustainable Agronomy Conference on August 20, 2020.
Session #5: Environmental Benefits of Sust ... more. |
Stuttgart, AR August 2017
CTIC brought together farmers; researchers from USDA-Agricultural Research Service, University of Arkansas and Arkansas State University; and conservationists from USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission for a deep dive into how crop consultants can help their clients benefit from conservation practices.
Discussions ranged from the agronomic and water-management benefits of conservation systems—including precision irrigation, tailwater management, reduced tillage and cover crops, among othe ... more. |
April marks the launch of the first data set from the Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS), which combines satellite sensing technology with sophisticated modeling to map the adoption of conservation practices on the landscape.
The 21st century heir to CTIC's long-time Crop Residue Management (CRM) Survey, OpTIS will provide comprehensive maps of crop residue management practices and cover crops down to the HUC8 scale. Annual maps and data—with the capability of tracking practices longitudinally over time—will be invaluable to researchers analyzing carbon sequestr ... more. |
... Rex Martin, Syngenta America, Treasurer; Karen Scanlon, CTIC, Secretary; Chris Foster, John Deere, Past Chair. Serving as 2010-2011 directors: Neil E. Caskey, Osborn & Barr Communications; Larry Clemens, The Nature Conservancy; Dave Gustafson, Monsanto; Bill Herz, The Fertilizer Institute; Bill Kuckuck, CropLife America; Ron Olson, The Mosaic Company; Jerry Snodgrass, National Association of Conservation Districts; Rod Snyder, National Corn Growers Association; John Redding, National Association of Conservation Districts; and Stephen Timmons, Case IH.
Make plans to attend the CTIC Conservation In Action Tour 2010
Mark your calendar for the CTIC Conservation In Action Tour 2010, set for Aug. 3 in Williamsburg-Richmond, Va. This fourth-annual conservation tour will highligh ... more. |
Established 1994
Reduced Tillage LINKAGES (RTL) is an extension organization that focuses on increasing the adoption of sustainable production systems, based on reduced tillage, by Alberta farmers and ranchers. The program is a partnership with broad-based farmer, industry, educational, wildlife, and government support and employs five agronomists.
Mission, Goals and Contact Information
Mission Statement:
To b ... more. |
... Nature Conservancy/4Rs Plus), Robert Mier (USDA-NRCS), Keegan Kult (Ag Drainage Management Coalition) and Tim Recker (Iowa Land Improvement Contractors Association).
Welcome: Mike Naig, IDALS
Mike Naig, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, greets crop consultants at CTIC's Ag Consultants Training workshop in Des Moines, Iowa, on March 13, 2019. Naig urged success in voluntary conservation practices to achieve the goals set out in the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy and called for a "culture of conservation" among farmers and consultants.
Making Conservation Pay
Jason Gomes, CCA, of North Iowa Agronomy Consultants, digs deep into the challenges crop farmers face as they consider the risks and expenses of conservation practices—and describes the ... more. |
For more information: Steve Werblow (steve@stevewerblow.com)
WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana (February 24, 2020)—The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), in partnership with Ecosystem Services Marketplace Consortium (ESMC), Heidelberg University in Ohio, and others, has been awarded a Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) grant by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. EPA Region 5 Administrator Kurt Thiede announced today in a Chicago press event that the agency will fund the groups' three-year pro ... more. |
Ryan Heiniger Joins CTIC as New Executive Director
CTIC welcomes Ryan Heiniger as its new Executive Director. Heiniger is a fourth-generation Iowa farmer, wildlife biologist, and non-profit leader. CTIC board president Mark White of Syngenta says Heiniger's combination of on-the-ground conservation experience and history of leadership in conservation-oriented organizations made him the perfect choice for the role.
"Ryan has put his farm background and deep love for nature to work in a career in conservation," White notes. "He is a skilled organizer, mobilizer, coalition builder and fundraiser. He knows many of our partners. He has implemented on his own family farm some ... more. |
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
“Professional ag consultants will learn what they need to provide one more service to the farmers they advise. Recognizing where a conservation practice would be a good fit, and charting a course for putting it into use, is a real value to their clients. Not every CCA or retail agronomist is interested in writing elaborate conservation plans, but these are the people farmers turn to first for advice. They’re the right group to show farmers how they can benefit from conservation,”
Mike Smith, CTIC project director.
... more. |
Practical Conservation Planning in the Field
August 22-23, 2017
Stuttgart Public Library
Stuttgard, Arkansas
Ph: 870-673-1966
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Professional ag consultants will learn what they need to provide one more service to the farmers they advise. Recognizing where a conservation practice would be a good fit, and charting a course for putting it into use, is a real value to their cl ... more. |
Explore The Data
Croplands
Remote sensing-derived, CONUS-wide cropland data for mapping tillage, residue cover, winter cover, and soil health practices. Data are currently available for the years 2015 through 2021.
The available data include the level of adoption of cover crops and conservation tillage practices, as well as soil and GHG outcomes based on the use of this practice-adoption data as input to the DNDC model. Access to these conservation practice data by crop rotation is available to registered users.
Learn More
Data Release September 2023
Grasslands
Remote sensing-derived, CONUS-wide grazing land metrics calculated from data spanning 2015–2021.
The a ... more. |
Southern Plains Agricultural Resources Coalition (SPARC)
Established 2006
The Southern Plains Agricultural Resources Coalition will spark rural sustainability and profitability through greater use of no-till practices and conservation systems for producers, consumers, and communities by promotion of market based incentives, education, demonstration, participation, and research.
Mission, Goals and Contact Information
Mission Statement
The Southern Plains Agricultural Resources Coalition will spark rural sustainability and profitability through greater use of no-till practices and conservation systems for produce ... more. |
Established 1998
The purpose of the Conservation Tillage Workgroup is to 1) develop knowledge and exchange information on conservation tillage production systems, 2) coordinate related research and extension programs, 3) respond to needs for information on reduced tillage production alternatives, and 4) plan and conduct statewide and regional conferences, workshops and training demonstrations as well as produce UC Division of Agriculture and Na ... more. |
Hosted by CTIC
OpTIS 4.0:
New National Baseline Data
for Climate Smart Ag
September 27, 2023
Description: Featured speakers:
Allison Thomson (Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research)
Rob Manes (The Nature Conservancy)
Soren Rundquist (Regrow Ag)
Debbie Reed (Ecosystem Services Market Consortium)
Dave Gustafson (Conservation Technology Information Center)
OpTIS 3.0:
Unlocking Water
Quality Insights
April 26, 2023
Description: Featured speakers:
Asmita Murumkar(The Ohio State University)
Soren Rundquist (Regrow Ag)
Dave Gustafson (Conservation Technology Information Center)
OpTIS
High Level Insights
on Cover Crops
April 29, 2022
Description: ... more. |
A partnership of organizations including Conservation Technology Information Center, the Indiana Soybean Alliance, and The Fertilizer Institute measured adoption of conservation practices on Indiana farms.The survey revealed reasons farm operators and landownersdo not adopt conservation practices. Building onthe success of the recentnational Best Management Practices (BMPs) Survey, thissurvey recorded the conserva ... more. |
This project, funded by EPA's Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, will demonstrate the effectiveness of cover crops and conservation tillage systems to decrease agricultural nonpoint source pollution and inform producers about the economic benefits of the systems. CTIC and partners will assist agricultural producers in the Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, and Lake Huron watersheds with implementation of cover crops and conservation tillage systems on 15,000 acres by April 2013. Producers will receive technical, educational and social ... more. |
... Included are the effects of structural changes, recent policies on manure management technologies and practices, the use of nutrient management plans, and manure application rates. The findings suggest that larger hog operations are altering their manure management decisions in response to binding nutrient application constraints, and that environmental policy is contributing to the adoption of conservation compatible manure management practices. www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/EIB50
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... source at the Right time, in the Right place at the Right rate. Producers can implement the four Rs and substantially reduce the amount of N fertilizer escaping fields, a clear financial loss, and detrimental to water quality.
Enjoy lunch with the morning tour or supper with the evening tour. Organizers will offer an optional trip to Kilgus Dairy, an award-winning conservation dairy, Spence Farm, which grows food for Chicago chefs, and Argonne National Laboratory’s experimental bioenergy site.
Livingston County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) will host the tour with support from Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IL EPA), Agrium Advanced Technologies, Agrotain, The Fertilizer Institute, Mo ... more. |
By adopting conservation practices like cover crops and reduced tillage or no-till, farmers can help reduce the effects of climate change, including soil erosion, declining land productivity and desertification, according to Climate Change and Land, a report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released today. More than 100 experts from 52 countries contributed to the report.
Mike Komp, ex ... more. |
Practical Conservation Planning in the Field
August 22-23, 2017
Stuttgart Public Library
Stuttgard, Arkansas
Ph: 870-673-1966
This workshop will provide CCAs and other ag consultants with the foundation to recognize opportunities for reducing their clients’ impact on water quality. The majority of the day will be spent with three speakers—representing industry, agency, and academia& ... more. |
... the past months, CTIC has been working with partners to develop a phosphorus trading program within two watersheds on another Great Lake, Lake Erie. As we’ve started to work with farmers and ranchers in the Maumee and Sandusky Watersheds, it’s clear that these programs are viewed with a mix of optimism and skepticism. Optimism centers around the prospect of free markets to support conservation adoption. However, concern over unfulfilled promises of past markets, like the Chicago Climate Exchange, still linger.
Novel strategies to support conservation adoption are needed now more than ever. As we’ve transitioned through many buzzword phases (organic, green, sustainable, and so on). I think Teddy Roosevelt said it best: “There can be no greater issue than that of conservat ... more. |
Farmers in the Western Lake Erie Basin Can Earn Money in New CTIC Phosphorus Reduction Pilot Program
Farmers in the Western Lake Erie Basin—including parts of Ohio, Michigan and Indiana—can earn money through a phosphorus load reduction pilot program. The “Phosphorus Load-Reduction Stimulation Program” (PLUS-UP) program, coordinated by the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), will pay farmers in the project area $5 to $10 per acre in 2022 to reduce P loads using practices such as no-till or cover crops.
"The PLUS-UP program will provide a financial incentive for conservation practices that help farmers reduce phosphorus loading in the Lake Erie watershed, keep their nutrients where their crops can use them, and build s ... more. |
Hello everyone,
The takeaway from 2020 for me has been that we are stronger together than apart. Agriculture, by its necessity, impacts everyone, every day. That means we need everyone around the table to set a course to a future where everyone benefits from conservation. CTIC has been and will continue to be a community where all are welcome, but 2020 demonstrated that it takes work to ensure that everyone is invited.
I’m proud of how our team has persevered through 2020. They have engaged with new technologies, trained in critical areas, and maintained and developed new relationships through it all. Currently, we are working with many o ... more. |
ADMC received a Conservation Innovation Grant in 2006 to promote and characterize the unique technology of drainage water management (DWM) – the practice of managing water table depths to reduce nutrient transport from tiles during the fallow season or to reduce water deficit stress during the growing season. Considering that no such guidance currently exists, this innovative multi-state project is developing a set of ... more. |
CONSERVATION TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION CENTER (CTIC) SEEKS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana (June 30, 2022)—The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC)islaunchinga search for a new executive director as Mike Komp, who led the organization for the past three years,moves on toa new opportunity.
"CTIC has strengthened its capabilities under Mike's leaders ... more. |
CONSERVATION TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION CENTER (CTIC) SEEKS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana (June 30, 2022)—The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC)islaunchinga search for a new executive director as Mike Komp, who led the organization for the past three years,moves on toa new opportunity.
"CTIC has strengthened its capabilities und ... more. |
Steve Robinson, President, National Association of Conservation Districts
Photo courtesy of NACD.
National Association of Conservation Districts
By Steve Robinson, President
Dear fellow conservationists,
Greetings on behalf of the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) and our member conservation districts! NACD is the nonprofit organization that represents America’s 3,000 c ... more. |
The benefits of using cover crops are well established, but adoption in agronomic farming systems is unknown. The objectives of this study were to quantify cover crop use and identify factors associated with their adoption.
Are cover crops being used in the US corn belt?
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From the cover crops of the Hmong American Farmers Association farm near Hastings to Northfield farmer Dave Legvold’s saturated buffers and the impeccable dairy and manure handling system at Burfeind Dairy Farm near Goodhue, participants in the Conservation Technology Information Center’s (CTIC) eighth annual Conservation in Action Tour got a first-hand look at systems that protect water quality, build soil health and improve farm profitability.
What people enjoyed most about the tour:
The opportunity to see conservation practices in person and to hear directly from farmers what works and what doesn't.
Wide range of practice ... more. |
Find the following CTIC resources in the Free Download section of CTIC’s Online Store.
Better Soil, Better Yields is a guidebook to improving soil organic matter and infiltration with continuous no-till.
Facilitating Conservation Farming Practices and Enhancing Environmental Sustainability with Agricultural Biotechnology explores environmental benefits of conservation tillage, facilitated significantly by biotechnology crops.
A Review of BMPs for Managing Crop Nutrients and Conservation Tillage to Improve Water Quality reviews research on nutrient best management practices (BMPs) for nitrogen and phosphorus, with ... more. |
Since its inception, CTIC has been the go-to source for data on the adoption of conservation practices across the U.S. Though federal support of the popular crop residue management transect survey ended in 2004, scientists, policy makers and marketers have continued to tap CTIC's databases. Now, we're at the forefront of using remote sensing to bring back state, regional and national data on crop residue and cover crop management.
Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS) ... more. |
... and Land Stewardship. For the last three years, this project enhanced an ongoing supply chain sustainability initiative with technical and financial support that helped participating farmers plant nearly 40,000 acres of cover crops.
For our next step, CTIC is joining partners including The Nature Conservancy, Practical Farmers of Iowa, and Unilever to encourage greater adoption of conservation systems among farmers already enrolled in supply chain sustainability initiatives. This project will focus outreach and education on farmers in on Iowa’s Skunk watersheds, as well as utilizing the recently developed4R Plusframework to engage ag retailers, CCAs, and other advisors at the local level in a common conversation about the potential economic and environmental benefits ... more. |
... and Land Stewardship. For the last three years, this project enhanced an ongoing supply chain sustainability initiative with technical and financial support that helped participating farmers plant nearly 40,000 acres of cover crops.
For our next step, CTIC is joining partners including The Nature Conservancy, Practical Farmers of Iowa, and Unilever to encourage greater adoption of conservation systems among farmers already enrolled in supply chain sustainability initiatives. This project will focus outreach and education on farmers in on Iowa’s Skunk watersheds, as well as utilizing the recently developed4R Plusframework to engage ag retailers, CCAs, and other advisors at the local level in a common conversation about the potential economic and environmental benefits ... more. |
Conservation Agriculture Carbon Offset Consultation participants gather outside the Purdue University Beck Agricultural Center.
International Meeting Spotlights Conservation Agriculture's Role in Mitigating Climate Change
Supported by science and spurred by emerging markets, more than 80 participants in an international workshop on carbon sequestration called o ... more. |
... litter being loaded into spreader truck in Northern Louisiana.
Photo courtesy of USDA.
Nurturing Crops, Protecting the Environment
Emphasis on Sound Nutrient Management
By Christa Martin Jones
The emphasis on more and better nutrient management promises advances in farm profitability, conservation technology, and water quality improvements. Agriculture'sability to marry economy and environment, planning and implementation, and research and technology transfer will define our success.
The United States Department of Agriculture recently accepted proposals for the Mississippi River Basin Initiative grants program, an effort to focus $320 million, over the next four year ... more. |
Conservation in Action Tour 2024
CTIC brought it's 17th annual tour to Arkansas and celebrated 'Diversity in Conservation: People, Crops, Technology'! Attendees were able to visit 3 amazing farm stops and learn more about the people driving conservation in Arkansas. From rice to cotton and more, attendees were able todiscover how conservation practices are tailored to the unique challenges and opportunities p ... more. |
Conservation Starts Here
CTIC Conservation Connector Helps Producers Discover Local Programs and Technical Assistance All In One Place
We're working to bring clarity and accessibility to conservation programs by creating a one-stop shop for farmers, ranchers and advisers. The CTIC Conservation Connector, now in development, is bringing conservation programs and local technical assistance to producers on a single platfor ... more. |
... like to invite you to the second webinar in our OpTIS series—this one on how a variety of users are employing the DeNitrification-DeComposition (DNDC) model and OpTIS to estimate the influence of soil health practices on soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics. The one-hour webinar will be held Friday, October 16, at 11:00 am EDT.
When the OpTIS data set—a ground-validated analysis of conservation adoption that spans 2006 to 2018 across most of the Corn Belt—is run through the DNDC model, it provides an outstanding depth of insight on the environmental effects of conservation farming practices adopted on watershed and landscape scales.
We will be joined by:
Ward Smith, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada
Steve Rozenzweig, General Mills
Debbie Reed, Ecosystem Service Market ... more. |
Registration for the 16th Annual Conservation in Action Tour is now open!
Experiencing Conservation in Supply Chains
Join us in Frankenmuth, Michigan, July 10-11, for the 16th annual Conservation in Action Tour! This year’s tour theme, Experiencing Conservation in Supply Chains, will help connect the circle from farmer to consumer. Attendees can look forward to seeing the supply chain up close and personal, i ... more. |
... in September 2023 uses updated algorithms for croplands in alllower 48 states (CONUS). The data are presented in the context of a two-year crop rotation with options to review by the previous and following cash crop for both tillage and cover crops. Both the OpTIS and DNDC pages include charts and maps to further enhance identification of trends and opportunities to promote the adoption of conservation practices. As with previous releases, alldataare undergoing various forms of peer review and maybe updated in the future.
Later this month (April 2024), CTIC will be releasing a new satellite-driven tool from Regrow that provides vegetation health and productivity data for all CONUS grasslands. These data will be of keen interest to anyone interested ingrazing, as well ... more. |
DNDC: The Denitrification-Decomposition (DNDC) model was used to simulate carbon and nitrogen soil dynamics as a function of the soil health management practices monitored by OpTIS (crop diversity, conservation tillage, and cover crops).
DNDC performs process-based simulations of nitrogen and carbon dynamics in agroecosystems. Based on environmental drivers (inputs like soil characteristics, temperature and precipitation data, crop characteristics, and crop management) the model predicts crop growth and yield, soil organic carbon (SOC) changes (loss vs. sequestration) andgreenhouse ga ... more. |
Using cover crops and continuous no-till together in a conservation system over time maximizes soil health and may lead to yield increases and other benefits.
Photo courtesy of CTIC
Using Cover Crops to Facilitate the Transition to Continuous No-Till
Why this project?
Using cover crops and continuous no-till together in a conservation system over time maximizes ... more. |
Organization
The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3), membership organization that provides technical, educational and practical support to America’s agricultural and conservation communities. We were formed in 1982 by a group of representatives from agribusiness, government and associations. We thrive today with guidance and support from partners and members from the public, ... more. |
Facilitated by CTIC, local farmers and interested others lead this project to demonstrate and test best conservation practices on Indian Creek Watershed farms.
The project, sponsored by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (with funds provided through Section 319 of the Clean Water Act) will show how conservation practices installed on Indian Creek watershed farms will affect water quality.
Goal
Determine what water quality improvements result when 50-75% of producers and ac ... more. |
CASA is a North American alliance of producer organizations united with a common goal to advance conservation agriculture systems. CASA strengthens the individual efforts of each member organization and also helps the collective group move toward the shared purpose of increasing conservation in agriculture in North America. CTIC hosts monthly conference calls, a web site and a discussion forum for CASA. CASA primary purposes are to:
Facilitate communication among CASA members and partners
... more. |
CONSERVATION TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION CENTER (CTIC) LAUNCHES NEW
CONSERVATION INFORMATION WEBSITE
WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana (December 12, 2018)—The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), a clearinghouse of information on conservation farming practices, has launched its brand-new website at www.ctic.org. The easy-to-search, simple-to-navigate site contains thousands of documents ... more. |
To better manage nutrients, Lancaster County, Penn. dairy producers install manure storage tanks as part of their conservation plans.
Photo courtesy of USDA-NRCS
Manure Du Jour
Serving Pennsylvania's Best Practices on Animal Ag. Air, and Water Quality
By Kristen Saacke-Blunk
Pennsylvania dairy cow.
Photo courtesy of USDA-NRCS.
In January 2009, Penn State Cooperative Extension and its Agriculture and Environment Center debuted the ... more. |
For more information, contact:
Callie North, north@ctic.org/ (317) 450-9137
Ryan Heiniger, heiniger@ctic.org/ (319) 768-8348
The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) Inducts Frank Lessiter Into Its Hall of Fame
The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) inducted editor, publisher and conservation agriculture advocate Frank Lessiter into its CTIC Hall of Fame during the 16th Annual CTIC Conservation in Action Tour on Tuesday night, July 11, 2023 in Frankenmuth, Michigan.
CTIC is a hub for information and id ... more. |
CTIC is a clearinghouse for a wide range of information on conservation agriculture. Click on one of the themes below to browse our site, or look for a particular practice or place in the search bar.
Ag Consultant Resources
Bees and Pollinators
Buffer Strips
Community Organizing
Conservation Tillage
Conservation Practices—Adoption
Crop Residue Management (CRM) Survey
Drainage Water Management
Cover Crops
Cover Crop Survey
Conservation Res ... more. |
Dear friend —
The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) is a unique public-private partnership that brings together farmers, researchers, policy makers, regulators, agribusiness leaders, conservation group organizers and others at the same table to share information on conservation farming systems. In short, we Connect, Inform and Champion to encourage the adoption of practices that protect soil, water and air qual ... more. |
Georgia Conservation Tillage Alliance
The mission of the Georgia Conservation Tillage Alliance is to promote the adoption of conservation tillage and other economically viable and environmentally sound agricultural and natural resource management practices through research, education, and communication.
Contact Information
www.gcta-ga.org
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Developing effective climate smart technologies and conservation agriculture systems starts with people, each bringing perspective on what's needed and how to address the economic and environmental challenges in the field. For 4 decades, CTIC has provided the forum for people to connect across boundaries, bringing together people from government, academia, agribusiness, the non-profit community and the farm to find ways to put conservation into action.
... more. |
... Study That Relates No-Till to Algae Problem
Rachel Doctor
Last spring, a study conducted by Hiedelberg College's water lab in Tiffin, Ohio, reported that no-till farming was contributing to the dissolved phosphorus that enters the water supply and causes an accumulation of algae in Lake Erie.
According to Norm Widman, national agronomist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), no-till systems are not the reason for this dissolved phosphorus, but several things have caused a “perfect storm” for this phosphorus runoff.
”Most phosphorus runoff is caused by the timing and methods of application of phosphorus,” Widman says. “Too much application in the summer and fall with no incorporation leaves extra phosphorus to be sit ... more. |
Conservation Validation Network (CVN)
Beginning in 2021, CTIC and TNC have been in conversation with a number of other organizations interested in partnering on the creation of the Conservation Validation Network (CVN), which we envision as a valuable set of anonymized ground-truthing data available to support advances in remote sensing methodologies being used to track adoption of regenerative conservatio ... more. |
At CTIC it is our mission to champion, promote and provide information on sustainable agricultural systems that conserve and enhance soil, water, air and wildlife resources and are productive and profitable.
CTIC is proud to be a clearinghouse of information on conservation agriculture. CTIC continues to advance practical systems that improve soil health and water quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance resilience to intensifying climate change, and deliver other environmental benefits. We also vow to connect stakeholders committed to improving the sustainability of American agriculture, including reducing agriculture’s greenhouse gas footprint, and ... more. |
Welcome to CTIC's Farmers for Soil Health Program
At the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), we are proud partners in the Farmers for Soil Health program, a collaborative effort initiated by the National Corn Growers Association, United Soybean Board, and the National Pork Board. Our mission is to drive positive change in agriculture, one field at a time.
About Farmers for Soil Health
Farmers for Soil Health (FSH) is a farmer-driven sustainabil ... more. |
... crops in their modeling work in Ohio's Upper Scioto River watershed and Maumee basin.
Soren Rundquist, Regrow Ag, with updates on cover crop trends from 2015 to 2021, derived from Regrow’s proprietary and recently improved OpTIS algorithm. OpTIS utilizes publicly available satellite imagery to track tillage practices and cover crop adoption around the globe.
Dr. Dave Gustafson, Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), using OpTIS data to quantify the relative effectiveness of cover crops and conservation tillage at reducing phosphorous loads to Lake Erie.
Before the webinar...try OpTIS yourself! An intuitive visualization tool on the CTIC website (ctic.org/OpTIS) allows users to explore OpTIS data, zooming in on watersheds of interest and moving sliders to v ... more. |
... compaction problems and reduce nitrate loss to nearby waterways.
Smart Drainage System™ Photo courtesy of Agri Drain
Putting Producers in the Driver's Seat
By Lisa Newby
The public is becoming more aware of what agricultural producers have always known – the cornerstone of environmental conservation is good resource management, and working together is essential.
The Agricultural Drainage Management Coalition (ADMC) realizes cooperation is critical to environmental success. ADMC members serve as a resource on the latest technologies in drainage water management systems. Together, they utilize a public/private approach to quantify the impact of drainage water management on many ... more. |
... GHG outcomes (methane, as well as indirect and direct nitrous oxide) are based on the use of the practice-adoption data as input to the DNDC model. Data are currently available for the years 2015-2021.
The Denitrification-Decomposition (DNDC) model was used to simulate carbon and nitrogen soil dynamics as a function of the soil health management practices monitored by OpTIS (crop diversity, conservation tillage, and cover crops). As with previous releases, all data are undergoing various forms of peer review and may be updated in the future. If you see a region that is "grayed-out," that means there were insufficient data available for the DNDC model to be run.
Explore the Cropland DNDC Modeling Results
Cropland DNDC Modeling
Data are available for soil carbon ... more. |
... 2019-2020 and even more states.
We’ll be joined by Prof. Roderick Rejesus of NC State as he’ll describe how he used remote sensing data from OpTIS to study the impact of crop insurance programs on cover crop use. The Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS), a Regrow technology (https://www.regrow.ag), uses satellite data and a sophisticated algorithm to monitor conservation practices in agricultural systems, including reduced tillage and winter cover crops.
This free webinar event wouldn’t be complete without hearing from Soren Rundquist (Regrow) and Dave Gustafson (CTIC) as they review the latest OpTIS results on the adoption of cover crops across the Corn Belt and elsewhere in the US.
You can find the details here:
When: Friday, ... more. |
CONSERVATION IN ACTION TOUR BACK ON THE BUS!
In 2020 and 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic pushed our plans back for an in-person Conservation in Action Tour. But we rallied with virtual tours that blended pre-recorded and live content in conjunction with the American Society of Agronomy's Sustainable Agriculture Conference.
Check out our digital library for interviews, panel discussions and vid ... more. |
The Illinois Corn Marketing Board is deeply committed to improving nutrient efficiency through the 4Rs of nutrient stewardship - right source, right rate, right time, right place - and through participation in Keep It For The Crop By 2025, a collaborative program to promote, implement and track the rate of adoption of enhanced nutrient stewardship practices by Illinois agricultural producers. |
CTIC, with support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, hosted a half-day training for Iowa ag consultants at the Iowa Agribusiness Showcase and Conference in Des Moines on February 13, 2019.
The training drew more than 60 attendees, and covered a wide range of conservation systems geared toward Iowa farms.
"This ag consultant training and others like it that we are running around the country are designed to help ag consultants guide their farmers toward practices that can help them achieve economic and environmental goals," says project manager Mike Smith of CTIC. "We don't expect every ag consultant to become an expert in developing ... more. |
Productive soil builds the foundation for any successful cropland. The higher soil quality, the better it performs. Whether producing organic matter, cycling nutrients, filtering water or other critical functions, soil quality is a key ingredient in the Core 4 Conservation recipe for enhancing soil and water resources, improving farm profitability and working toward a brighter future.
“Soil quality is the capacity of a specific soil to function,” said Mike Hubbs, agronomist with NRCS Soil Quality Institute. “Soil quality is not the end, but a means to an end. By improving soil quality, we improve soil function, like soil productivity, and ge ... more. |
... the coating at a predictable rate, based on soil temperature.
When we minimize nitrogen loss, we maximize nitrogen available to growing plants, increasing nitrogen-use efficiency and crop yields. Smart use of nitrogen ensures viable and productive resources for years to come.
USDA provides financial assistance to producers for adopting smart nutrient management practices. The Conservation Stewardship Program, created by the 2008 Farm Bill, offers incentive payments to growers who adopt conservation-focused nutrient-management plans.
Depending on farm location, Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and other programs also provide support for these practices, including the use of slow- and controlled-release fertilizer products. To learn more about programs availabl ... more. |
Trusted advisors can help guide cover crop policy, research and training by taking the survey and earn a chance to receive one of three $100 gift cards.
WEST LAFAYETTE, IND., October 1, 2024—A new cover crop survey by the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC),USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, andAmerican Seed Trade Association (ASTA) is gathering insights on cover crops from crop consultants, seed dealers, ag retailers, conservation planners, and others who help guide farmers in their decision-making. The American SoybeanAssociation has also contributed funding to help make the sur ... more. |
Who We Are
CTIC connects people from across agriculture and the conservation community to encourage greater adoption of farming systems that are economically and environmentally sustainable. We link farms, universities, government and business in projects that explore and champion conservation agriculture.
LEARN MORE
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... NCFC's mission is to advance the business and policy interests of America's cooperatives and other farmer-owned enterprises by fulfilling its core values, which include the stewardship of natural resources.
www.ncfc.org/
American Farmland Trust (AFT)
As the nation's leading advocate for farm and ranch land conservation, American Farmland Trust (AFT) works with communities and individuals to protect the best land, plan for agriculture and keep the land healthy. The mission of AFT is to help farmers and ranchers protect their land, produce a healthier environment and build successful communities.
www.farmland.org/
Ohio No-Till Council
... more. |
CTIC's 12th annual Conservation in Action Tour will bring more than 200 conservation-minded participants to Des Moines on August 20-21, 2019 for an up-close look at conservation practices in the field. The tour's theme, Conservation at the Leading Edge, emphasizes both edge-of-field systems as well as cutting-edge practices such as prairie strips.
"CTIC's Conservation in Action Tours are always a great ... more. |
... harm without proper management, according to Phil Robertson, Michigan State University professor of soil and crop sciences, and lead author of the article, titled “Sustainable Biofuels Redux.”
Robertson and the Ecological Society of America are encouraging development of policy programs to provide incentives for ethanol producers to follow proper management and use appropriate conservation practices.
To view ESA's position statement on biofuel sustainability, visit: www.esa.org/pao/policyStatements/Statements/biofuel.php
EPA Promotes Safe Drinking Water with New Brochure
A new brochure from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) made its debut at the National FFA Convention in late October. The brochure is intended to provide access to key information on be ... more. |
... well, your chances of drinking water contamination from pesticides escalates. To protect your well, take an inventory of farming practices like pesticide mixing and container washing and disposal. Then assess the risk of contamination and make necessary changes.
How it helps
Modifications in farming operations may improve your efficiency and reduce operation or production costs.
Soil conservation practices may be necessary to divert runoff from the well area.
Planning ahead
Are necessary soil erosion practices in place?
Have you taken an inventory of the operations you complete at or near the farmstead well?
Have you properly closed and sealed all abandoned wells near the farmstead?
Your well should be uphill from any feedlots and pesticide and herbicide spraying, storage an ... more. |
The "Conservation At The Leading Edge" tour will visit farms, New Century FS, and demonstration sites August 20-21
The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) launched online registrations today for its 12th annual Conservation in Action Tour, which will explore conservation systems in central Iowa.
The program will begin the afternoon of August 20, 2019 in Des Moines, Iowa ... more. |
... encouraged to access the National Cover Crop Survey online atbit.ly/CoverCrop23. The anonymous survey typically takes 10 to 15 minutes to complete. Your insight will help guide research, communications, seed development, and more.
This is the seventh National Cover Crop Survey conducted by the USDA-NIFA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) and the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA). It is open to farmers of any crop.
"Since 2012, the National Cover Crop Survey has been extremely valuable in helping guide research priorities, direct communications and education efforts, provide data to researchers, and illustrate the effects of policy on cover crop use and adopti ... more. |
Working closely with US EPA, CTIC is taking the agency's three-day National Recreational Water Quality Workshop virtual this year. Click here for the agenda.
The workshop provides a nationwide forum for recreational water quality managers, stakeholders, researchers and public health officials at all levels to share information and ideas about implementing successful recreational water quali ... more. |
Ecocommerce assigns value to agricultural conservation practices as well as land management.
Photo courtesy of USDA-NRCS.
Ecocommerce: The Next-Generation Ecoservice Market
Today’s ecoservice markets
By Tim Gieseke
Seventy-five years ago, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) placed value on soil resources with the creation of the Soil Conserv ... more. |
2022-2023Cover Crop Survey
Click here to open the report on insights from 795 farmers representing 49 states, including commodity crop, horticulture and livestock producers. The 2022-2023 survey introduced new questions on integrating livestock into cover crop systems, as well as growing cover crops for seed and participating in soil carbon programs.
Findings in the seventh National Cover Crop Survey f ... more. |
In a 1-hour webinar available on-demand through CTIC's website, Dr. Roderick Rejesus of North Carolina State University described how he used OpTIS data to explore whether crop insurance programs discourage growers from planting cover crops.
The webinar, recorded live on April 29, is part of a six-webinar series coordinated by CTIC over the next two years. The April program also features Soren Rundquist of Regr ... more. |
Innovative Cropping Systems Incentive Program (ICS)
Established 1996
ICS is a cooperative program that strives to furnish incentives that advance cropping management systems that offer efficiencies in crop production and enhance pollution reduction performance. ICS adoption incentives include outreach, technical transfer, education, demonstration, research, cooperation, development, partnerships and financial assistance ... more. |
About 130 farmers, agency staffers, soil and water conservation district personnel, environmental and agribusiness leaders, and others gathered on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay for CTIC’s “Bringing Back the Bay” Conservation in Action Tour July 10 and 11.
The Chesapeake Bay has become the proving ground for a wide range of best management practices (BMPs) designed to protect the fragile system from excess nutrients and sedime ... more. |
Conservation In Action Tour 2009
The Conservation In Action Tour 2009 was a success! More than 80 people from 15 states joined CTIC on July 29 in Western Illinois for a one-day tour visiting three farms and three agricultural facilities. We visited with successful farmers who have mastered innovative conservation practices in their profitable operations and we learned about new to ... more. |
JUST TWO WEEKS LEFT TO REGISTER FOR CTIC CONSERVATION IN ACTION TOUR!
Seats are filling up fast for the 12th annual Conservation in Action Tour hosted by the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), which will explore conservation farming systems on farms and an innovative ag retail location in central Iowa August 20 and 21. Registration will close July 26.
"The CTIC Conservation in Action Tour provides a det ... more. |
CTIC, with funding provided by the United Soybean Board, updated its 2003 publication on conservation tillage and biotechnology. CTIC's new publication, "Facilitating Conservation Farming Practices and Enhancing Environmental Sustainability with Agricultural Biotechnology", explores the environmental benefits of conservation tillage practices, which are facilitated significantly by biotechnology crops. The publication, reviewed by a panel of experts, shows the dramatic improvements ... more. |
The Conservation In Action Tour 2009 was a success! More than 80 people from 15 states joined CTIC in Western Illinois for a one-day tour visiting three farms and three agricultural facilities. We visited with successful farmers who have mastered innovative conservation practices in their profitable operations and we learned about new tools and technologies that make conservation agriculture not only good for the ... more. |
... Crystal joined CTIC in the fall of 2014.
Sue Tull
Project Director
Sue joined CTIC in 2013. She works with multiple projects and partners and also assists CTIC staff with events, communications and administration. Sue spent most of her career in plant breeding research as a soybean technician and plant pathology lab manager. She has also worked with two Soil and Water Conservation Districts in Indiana, as a district technician and urban conservationist.
David Frabotta
Director of Communications
David is responsible for public relations, marketing, events, outreach and impact reporting for CTIC. He has worked as a business journalist for most of his career, predominantly for agriculture media brands that focus on inputs, technology and sustainability. He ... more. |
February 2021
Welcome
Hello everyone,
The takeaway from 2020 for me has been that we are stronger together than apart. Agriculture, by its necessity, impacts everyone, every day. That means we need everyone around the table to set a course to a future where everyone benefits from conservation. CTIC has been and will continue to be a community where all are welcome, but 2020 demonstrated that it takes work to ensure that everyone is invited.
I’m proud of how our team has persevered through 2020. They have engaged with new technologies, trained in critical areas, and maintained and developed new relationships through it all. Currently, we are working with many of our ... more. |
The Conservation In Action Tour 2009 was a success! More than 80 people from 15 states joined CTIC in Western Illinois for a one-day tour visiting three farms and three agricultural facilities. We visited with successful farmers who have mastered innovative conservation practices in their profitable operations and we learned about new tools and technologies that make conservation agriculture not only good for the ... more. |
CTIC promotes conservation practices by raising awareness of the benefits of conservation, providing detailed information on successful implementation of practices, and sharing perspective on the needs and real-world challenges facing farmers trying to protect soil, water and air quality as well as their economic sustainability.
Watershed Success Forums
Working with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NR ... more. |
Per the PLUS-UP Agreement between each participating Farmer and the Conservation Technology Information Center, there are terms governing the payments that will be made to the Farmer by CTIC, based on the Farmer’s enrollment of Fields into the Phosphorous Load Reduction Stimulus Program (“PLUS-UP”).
CTIC agreed to pay Farmer $100 per pound of load reductions of dissolved reactive phosphorous based on computer modeling performed by Heidelberg Uni ... more. |
... sugarcane, lettuce, muck soils and more are all part of the "Unique Story of the Everglades Agricultural Area," a tale of farmers working with the ecosystem. Over 150 participants from 20 states heard this unique story. The audience represented numerous roles in the agriculture industry, such as growers, agricultural retailers, members of the media, agricultural and conservation organization representatives, federal and state agency representatives, students and researchers.
Tour high points:
Constructed wetland known as a stormwater treatment area that helps decrease the amount of nutrients in water running off of crop fields
Best Management Practices that agricultural producers can use to keep soil and inputs on their ... more. |
... growth, even when all other nutrients are present in adequate amounts. In addition, potash plays a critical role in drought and disease resistance.
Adding to farmers’ challenges is the growing awareness of environmental issues, such as climate change and water quality. Research is underway to determine how a comprehensive set of fertilizer best management practices (BMP) and conservation best management practices may help reduce nutrient pollution and soil erosion.
To help address these issues, the 4R nutrient stewardship system was developed. This peer-reviewed set of BMPs promotes the use of the right fertilizer source at the right rate, the right time and the right place.
The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) board of directors rec ... more. |
... credits have been purchased with non-government funds, we can make PLUS-UP payments on top of other incentives like CRP, CREP or H2Ohio funds, so PLUS-UP can be an extra stimulus to protect the lake and help us pilot a program we believe has the potential to work on a landscape scale.
Structuring the payments so farmers can access them in addition to other programs that promote conservation is important to us. So is a framework that does not penalize farmers who have been leaders in conservation agriculture.
Farmers play a key role in stewarding nutrients in the Western Lake Erie Basin, and markets are evolving quickly to compensate them for the ecosystem services they provide. With funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Great Lakes Restoration Init ... more. |
... credits have been purchased with non-government funds, we can make PLUS-UP payments on top of other incentives like CRP, CREP or H2Ohio funds, so PLUS-UP can be an extra stimulus to protect the lake and help us pilot a program we believe has the potential to work on a landscape scale.
Structuring the payments so farmers can access them in addition to other programs that promote conservation is important to us. So is a framework that does not penalize farmers who have been leaders in conservation agriculture.
Farmers play a key role in stewarding nutrients in the Western Lake Erie Basin, and markets are evolving quickly to compensate them for the ecosystem services they provide. With funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Great Lakes Restoration Init ... more. |
CTIC's new publication, Facilitating Conservation Farming Practices and Enhancing Environmental Sustainability with Agricultural Biotechnology.
This publication explores the breadth of the environmental benefits of conservation tillage practices, which are facilitated significantly by biotechnology crops. Access the full document or executive summary to learn about the dramatic improvements in environmental sustainability and productivity ... more. |
Research & Technology Briefs
Unprecedented Cropland Study Confirms Conservation Practices Work On Farms in Upper Mississippi River Basin
Conservation practices installed and applied by agricultural producers on cropland are reducing sediment, nutrient and pesticide losses from farm fields, according to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. More...
Cool Farm Tool
A public release version of the Cool Farm Tool Greenhouse Gas Calculator, a new greenhouse ga ... more. |
Agricultural biotechnology delivers more than just streamlined pest management options or the promise of healthier, higher quality crops. Biotech-derived crops allow growers to adopt sustainable farming practices ranging from conservation tillage to integrated pest management. Those practices protect soil, water and air quality and allow producers to sustain our natural resources as well as our lives and lifestyles.
The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), with funding from the United Soybean Board, has produced Facilitating Conservation Farming Practices and Enhancing Environmental Sustainability with Agricultu ... more. |
Phosphorus Load-Reduction Stimulus Program:
PLUS-UP
Background
The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) is leading a new effort to pilot a phosphorus load reduction market in the Western Lake Erie Basin (Maumee, Sandusky, and Cedar-Portage watersheds, see map). Growers within the indicated watersheds are now being sought to participate in this pilot market. The “Phosphorus Load-Reduction Stimulation Program” (PLUS-UP) payments now being offered to gr ... more. |
CTIC's new publication, Facilitating Conservation Farming Practices and Enhancing Environmental Sustainability with Agricultural Biotechnology, explores the breadth of the environmental benefits of conservation tillage practices, which are facilitated significantly by biotechnology crops. Access the full document and executive summary to learn about the dramatic improvements in environmental sustainability and productivity over the past several ... more. |
CTIC's new publication, Facilitating Conservation Farming Practices and Enhancing Environmental Sustainability with Agricultural Biotechnology, explores the breadth of the environmental benefits of conservation tillage practices, which are facilitated significantly by biotechnology crops. Access the full document and executive summary to learn about the dramatic improvements in environmental sustainability and productivity over the past several ... more. |
Our members renew again and again; they realize the many important benefits, directly and indirectly, of CTIC's work.
They earn national recognition, and show the public their commitment to agricultural conservation. Many members partner on our projects, supporting CTIC with technical information and assistance.
View our current CTIC members by selecting from the tabs below.
Corporate Members Institutional Members Individual Members
Gold Corporate Member
Bayer CropScience
www.bayercropscience.com
Bayer CropScience is an innovative cropscience company in the area ... more. |
DIG DEEP INTO CONSERVATION PRACTICES ON CTIC'S CONSERVATION IN ACTION TOUR, AUG 20-21
The Conservation in Action Tour on August 20 and 21, organized by the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), will give participants a chance to dig deep into a wide range of conservation farming practices, including constructed systems such as wood chip bioreactors, saturated buffers, sediment control basins a ... more. |
Register Online
Online registration is open for CTIC's 12th annual Conservation In Action Tour, which will include a packed program of farm visits, facility tours, informative presentations and an up-close look at real-world conservation practices in central Iowa on August 20-21. The Conservation at the Leading Edge tour will begin the afternoon of Tuesday, August 20, with a keynote speaker and social reception at the beautiful World Food Prize Hall of Laureates in downtown ... more. |
WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana (April 24, 2019)—The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) welcomes its new Executive Director, Mike Komp. The role will call upon Komp's skills to build collaborative networks that help promote and champion conservation farming systems, secure funding for new programs, and—increasingly—help analyze and disseminate digital data on conservation practices.
As interest in sustainable farming ... more. |
... farmer-beekeeper pairs this spring. The project’s first year yielded valuable insight into what it takes to integrate individual best practices into a practical system for working farms and beekeeping operations. Contact Mike Smith at smith@ctic.org for more information.
National Water Quality Initiative:
CTIC is currently working with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) on a project in support of the National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI). This project is identifying successful watershed management activities that engage landowners, farmers, and the broader public to protect water quality. Insights developed through this project will inform future NRCS efforts to support local watershed initiatives with technical and financial resources.
... more. |
... Agency (EPA) Gulf of Mexico Program, and public and private partners in Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri and Ohio
The project's website, http://www.upstreamheroes.org, includes information on all three initiatives, as well as CTIC's Upstream Heroes campaign, sponsored by The Nature Conservancy and Terra Industries.
Project Participants
Local, state, and federal conservation and agriculturalagencies, farm organizations, agribusiness, agricultural producers, certified crop consultants
Activites
CTIC and a broad coalition of ag interests in the Missouri Bootheel bring workshops and field days on the latest nutrient management tools to ag producers. Programs include a corn stalk testing program free to producers.
Partners in Minnesota reached con ... more. |
... courtesy of Steve Werblow
"We have been hard at work to reach farmers in Missouri's Bootheel, in south-central and southeastern Minnesota, and in the upper Wabash River watershed, which flows from Ohio through 12 counties in Indiana," Jones says. "At a meeting in early March, I met with representatives of Bootheel Resource Conservation and Development, Inc. and experts from the University of Missouri, the Missouri Corn Growers Association, and others, to look at the latest tools and techniques in farm nutrient management. There is a lot to talk about that makes very good sense for farmers' bottom lines as well as for the environment."
Jones says similar stakeholder collaborations are under way in southern Minne ... more. |
Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) Opens Registration for Tour and 40th Anniversary Celebration in St. Louis Sept. 12-13
The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) will be celebrating its 40th anniversary and hosting its 15th annual Conservation in Action Tour in St. Louis, Missouri, September 12 & 13, 2022.
"Drawing on talent from across the U.S. and aroun ... more. |
The purpose of this Air Management Practices Assessment Tool is to guide you through a process of determining which mitigation practices are best suited to your operation and your objectives. The website is organized into four air emissions of interest: dust (particulates), odor, ammonia, and hydrogen sulfide. Within each gas or emittent, sources of emission are categorized by housing, manure storage, or land application.
... more. |
CTIC brings people together to share insight and data on agricultural conservation.
Renew Your CTIC Membership ...Or Join!
With the conservation title of the next farm bill in the works, farmers finding ways to use conservation practices to cut costs, and consumer pressure on for growers to farm sustainable, CTIC is at the leading edge of a wide rangeof hot topics. This is a perfect time for you and your company/organization to get involved.& ... more. |
... as the farmer drives. Dr. Peter Scharf is an associate professor at the University of Missouri Division of Plant Sciences. He is interested in developing and promoting methods to optimize nutrient application rates and to minimize nutrient movement to surface and ground water.
Scott Crumpecker, RC & D coordinator, speaks to area high school students on nitrogen management and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). The program encourages agricultural and forestry producers to maintain existing conservation activities and adopt additional ones on their operations.
Photo courtesy of Daily Dunklin Democrat
All sessions helped educate participants how emerging technology can pinpoint their nitrogen applications to crop needs, so less fertilizer is wasted.
Organizers als ... more. |
Ryan Heiniger Joins Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) as Executive Director
For Immediate Release
For more information, contact...
Callie North |north@ctic.org| (317) 450-9137
Steve Werblow |steve@stevewerblow.com|(541) 488-8610
WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana (November 8, 2022)—The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) welcomes ... more. |
... in agriculture, turf, construction, forestry and credit divisions, and generated sales of $23.1 billion in 2009.
A proven leader in the agricultural industry, John Deere is also taking the lead in agricultural sustainability by providing customers with technology and products that improve efficiency and productivity. In addition, Deere has advanced its stewardship efforts by supporting the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) for nearly three decades.
Company stewardship
John Mann, John Deere customer segment manager, says stewardship is always on the minds of the company leadership.
“Certainly, our products are being produced in an environmentally responsible manner,” Mann says. “And, we are trying to produce products that are sustainable, ... more. |
DIG DEEP INTO CONSERVATION PRACTICES ON CTIC'S CONSERVATION IN ACTION TOUR, AUG 20-21
The Conservation in Action Tour on August 20 and 21, organized by the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), will give participants a chance to dig deep into a wide range of conservation farming practices, including constructed systems such as wood chip bioreactors, saturated buffers, sediment control basins a ... more. |
... of Mexico. Control structures with movable weirs, or "stop logs," allow growers to hold water in their soil or release it depending on the needs of their crop, their fieldwork schedule and the environment.
"The first step was to drain the land so it was farmable," notes Don Pitts, state water and air quality specialist with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Champaign, Ill. "Now it's time to manage that drainage."
Pitts points out that most tile systems are designed to drain water as quickly as possible, combining tile line diameter, depth and spacing to achieve a drainage coefficient of 3/8 inch or more — the ability to remove 3/8 of an inch or more from the soil in a 24-hour period. That's imp ... more. |
The Hula Family of Renwood Farms, winners of multiple National Corn Yield Contests, proves that profitability and conservation go hand in hand.
See their operation up close on CTIC's Conservation In Action Tour 2010.
Photo courtesy of Colonial SWCD
Conservation In Action Tour 2010
Register Today for August 3 Event
Sponsor CTIC's Marquee Event, the Conservation In Action Tour
Tour sponsors receive:
... more. |
CTIC Hires Catie Geib as New Soil Health Specialist in Wisconsin and Announces Cover Crop Webinar Series
WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana, September 6, 2023 –Soil health specialist Catie Geib has joined the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), a 41-year-old conservation agriculture non-profit, to provide technical support to Wisconsin farmers under the Farmers for Soil Health (FSH) program.
The Farmers for Soil Health program provides payments for new and existing cover crop users. CTIC will provide technical assistance to farmers participating in FSH in Wisconsin, Minnesota and South Dakota, a ... more. |
Registration has opened for the 2013 Conservation In Action Tour! Join us on July 9 and 10 in Livingston, Ill., as we explore innovative conservation practices in and around the Indian Creek watershed. Celebrating the theme of Community 4 Conservation, this year's tour will bring together agriculture leaders from all over the country – including farmers, crop advisors, regulators and lawmakers – to learn and share conservation pr ... more. |
JUST ONE WEEK LEFT TO REGISTER FOR CTIC CONSERVATION IN ACTION TOUR!
Time is running out and seats are filling up quickly for the Conservation in Action Tour hosted by the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), which will be held in central Iowa August 20 and 21. Registration for the event closes in just one week, at midnight on July 26.
The tour includes farm visits, a tour of a cutting-edge ag retail operatio ... more. |
Come witness Conservation in Action this summer during CTIC's annual conservation agriculture tour.
The Conservation In Action Tour 2008 is a day-long tour of profitable, innovative farms that demonstrate conservation that works – for the farm, for the community and for our future. This CTIC member event will be July 17, 2008, in Central Indiana.
Leaders in agriculture from Indiana, the Midwest ... more. |
... prove to be a useful, innovative, market-based approach to bolstering farm income while improving water quality. This voluntary tool connects industrial and municipal facilities with agricultural producers to economically achieve water
quality improvements.
This concept is beginning to take hold in areas across the country. How does it work?
Generally, farmers implement conservation practices and sell the amount of nutrients or sediment reduced. Facilities, like wastewater treatment plants, buy the reductions to help meet their regulatory requirements. Often, these facilities find that it is less expensive to pay producers to implement conservation practices than it is to expand the facility or install new treatment technologies. Through water quality trading, producers, reg ... more. |
... significantly to the amount of paperwork regulators now need to review, requiring CAFO operators to include their nutrient management plans in their permit applications won’t make much of a practical difference on the producer level, Wiedeman adds. The 2003 rule required CAFO operators to draft plans, so the workload remains the same for producers.
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, scientists from Purdue University and EPA worked closely together to fold EPA’s nutrient management plan template into Manure Management Planner software, which should streamline the process of developing an acceptable nutrient management plan.
Some operators express concern about the clause in the new rule that ensures that the process must “provide the public wi ... more. |
For four decades, CTIC has brought a remarkable range of people to the table to talk about conservation agriculture. Nowhere else is there such a great opportunity to meet policy makers, agribusiness leaders, farmers, researchers, conservation specialists, crop consultants and others...all drawn together by a mutual interest in conservation technologies that are better for farmers and better for the environment.
CTIC is a membership organization, which means your membership&md ... more. |
... watersheds signed up
5,000 acres enrolled in PLUS-UP
Bayer Carbon Program underwrites DRP credits
Participating farmers are sharing field data from the 2021 cropping season and the winter of 2021-2022 with the National Center for Water Quality Research at Heidelberg University. The Heidelberg team will use those details to calculate the effect of each farmer's conservation practices on dissolved reactive phosphorus loading in the watershed. Farmers will be paid according to the amount of DRP their conservation practices retained on their land.
For our inaugural year, we chose to focus on cover cropping and no-till. We also encourage farmers to apply the 4Rs of Nutrient Stewardship—the right source, right rate, right time and right place—whi ... more. |
About the Project
Through a collaborative agreement with the US EPA, CTIC will provide leadership and technical support to successfully plan, organize, coordinate, evaluate and share information from five workshops held between 2015 and 2020.
These workshops will provide attendees the foundation to target, design, and implement conservation practices for their clients. Practices covered will include in-field nutrient management, drainage water management systems, bioreactors, saturated buffers and more. CTIC will host specific practice summaries and other materials that will help this project’s target audience.
In addition to the US EPA’s assistance, the following partners ensure that these workshops provide value to ... more. |
... CTIC will design the workshops with the following groups in mind:
- Agricultural retailers
- Certified Crop Advisors (CCAs)
- Land Improvement Contractors of America (LICA)
- Members of Agricultural Drainage Management Coalition (ADMC)
- National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants (NAICC)
- NRCS Technical Service Providers (TSPs)
- Soil and Water Conservation District staff and engineers
Through a collaborative agreement with the US EPA, CTIC will provide leadership and technical support to successfully plan, organize, coordinate, evaluate and share information from five workshops held between 2015 and 2020.
These workshops will provide attendees the foundation to target, design, and implement conservation practices for t ... more. |
Two Hundred Visited Northwest Ohio Farms
Mark Scarpitti, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, left, demonstrates how no-till soil (in container on right) absorbs water while heavily tilled soil erodes quickly under water. This absorption capability protects no-till ground from erosion. CTIC photo.
More than 200 farmers, government officials, agribusiness, university and non-profit organization representatives toured Northwest Ohio on Aug. 9, 2011, to see agricultural ... more. |
Early registration for the 2023 Conservation in Action Tour is ending soon!
Don't miss your chance to get the early registration rate for the16th annual Conservation in Action Tour in Frankenmuth, Michigan, July 10-11, 2023!
This year’s tour theme, Experiencing Conservation in Supply Chains, will help connect the circle from farmer to consumer. At this year’s event, farmers, input suppliers, c ... more. |
The Conservation In Action Tour keeps growing! On May 31, 2012, nearly 250 participants gathered in the Mississippi Delta to meet and learn from farmers who face unique challenges in water quality, herbicide resistance and wildlife management. The Tour, organized by CTIC and partner Delta F.A.R.M., highlighted innovative conservation practices that producers and partners implement to protect and preserve one of t ... more. |
What a year! CTIC members and staff spent 2014 spreading the conservation message—and demonstrating the benefits of conservation practices—from the banks of Indian Creek to the edge of the Everglades to the halls of Congress. Every step of the way, we forged partnerships across agriculture to put conservation into action.
Here are some highlights:
• The first-ever CTIC Dialogues briefed Washington, DC, staffers on how go ... more. |
... the processes and results of the pilot to figure out how to best scale up the program. And we are exploring the possibilities of expanding PLUS-UP so the next number we report to you will be a lot greater than 400 pounds.
Thank you for your interest in PLUS-UP. I hope to see you in Maumee at the August 23 workshop.
Hans Kok, PhD, CCA
Senior Project Director
Conservation Technology Information Center
4R Nutrient Stewardship Training Workshop
Tuesday, August 23
The Andersons
1947 Briarfield Blvd.
Maumee, OH
8:00 am to 2:00 pm
Join us for a free nutrient stewardship training workshop that will include presentations from:
Dr. Laura Johnson and Judy Smith of the National Water Qual ... more. |
... nutrient regimen
Right Time
Make nutrients available when crops need them
Time the application
Consider controlled release technologies and inhibitors
Choose fertilizer product
Right Place
Keep nutrients where crops can use them
Choose application method
Incorporate fertilizer
Use buffer strips
Use conservation tillage
Implement cover crop systems
Right Rate
Match amount of fertilizer to crop needs
Test soils
Yield goal analysis
Crop removal balance
Nutrient management planning
Plant tissue analysis
Record keeping
Variable rate technology
Site-specific management
Sponsors
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The global population is estimated to exceed 9 billion people by 2050, placing unprecedented pressure on American farmers to grow even more of the crops that clothe, fuel and feed the world. One way to help alleviate this pressure is to significantly improvesoil healthon cropland.
By adopting practices like planting winter cover crops and reducing—or better yet eliminating—tillage practices, ... more. |
... the application
+ Consider controlled release technologies and inhibitors
+ Choose fertilizer product
Right Place
Keep nutrients where crops can use them
+ Choose application method
+ Incorporate fertilizer
+ Use buffer strips
+ Use conservation tillage
+ Implement cover crop systems
Right Rate
Match amount of fertilizer to crop needs
+ Test soils
+ Yield goal analysis
+ Crop removal balance
+ Nutrient management planning
+ Plant tissue analysis
... more. |
Rye cover crop seeded into corn residue.
Photo courtesy of USDA
Cover Crops Work with Various Crop Production Systems
By Jason Johnson
According to a panel of Iowa farmers, agronomists and soil conservationists, cover crops such as rye, wheat and clover are environmentally beneficial and with proper management won’t inhibit yields on various crop production systems, including no-till and organic farming.
At a recent Cover Crops Workshop in Jefferson, Iowa, dozens gathered to discuss and learn more about the many benefits and varieties of cover crops, and ways to successfully plant and ma ... more. |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, contact:
Dave Gustafson, (314) 409-7123; gustafson@ctic.org
Steve Werblow, (541) 488-8610; steve@stevewerblow.com
CTIC to Lead Development of the CSA Connector for a New USDA Climate Smart Partnership Program
WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana (September 22, 2022) — The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), in partnership with The Nature Conservancy and Houston Engineering, will lead development of a new online tool, the Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) Connector, as a key element of a new project selected last week for funding by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Partnerships for Climate Smart Commodities program.
The overall project ... more. |
WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana (September 22, 2022) — The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), in partnership with The Nature Conservancy and Houston Engineering, will lead development of a new online tool, the Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) Connector, as a key element of a new project selected last week for funding by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Partnerships for Climate Smart Commodities program.
The overall project ... more. |
2020 National Recreational Water Quality Workshop
This 3.5 day workshop open to the public will focus on two common challenges in recreational waters. April 21-24, 2020
Read More
The Conservation Technology Information Center
The Conservation Technology Information Center promotes, supports and provides information on conservation technologies & sustainable agricultural systems.
Read More
Latest Project from CTIC
Data are available free from the Operational Tillage Information System—OpTIS—which analyzes remote sensing data to monitor conservation pra ... more. |
Don't forget to register for the 2018 Conservation In Action Tour!
We’d love for you to join us on the Eastern Shore of Maryland on July 10 and 11 for our 11thannual Conservation in Action Tour. For more than a decade, we’ve been bringing together people from across the country with different perspectives on conservation agriculture for a front row view of the latest and best management practices. This year’s theme, &ldqu ... more. |
2018 Conservation in Action Tour dates and location
Mark your calendars! We are thrilled to announce that our 11thannual Conservation in Action Tour will take place on July 11 and 12 near the beautiful Chesapeake Bay in the Maryland and Washington D.C. area. More information will be announced as it is finalized in the coming months. We’re excited to continue bringing together people from across ... more. |
Have you checked your mailbox for CTIC’s annual membership renewal notice? Renewing your membership helps us continue to make a difference in conservation agriculture and helps us continue to grow our organization. CTIC members play a critical role in spreading the message about how conservation practices can help improve soil and water quality, boost profitability and more. We couldn’t do it without you!
As a CTIC member, you:
Network with leaders in conservation and agriculture
Collaborate on projects that enc ... more. |
The Conservation In Action Tour 2008, July 17, 2008, was held in central Indiana, making five stops at locations leading agriculture in their conservaiton efforts.
Date and Location Set for 2009 Conservation in Action Tour
By Rachel Doctor
The 2008 Conservation in Action Tour was a great success. Nearly 100 members and par ... more. |
A fact sheet written by U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) research ecologist Clint Otto used data from the Bee Integrated program, led by the Honey Bee Health Coalition and implemented by CTIC, to help detail which flower species are preferred by bees in the Prairie Pothole region.
According to data from 244 sites in Minnesota and the Dakotas studied over five years, the top draws for both honey bees and native ... more. |
CTIC has partnered with the Honey Bee Health Coalition on its Bee Integrated Demonstration Project. This project brings together beekeepers and producers to show how a suite of best practices can be implemented together in agricultural landscapes to support honey bee health. This innovative strategy provides a blueprint for supporting pollinator health across North America.
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Weed & Pest Management (IPM) Facts
What is it?
It's a comprehensive approach to fine tuning on-farm management of harmful weeds and pests. Today we have improved methods for control of weeds, insects and diseases. Management strategies that allow for better control, with minimum risk to the environment. Resistant plants, cultural controls, soil amendments, beneficial insects, natural enemies, barriers, ... more. |
Installing practices such as dikes in existing wetlands to manage water levels and improve habitat.
How it works
Most wetland enhancement work includes small structures built to add water or regulate water levels in an existing wetland. Subsurface and surface drains and tiles are plugged. Concre ... more. |
The Upper Wabash Nutrient Management Coalition is working with the Grand Lake/Wabash Watershed Alliance (GLWWA) to collect data on swine manure nutrient content.
The GLWWA’s watershed action plan, endorsed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, includes objectives related to agriculture. Many focus on reducing nutrient loading to streams. Nutrient loads can be reduc ... more. |
The CTIC Conservation in Action Tour is getting back on the bus! Join us in St. Louis, Mo., September 12 and 13 for a celebration of CTIC's 40th Anniversary and our 15th Conservation in Action Tour.
Two action-packed days will include an up-close look at conservation systems in action, the latest in ag tech, and an exploration of the past, present and future of conservation agriculture.
... more. |
Bayer CropScience, The Mosaic Company, Syngenta and the Conservation Infrastructure Initiative co-led by the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance (IAWA) and Iowa’s Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) have signed on as a Diamond-level sponsors of the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) Conservation in Action Tour. The tour, which will be held August 20 and 21 in Des Moines, Iowa, is CTIC's 12th annual program of its type.
&n ... more. |
Don't forget to register AND book your hotel room for the 2018 Conservation In Action Tour!
Join us on the Eastern Shore of Maryland on July 10 and 11 for our 11thannual Conservation in Action Tour. For more than a decade, we’ve been bringing together people from across the country with different perspectives on conservation agriculture for a front row view of the latest and best management practices. This year’s theme, “Bringing Back the Bay: Pa ... more. |
Schroeder planted corn into soybean residue without disturbing the soil. No-till helps reduce erosion, saves time and money, and improves water and soil quality.
Photo courtesy of Jason Johnson
More Acres Can Also Mean More Conservation
By Jason Johnson
As the number of Iowa farmers decreases and the average farm size increases, that can mean more conservation on the ground – especially when it’s farmed by environmental stewards like Paul “Butch” Schroeder of Coon Rapids.
Paul “Butch” Schroeder farms with his brother, David, in four west central Iowa counties: Carroll, ... more. |
Conservation Technology Information Center's Conservation in Action Tour
Join us on an unforgettable tour of South Dakota in 2025! Stay tuned for the official dates and details. Interested in sponsoring? Contact Ryan Heiniger at heiniger@ctic.org
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Membership Drive: Reach new horizons with CTIC
In 2022, the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) celebrated 40 years of Conservation in Action. That's four decades of bringing a wide range of people to the table to advance conservation agriculture...from our early projects promoting no-till to our current programs that help farmers, conservationists, agribusiness professionals, academics and policymakers protect soil health, water quality and the atmo ... more. |
At CTIC, we're always eager to share news about conservation with our thousands of contacts across U.S. agriculture. After all, it's part of our mission to Connect, Inform and Champion.
If you've got data or insight about conservation farming systems that should be shared through our clearinghouse of information, please let us know. We can include it in our new, easy-to-search website or weave it into our other communications programs. ... more. |
Working with Partnerships
The Mosaic Company and The Mosaic Company Foundation invest in partnerships with best-in-class organizations to promote many aspects of conservation, including nutrient stewardship, habitat conservation and watershed restoration.
For example, The Mosaic Company Foundation supports The Nature Conservancy’sGreat Rivers Partnershipthrough science-based work with farmers and partners to improve water quality in three key agricultural watersheds in the Upper Mississippi River Basin – Minnesota’ ... more. |
Participants found out how agriculture protects water quality and improves soil health during
the Conservation In Action Tour 2010.
WHEN: August 2-3, 2010
WHERE: Williamsburg, Virginia
WHAT: Visited farms and farmers in east central Virginia who run profitable operations and provide communities with valuable ecosystem services.
Fill out an Evaluation Form from the Conservation In Action Tour 2010.
View photos from the Tour.
... more. |
... fertilizer bills have tempered some of the enthusiasm over unprecedented commodity prices. It seems like the perfect storm to push a no-till agenda – the chance to slash diesel consumption when fuel prices are at unheard-of levels. Then Paul Jasa, extension agricultural engineer at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Neb., and long-time proponent of no-till, points out that the push for conservation really needs to return to the very basics.
“Everybody's shocked about fuel and fertilizer prices on an individual basis when they see the bills come in,” he notes. “But on a ratio basis, nitrogen is cheap. Diesel is cheap. If you look at how many bushels you can grow on a 50-cent pound of nitrogen, you're making roughly the same as when anhydrous was 20 cents ... more. |
Questions and Answers
What is Core 4 Conservation?
It's a common-sense approach to improving farm profitability while addressing environmental concerns. It’s adaptable to virtually any farming situation and can be tailored to meet a farmer’s specific needs.
Better soil
Sustainable soils that increase long-term productivity result from increased organic matter, improved soil moisture, reduced compaction, sequestered ca ... more. |
Conservation Buffers
Conservation buffers are small areas or strips of land in permanent vegetation, designed to slow water runoff, provide shelter and stabilize riparian areas. Strategically placed buffer strips in the agricultural landscape can effectively mitigate the movement of sediment, nutrients, and pesticides within farm fields and from farm fields.
Buffers include: contour buffer strips, field ... more. |
DEADLINE EXTENDED: ONE MORE WEEK TO REGISTER FOR CTIC'S CONSERVATION IN ACTION TOUR!
The Conservation Technology Information Center has extended the registration deadline for its August 20-21 Conservation in Action Tour—which will showcase conservation agriculture systems in central Iowa—to Friday, August 2. The special tour room block rate at the Embassy Suites Downtown in Des Moines has also been extended until 4:00 pm CST on M ... more. |
... we are giving thanks for the good things in our lives and making plans for new accomplishments and adventures for the year ahead.
CTIC is thankful for each of our members and partners across the country. Thanks to your support, we have grown in 2008 and added to our list of successes. We welcomed 52 new members this year. We've added new member benefits this year, too, including the Conservation In Action Tour, a summer event that brought together nearly 100 members and partners to see first-hand how producers are making conservation profitable and sustainable. I hope you all will join us in 2009 for the Tour in western Illinois (see more details).
CTIC broke new ground this year, too, with new workshops and conferences on important topics for agriculture. In August, CTIC hosted ... more. |
Bayer CropScience, The Mosaic Company, Syngenta and the Conservation Infrastructure Initiative co-led by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) and the Iowa Association of Water Agencies (IAWA) have signed on as a Diamond-level sponsors of the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) Conservation in Action Tour. The tour, which will be held August 20 and 21 in Des Moines, Iowa, is CTIC's 12th annual program of its type.
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Bayer CropScience, The Mosaic Company, Syngenta and the Conservation Infrastructure Initiative co-led by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) and the Iowa Association of Water Agencies (IAWA) have signed on as a Diamond-level sponsors of the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) Conservation in Action Tour. The tour, which will be held August 20 and 21 in Des Moines, Iowa, is CTIC's 12th annual program of its type.
&nb ... more. |
Participants found out how agriculture protects water quality and improves soil health during
the Conservation In Action Tour 2010.
WHEN: August 2-3, 2010
WHERE: Williamsburg, Virginia
WHAT: Visited farms and farmers in east central Virginia who run profitable operations and provide communities with valuable ecosystem services.
Fill out an Evaluation Form from the Conservation In Action Tour 2010.
View photos from the Tour.
See interviews from th ... more. |
Keep nutrients in the Right Place, where crops can use them.
The farmer uses real-time kinematic precision guidance to apply N fertilizer in fall or early spring in a closely-controlled location relative to where the seed will be sown.
Strip-till conservation systems use minimal tillage. They combine soil drying and warming benefits of conventional tillage and soil-protecting advantages of no-till by disturbing only the portion of soil that will contain the seed row.
Here we are using fall applied N with an RTK strip-till system and comparing it to a conventional chisel plow system.
A special feature at this site is the demonstration of N use ef ... more. |
2018 Conservation In Action Tour – July 10-11, Eastern Shore of Maryland
For 11 years, we've been bringing together people from across the country with different perspectives on conservation agriculture for a front row view of the latest and best management practices.
Registration is OPEN!Click hereto register.
The designated tour hotel is the Westin of Annapolis. Book your room by Jun ... more. |
Keep nutrients in the Right Place, where crops can use them.
The farmer uses real-time kinematic precision guidance to apply N fertilizer in fall or early spring in a closely-controlled location relative to where the
seed will be sown.
Strip-till conservation systems use minimal tillage. They combine soil drying and warming benefits of conventional tillage and soil-protecting advantages of no-till by disturbing only the portion of soil that will contain the seed row.
Here we are using fall applied N with an RTK strip-till system and comparing it to a conventional chisel plow system.
A special feature at this si ... more. |
This project, funded by a 2008 Conservation Innovation Grant, promotes the use of cover crops to ease farmers’ transition to use of continuous no-till. Continuous no-till (CNT) has been around long enough that there is little doubt among experts of its many advantages. Despite the proven economic and environmental benefits of CNT, some farmers remain hesitant to fully adopt the system. In 2004, the National Crop Residue Management su ... more. |
Celebrating Agriculture, Wildlife and Rural Traditions
Hosted in Conjunction with the 17th Annual CTIC Conservation In Action Tour
12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, June 10th 2024
This free, interactive, in-person event will take place at theDucks Unlimited National Headquarters, where you'll be surrounded by like-minded individuals who share your passion for conservation. Limited to 50 attendees, don't miss out on this unique opportunity to connect with fellow farmers and learn from the experts!
... more. |
Don’t miss your chance to register for the 2023 Conservation in Action Tour!
Registration for the Conservation in Action Tour in Frankenmuth, Michigan is still open. Join us next week, July 10-11th.
This year’s tour theme, Experiencing Conservation in Supply Chains, will help connect the circle from farmer to consumer.
Attendees can look forward to seeing the supply chain up close and personal, includ ... more. |
Registration Is Open for Aug 20-21 CTIC Conservation in Action Tour in Iowa
Online registration is open for CTIC's 12th annual Conservation In Action Tour, which will include a packed program of farm visits, facility tours, informative presentations and an up-close look at real-world conservation practices in central Iowa on August 20-21. The Conservation at the Leading Edge tour will begin the afternoon of Tuesday, August 20, with ... more. |
A group of agriculture and conservation stakeholders in the Pacific Northwest is working to devise strategies that will ease the transition of land protected under the Conservation Reserve Program to no-till production system.
Photo courtesy of CTIC
Conservation Reserve Program – Exit Strategies
By Russ Evans
In the rain-fed region of the inland Pacific Nort ... more. |
This page is your gateway to the inner workings of the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC). Our Board of Directors Meetings are where we discuss important strategies and decisions that influence our efforts in promoting sustainability and conservation in agriculture.
On this page, you'll find information about our past and upcoming meetings, including meeting agendas and minutes. We believe in transparency and open communication, and th ... more. |
Terry Tindall of J.R. Simplot and CTIC board chair says CTIC's tours have built a nationwide reputation over the years for providing an up-close look at conservation systems in the field, and also for creating opportunities for outstanding networking.
“I am very pleased with how the plans have come together for the CTIC 2019 Conservation in Action Tour," Tindall says. "These tours balance local conservation practices with a national message of doing better. Those attending will realize that these tours are the best in North ... more. |
We’re excited to continue supporting conservation agriculture in 2018 with your help. Here is what we are looking forward to (so far):
Launching a brand new website and a modified logo. Our new website will have a sleek, fresh new look and retrieving information about conservation agriculture will be easier than ever.
Our 2018 Conservation in Action Tour will be held in the Maryland/Washington D.C. area this summer. Plans are already under ... more. |
2018 Conservation in Action Tour dates and location
Mark your calendars! We are thrilled to announce that our 11th annual Conservation in Action Tour will take place on July 11 and 12 near the beautiful Chesapeake Bay in the Maryland and Washington D.C. area. More information will be announced as it is finalized in the coming months. We're excited to continue bringing together people from across the country ... more. |
We’re excited to continue supporting conservation agriculture in 2018 with your help. Here is what we are looking forward to (so far):
Launching a brand new website and a modified logo. Our new website will have a sleek, fresh new look and retrieving information about conservation agriculture will be easier than ever.
Our 2018 Conservation in Action Tour will be held in the Maryland/Washington D.C. area this summer. Plans are already und ... more. |
CTIC celebrated its 30th anniversary on October 25, 2012, at Monsanto's facility in Creve Coeur, Mo., with a pair of panel discussions exploring the past, present and future of agricultural conservation. That evening, the organization also held a dinner banquet honoring the visionaries who created, led and supported the organization over the past three decades.
“Celebrating CTIC’s 30th anniversary is a perfect opportunity to take stock of the conservation achievements of American agriculture over the last 30 years, trace the path that the industry has taken to get ... more. |
The early discount deadline has been extended to July 14! Join CTIC for its annual Conservation In Action Tour 2011. This year’s Tour will focus on agriculture’s influence on the environmental and economic health of Maumee River and Bay, as well as Lake Erie.
WHEN: August 9, 2011
WHERE: Northwest Ohio
WHAT: The Tour will highlight producers implementing innovative conservation practices and solutions to water quality issues.
... more. |
... of that membership, as well.”
Although this level of membership entitles Mosaic to a strong benefits package, Ron says, their commitment was based on greater aspirations.
“We didn’t sign up as a Gold Corporate Member because of the benefits package,” he says. “We see value in making a stronger partnership with CTIC to tell the important story of conservation technology and practices being implemented wisely on every farm across the country. We’re involved with a progressive organization.”
Ron encourages other agricultural businesses to consider a higher level of CTIC membership.
“We need to be joining together as agricultural businesses to tell the story about ag,” he says. “We see this as a way that Mo ... more. |
... accompanying brochure. If you haven't already done so, please send in your membership renewal today, or fill out the online form and we'll send you an invoice. Then, take a minute to look at all the events CTIC has planned for 2009 and plan to get involved. With membership support and engagement, CTIC will continue to fulfill its mission.
On July 29, 2009, CTIC will host our third Conservation In Action Tour. On this one-day tour in western Illinois, we will visit farms where conservation agriculture systems are put in to action — to help protect resources and to build a profitable operation. Through conservation practices, including nutrient management plans developed by producers and their advisors, these farmers are minimizing agriculture's impact on the Mississippi River ... more. |
... opportunity to reprise this interim role. I’d also like to recognize Mike Komp for the successful term he had as our Executive Director over these past three years, during which CTIC experienced considerable growth in our reach and impact on our important mission.
I also need to say how much I am looking forward to seeing everyone at the upcoming combo 40th anniversaryand 15th Conservation in Action tour, this year in-person and in my adopted hometown of St. Louis. Although I moved back to my original home state of Washington during the pandemic (which was always my personal plan), I confess that my heart still remains with the wonderful “Gateway to the West.” I get back there quite frequently, primarily to tend to a non-profit that I launched there in 2012, the St. Lou ... more. |
October 2019
Welcome to Conservation in Action, CTIC's new e-newsletter. We'll share news about the Conservation Technology Information Center as well as stories on how our members and partners are helping farmers put conservation systems into practice.
If you've got a story you'd like to share, contact us! In the meantime, we hope you enjoy the newsletter.
A NOTE FROM OUR EXECUT ... more. |
... of Steve Werblow
Integrated Manure Management: Good Neighbors, Good Business
by Steve Werblow
There aren’t many 15,000-head hog operations that open their doors to neighbors for an annual open house. But Meadowlane Farm of Frankfort, Ind., has built a national reputation for its manure management and conservation ethic. Now it’s taken its manure management on the road, custom-applying manure for neighbors through a homemade injector attached to a hose nearly two miles long.
Manure management starts with feed and water and ends after the nutrients are added to the soil, says Mike Beard, who owns Meadowlane Farm with his son Dave, son-in-law Chris, and two stepbrothers. Together they ... more. |
The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) is launching a search for a new executive director as Mike Komp, who led the organization for the past three years, moves on to a new opportunity.
"CTIC has strengthened its capabilities under Mike's leadership, and we wish him great success in his new endeavors as we take on the next stage of the organization's growth," says Mar ... more. |
Location
Dayton, VA
Documents
Conservation Buff: Conservation Practices Positively Impact Bottom Line, Delmarva Farmer, May 16, 2017
Videos
Images
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A recorded one-hour webinar on using CTIC data to analyze trends in conservation farming practices across the Corn Belt is available on CTIC's website. The video, recorded as a live webinar last October, includes a discussion of the use of Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS) data through the De-Nitrification/De-Composition (DNDC) model, as well as presentations by three users of the data:
Ward Smith, Senior Physical Scientist, A ... more. |
Drawing on deep technical expertise as well as organizational experience, CTIC has planned and facilitated meetings, workshops and trainings around the world. CTIC works closely with federal and state agencies, conservation districts, and non-profits to ensure effective two-way communication. Current training programs include technical workshops for EPA staff and partners as well as sessions for crop consultants and other farm advisors.
NARS Technical Training Workshops
Working with US EPA on its National Aquatic Resource Survey (NARS) program, CTIC provides leadership and technical support for State and Triba ... more. |
Cover crops are among the most exciting and most complex conservation systems on today's agricultural landscape. CTIC and its partners have been at the forefront of exploring, demonstrating, and promoting cover crops to help make them as effective as possible.
Bee Integrated Demonstration Project
CTIC is supporting this Honey Bee Health Coalition led effort to bring together beekeepers and farmers to demonstrate how a suite of best practices can be implem ... more. |
"Conservation in Action" Tours
View album
Demonstration Projects
View album
Conservation Practices
View album
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... or early spring in a closely-controlled location relative to... Read more.
SUPERU
SUPERU®, a urea based product, contains urease and denitrification inhibitors within the fertilizer granule.
Koch Agronomic Services created SUPERU® to increase crops’ nitrogen uptake and efficiency.... Read more.
Webinar: Engaging Non-operator Landowners in Conservation
PowerPoint slides from Jamie Ridgely, chief operating officer of Agren, Inc. and presenter of Aug. 29 WIIN webinar on "Engaging Non-operator Landowners in Conservation." Read more.
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The National Aquatic Resource Surveys (NARS) are collaborative programs between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), states and tribes that assess the quality of the nation's inland and coastal waters, providing vital data that can help guide conservation efforts on the landscape.
CTIC works with EPA and its partners on technical training to carry out NARS assessments, and to promote conservation systems that help protect and improve water quality.
Through articles, videos and other media, we hope to inform farmers and landowners about water quality issues, inspire them to adopt practices that help address those challenges, and show their ne ... more. |
The Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS) has been developed by Applied GeoSolutions (AGS) and the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) as a method for the automated use of remote sensing (satellite-based) data to monitor conservation practices in agricultural systems, including various forms of reduced tillage and the planting of winter cover crops. While the OpTIS calculations are performed and validated at the farm-field scale, the privacy of individual producers is fully protected by distr ... more. |
Information Collection and Use
The Conservation Technology Information Center (herein referred to as “CTIC”) is the sole owner of the information collected on this site. We will not sell, share, or rent this information to others in ways different from what is disclosed in this statement. CTIC collects information from our visitors at several different points on our web site.
Trademarks
CTIC and the CTIC logo are trademarks o ... more. |
Terry and Troy Lenssen of Lenssen Dairy in Lynden, Washington, safeguard water quality in a variety of ways, including:
The Application Risk Management tool from Whatcom Conservation District, which puts their information through an algorithm to determine the risk of a manure application during the wet winter or early spring.
Risk analysis, conducted with their local conservation district.
“Relay cropping,” 30 to 50 pounds of Italian ryegrass or cereal rye blown on when they cultivate corn. By the time the silage is cut, a lush grass stand is in place to seq ... more. |
The Indian Creek Watershed Project demonstrated the power of voluntary conservation practices to impact local water quality. Hear local farmers explain how their community banded together to put conservation systems into action.
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Biotech crops have reduced the risks and challenges of switching to conservation tillage or no-till practices. Since glyphosate-tolerant crops were introduced in 1996, acreage of no-till full-season soybeans in the U.S. has increased by nearly 70%.
Click here to see the data.
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... amount of sediment, nutrients and chemicals running off farmland.
Protects areas such as dams, terrace backslopes or gullied areas when vegetation may be difficult to establish.
Vegetation can be planted to provide small areas of nesting cover for birds and small animals.
Planning ahead
Will protection provided by the critical area planting be adequate?
Are proper soil conservation practices installed above the planting area?
Will you want to provide wildlife cover?
Can the area be stabilized with conservation methods?
Tech notes
Protect the area from erosion with annual grasses until permanent cover is established.
Apply lime and fertilizer, if needed, in the top three inches of the soil before planting.
Use proper rates and recommended seedin ... more. |
Privacy Policy & Terms of Use
Information Collection and Use
The Conservation Technology Information Center (herein referred to as “CTIC”) is the sole owner of the information collected on this site. We will not sell, share, or rent this information to others in ways different from what is disclosed in this statement. CTIC collects information from our visitors at several different points on our web site.
Trademarks
CTIC and the CTIC logo are trademarks ... more. |
Adoption of Climate-Smart Ag Practices
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The team at the National Center for Water Quality Research at Heidelberg University is using the Nutrient Tracking Tool, or NTT, to model the effects of conservation practices on dissolved reactive phosphorus on each field enrolled in PLUS-UP. Developed by the Texas Institute for Applied Environmental Research at Tarleton State University, NTT is a powerful tool for estimating the nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment losses from cropland and pasture.
NTT is available online and draws on a comprehensive soil database, making it extremely accurate on ... more. |
Click on any of the links below for full video coverage of each of the presentations in the two-day program.
There's More Where That Came From: The Need for Conservation
Mike Taylor, Farmer, Helena, Arkansas
Selecting the Right Practices
John Lee, USDA NRCS National Water Management Center, Little Rock, Arkansas
Resources for Technical Support
Keith Scoggins, USDA NRCS District Conservationist, Wynne, Arkansas
Selecting A Contractor
Keith Scoggins, USDA NRCS District Conservationist, Wynne, Arkansas
... more. |
... you to the nearly 2,000 farmers who have already responded to the 2020 SARE/CTIC/ASTA Cover Crop Survey. The survey will close on Monday, April 13th. We plan post a report describing results at www.ctic.org by early July.
If you haven't already, please share your insight on cover crops, atbit.ly/CCSurvey2020. Your answers on previous surveys have helped scientists, conservation farming partners, crop consultants, policymakers and others understand how cover crops are used and perceived in the field.
In fact, these survey reports have even been cited in Congressional testimony.
By participating in this year’s survey, you will be helping us stay up to date on cover crop issues and practices, and may allow us to spot trends in cover cr ... more. |
CTIC Projects « Data on Conservation Practices « OpTIS
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... nutrient regimen
Right Time
Make nutrients available when crops need them
+ Time the application
+ Consider controlled release technologies and inhibitors
+ Choose fertilizer product
Right Place
Keep nutrients where crops can use them
+ Choose application method
+ Incorporate fertilizer
+ Use buffer strips
+ Use conservation tillage
+ Implement cover crop systems
Right Rate
Match amount of fertilizer to crop needs
+ Test soils
+ Yield goal analysis
+ Crop removal balance
+ Nutrient management planning
+ Plant tissue analysis
+ Record keeping
+ Variable rate technology
+ Site-specific management
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... nutrient regimen
Right Time
Make nutrients available when crops need them
Time the application
Consider controlled release technologies and inhibitors
Choose fertilizer product
Right Place
Keep nutrients where crops can use them
Choose application method
Incorporate fertilizer
Use buffer strips
Use conservation tillage
Implement cover crop systems
Right Rate
Match amount of fertilizer to crop needs
Test soils
Yield goal analysis
Crop removal balance
Nutrient management planning
Plant tissue analysis
Record keeping
Variable rate technology
Site-specific management
Sponsors
& ... more. |
... nutrient regimen
Right Time
Make nutrients available when crops need them
Time the application
Consider controlled release technologies and inhibitors
Choose fertilizer product
Right Place
Keep nutrients where crops can use them
Choose application method
Incorporate fertilizer
Use buffer strips
Use conservation tillage
Implement cover crop systems
Right Rate
Match amount of fertilizer to crop needs
Test soils
Yield goal analysis
Crop removal balance
Nutrient management planning
Plant tissue analysis
Record keeping
Variable rate technology
Site-specific management
Sponsor
|
CTIC Projects « Data on Conservation Practices « CRM
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... identification method used is new and developed partially through this project’s support. These pollen ID results are on track to be delivered later this spring and are expected to provide the greatest indicator of our success providing cost-effective on-farm pollinator habitat.
National Water Quality Initiative:
CTIC is currently working with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) on a project in support of the National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI). This project is identifying successful watershed management activities that engage landowners, farmers, and the broader public to protect water quality. Insights developed through this project will inform future NRCS efforts to support local watershed initiatives with technical and financial resources.
... more. |
... method used is new and developed partially through this project's support. These pollen ID results are on track to be delivered later this spring and are expexted to provide the greatest indicator of our success providing cost-effective on-farm pollinator habitat.
National Water Quality Initiative:
CTIC is currently working with USDA's Natural Recources Conservation Service (NRCS) on a project in support of the National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI). This project is identifying successful watershed management activities that engage landowners, farmers, and the broader public to protect water quality. Insights developed through this project will inform future NRCS efforts to support local watershed initiatives with technical and financial resources.
... more. |
Join us for an up-close look at innovative conservation practices on a wide range of crops and farms in Idaho's Treasure Valley, August 23-24. Seats go fast for these great programs - register now!
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Illinois EPA and other partners will conduct water quality monitoring in the watershed to document and determine if conservation practices are making a difference.
This project funded in part by IL EPA through Section 319 of the Clean Water Act. |
... Time the application
+ Consider controlled release technologies and inhibitors
+ Choose fertilizer product
Right Place
Keep nutrients where crops can use them
+ Choose application method
+ Incorporate fertilizer
+ Use buffer strips
+ Use conservation tillage
+ Implement cover crop systems
Right Rate
Match amount of fertilizer to crop needs
+ Test soils
+ Yield goal analysis
+ Crop removal balance
+ Nutrient management planning
+ Plant tissue analysis
+ Record keeping ... more. |
... Producer Involvement in Watershed Projects: Lessons from Indian Creek,” will be held from 1:00 to 2:00 pm Central Standard Time.
The webinar is the first in a series by the Great Rivers & Upstream Heroes Watershed Implementation & Innovation Network (WIIN), a new forum for idea exchange about watershed projects in the Mississippi River Basin. WIIN is organized by the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) and The Nature Conservancy Great Rivers Project, with funding from The Mosaic Company, the McKnight Foundation and Monsanto.
“There are so many creative projects going on all over the Mississippi River Basin, but it’s easy for watershed project managers to feel isolated or anxious to compare notes with colleagues in other areas,” notes ... more. |
The Living Landscape
An interactive computer game that takes learners of all ages through various best management and conservation practices to turn a rundown farm and landscape into an environmental showplace! Point and click on various areas of the farm to answer related multiple choice questions. With each correct answer the farm scape changes to show the improvement made (complete with sound effects!). Once you make it through the set of questions correctly, the farm is set in motion with animation. A learning tool that& ... more. |
CTIC has relocated to a new home on Facebook. The new address is sleeker and more manageable in order to give us the ability to better utilize Facebook and Twitter for conservation news, tour schedules, and special announcements.
With the reach and scope of social networking sites, CTIC has the opportunity to reach more people and provide additional information, support, and help for our current members and friends. In the past few years, social networking has become much more than just reconnecting with old acquaintances. Websites like Facebook and Twitter o ... more. |
... and store it until it can infiltrate into the ground or be released through a stable outlet. Gradient terraces are designed as a channel to slow runoff water and carry it to a stable outlet like a grassed waterway.
How it helps
Both water quality and soil quality are improved.
Terraces with grass on front or backslopes can provide nesting habitat.
Planning ahead
Will other conservation practices be used in conjunction with terraces to prevent sedimentation?
Tech notes
Chisel the parts of the terrace that will be farmed to loosen compacted soil.
Fertilize and seed according to NRCS recommendations.
Grassed backslope terraces have a farmable frontslope with a 2:1 backslope (2 foot horizontal to every 1 foot of vertical drop.)
Narrow base terraces have 2:1 slopes on ... more. |
... to stabilize the waterway outlet, preventing gully erosion.
Grassed, non-eroding waterways made possible with a grade control structure give better water quality, can be crossed with equipment, and
look better than non-stabilized gullies.
If it is planned to store water, a grade control structure may provide a water source and habitat for wildlife.
Planning ahead
Are adequate conservation practices installed above the structure to prevent sedimentation?
Is the planned location in the proper place to achieve the level of control you want?
Tech notes
Ask NRCS for design and construction specifications.
Obtain any necessary easements or permits.
Remove all trees and shrubs within 30 feet of the structure. *
Clear debris approximately 50 feet downstream from the spillw ... more. |
News Source: Focus on Nutrient Management (PDF, 764 KB)
38 Nutrient Management Initiative Sites Established in 2009
Soil Fertility Research Program Approved by Legislature
Mining Soil Fertility Can Be Costly!
How do I Determine My Nitrogen Rate?
Nutrient Management and USDA-NRCS Conservation Programs
Fall Nitrogen Best Management Practices and Soil Temperature Network Pilot Proj
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... is the focus of much attention-nationally as well as locally-because farming activities have been linked to the Gulf of Mexico Hypoxic Zone. Not many people understand the complex problem of the hypoxic zone, and individual farmers, expecially those in the upper Midwest, feel little connection to the distant Gulf of Mexico.
Project Director: Karen Scanlon
Email: scanlon@conservationinformation.org
Telephone: 765-494-2238
Funded By
Project Period
Project Partners
Terra Industries, The Nature Conservancy
Project Description
Solutions to both challenges listed above can be realized through proper nutrient management on farming operations. With sound management practices, producers use the right fertilizer p ... more. |
We live our values by making sustainability goals part of everything we do throughout the soybean lifecycle - from soil to seed to marketplace. Our environmental stewardship programs encourage reduced tillage as well as other tactics to improve energy efficiency, water conservation, water and air quality, and a variety of best management practices. |
40 YEARS OF CONSERVATION IN ACTION
In 2022, the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) is celebrating 40 years of Conservation in Action. That's four decades of bringing a wide range of people to the table to explore conservation farming systems from nearly every angle. Forty years of growth and expansion...from our early projects promoting no-till to our current programs that help farmers, conservati ... more. |
WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana (April 24, 2019)—The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) welcomes its new Executive Director, Mike Komp. The role will call upon Komp's skills to build collaborative networks that help promote and champion conservation farming systems, secure funding for new programs, and—increasingly—help analyze and disseminate digital data on conservation practices.
As interest in sustainable farming ... more. |
Join us at the basic membership level that fits you best – Individual, Institutional or Corporate. For additional benefits and recognition, increase your contribution. Each level includes additionalbenefits through Gold, Silver and Bronze.
All CTIC members benefit from:
One-year subscription to Conservation Partners and Member Mail e-newsletters
Free access to higher-resolution data from the OpTIS Operational Tillage Information System database
Recognition on CTIC’s web page
Please identify which category applies to your business to find your basic membership fee. To upgrade to medal-level membership, add the amount in the appropriate box below.
Corporate Membership Benefits
... more. |
Conservation Agriculture Carbon Offset Consultation, Oct. 28-30, 2008, West Lafayette, IN. The Conservation Agriculture Carbon Offset Consultation, sponsored by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and CTIC, was a rousing success. Three days of science, economics, brainstorming and collaboration among representatives from around the world yielded some very significant conclusions:
... more. |
Conservation Tillage Facts
What is it?
It is a system of crop production with little, if any, tillage. It increases the residue from the crop that remains
in the field after harvest through planting. This results in increased natural recycling of crop residues.
Used on 38% (109 million acres) of all U.S. cropland (293 million planted acres).
Goal is 50% (146 million acres) of ... more. |
Aquatic Resource Monitoring Technical Training Workshops for States, Tribes and Other Stakeholders
An agreement between EPA and CTIC to provideleadership and technical support to successfully plan, organize, coordinate, evaluate and share information from State and Tribal Aquatic Resource Monitoring Technical Training Workshops that will occur between 2016 to 2020.
Nationals:
National 2016:
Tampa, FL- ... more. |
The Phosphorus Load-Reduction Stimulus (PLUS-UP) Program is paying 10 growers this summer for reducing dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) loads in the Western Lake Erie Basin on 104 fields covering more than 5,300 acres. Payments average $9.12 per acre.
The program, which emphasizes the role of no-till and cover crops in reducing the off-farm movement of DRP into surface waters, is detailed in this interactive sto ... more. |
Environmental Change Initiative, June 2016
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Indiana Pilot Study
Ten years of tillage-transect data collected by the State of Indiana were used to verify the ability of OpTIS algorithms to automatically process publicly-available remote sensing data, in order to accurately characterize tillage practices and the presence of winter cover crops.
View Resource
Next Step
Building on the success of the Indiana Pilot, CTIC is now again ... more. |
Scaling Up Water Quality Efforts in Iowa
Wallaces Farmer, August 2018
Landowners Support Cover Crops
Corn and Soybean Digest, August 2018
Time Is Money
Corn and Soybean Digest, July 2018
Nitrogen Cycling and Cover Crops
Corn and Soybean Digest, June 2018
All In On Cover Crop
Corn and Soybean Digest, April 2018
Study Links Best Manage ... more. |
Ten years of tillage-transect data collected by the State of Indiana were used to verify the ability of OpTIS algorithms to automatically process publicly-available remote sensing data, in order to accurately characterize tillage practices and the presence of winter cover crops.
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WinMax is a computer program developed at Purdue University to calculate and compare economic returns on crop production.
From 1991-1998, WinMax and its earlier DOS version were used to manage data for the national Farming for Maximum Efficiency program (The MAX®) sponsored byCTICand Successful Farming magazine.
WinMax manages crop input data, calculates crop fertilizer recommendations, generates produc ... more. |
CTIC and farmer leaders will host an informative field tour on July 10, 2012 for participants interested in learning more about products, practices, equipment and technology that are both profitable and responsible. The tour, a funtion of the Indian Creek Watershed Project, will showcase Livingston County farms and field trials in Fairbury, Illinois.
&n ... more. |
Our demonstrations illustrate the 4 Rs of nutrient management:
Right Source
Right Rate
Right Place
Right Time
We demonstrate management systems-- not individual practices.
We measure practice success through agronomic yield, economic sustainability, nutrient use efficiency and water quality impacts.
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CTIC Institutional Bronze Member, the National Farmers Union, was founded in 1902 in Point, Texas, to help the family farmer address profitability issues and monopolistic practices. NFU has been working since 1902 to protect and enhance the economic well-being and quality of life for family farmers, ranchers and rural communities through advocating grassroots-driven policy positions adopted by its membership. To le ... more. |
Providing communities with the tools to research and adopt a viable solution for their waste water treatment. This workshop is designed to introduce participants to two free database management tools that can help improve wastewater management efforts in your communities.
When: October 7 and 8, 2010
Photo courtesy of NRCS
Where: Pike Bay Town Hall
&n ... more. |
Marsh-type area with saturated soils and water-loving plants.
Wetlands provide wildlife habitat and serve as natural filters for agricultural runoff.
How ... more. |
Weed & Pest Management (IPM) Benefits
Increases Profits
Inputs such as mechanical cultivation, pesticides, fertilizers and tillage costs money. By using best management practices to apply these inputs when they are actually needed, growers can reduce costs. Weed and pest management can help schedule required controls at the right time to maximize the benefits of the practice. Weed and pest management can improve th ... more. |
What's a Crop Nutrient Management plan?
A Crop Nutrient Management plan is a tool to increase the efficiency of all the nutrient sources your crop uses while reducing production and environmental risk, ultimately, increasing profit.
10 KEY COMPONENTS
Ag experts agree that there are ten fundamental components of a Crop Nutrient Management Plan. Each component is critical to helping you anal ... more. |
Top 10 Management Tips
10.
Soil Management: Providing sufficient amounts of crop residue on the soil surface improves organic matter of the soil. Soil testing and applying proper amounts of fertilizer and micronutrients provides for optimum growing environment.
9.
Cultural Practices: The pest’s environment is disrupted by rotating crops, and timely harvesting of crops. Planting cover crops can suppre ... more. |
Economic and Environmental Benefits
Profit.
Managing to maximize return on your cropping investment (ROI) requires the perfect combination of science, technology, art, and luck. Some factors, like the weather, still require a bit of luck. Thankfully, science and technology continue to make strides, reducing the impact of uncontrollable factors like the weather and markets. This reduces the risk inherent in farming. By usin ... more. |
Assessing an animal feeding operation’s manure storage and handling systems, and being sure to prevent discharges into waters of the state or U.S., can keep a producer from having to apply for an NPDES permit.
Photo courtesy of USDA NRCS
Planning Now Can Avoid Permit Later
by Steve Werblow
Assessing an animal fe ... more. |
The Conservation Technology Information Center
The Conservation Technology Information Center promotes, supports and provides information on conservation technologies & sustainable agricultural systems.
Read More
The Latest on Cover Crops and Residue
The Operational Tillage Information System—OpTIS—uses publicly available satellite imagery and a unique algorithm to provide in ... more. |
... and Wisconsin. And more than 15 agribusinesses shared their knowledge, expertise and product information.
Rex Martin, CTIC board chair and Syngenta Crop Protection head of industry affairs, shares his thoughts. “This tour really shows the value of CTIC – bringing together a diverse group of people to learn about, talk about and explore new opportunities for conservation in agriculture. Excellent farms, important dialogue and a great mix of public and private sector perspectives make this tour something special.” Participants appreciated the variety of information shared and time to visit with others from around the country.
WHEN: August 8-9, 2011
WHERE: Northwest Ohio
WHAT: showcased profitable, innovat ... more. |
Soil Conservation Council of Canada
Conseil de Conservation des sols Canada
The Soil Conservation Council of Canada (SCCC) is a non-government, producer directed organization that is the face and voice for soil conservation in Canada. Our national network is a collaboration that involves; provincial soil conservation associations, non-government organizations, industry and government.
Mission, Goals an ... more. |
Ryan Heiniger Joins CTIC As New Executive Director
CTIC welcomes Ryan Heiniger as its new Executive Director. Heiniger is a fourth-generation Iowa farmer, wildlife biologist, and non-profit leader. CTIC board president Mark White of Syngenta says Heiniger's combination of on-the-ground conservation experience and history of leadership in conservation-oriented organizations made him the perfect choice for the role.
"Ryan has put his farm background and deep love for nature to work in a career in conservation," White notes. "He is a skilled organizer, mobilizer, coalition builder and fundraiser. He knows many of our partners. He has implemented on his own family farm some of ... more. |
MY CONSERVATION STORY...
BAMERT SEED
BOOSTING BIODIVERSITY AND WATER AVAILABILITY ON RANGELAND
Most conversations about the Ogallala Aquifer in the southern High Plains revolve around water scarcity. But ask Chris Grotegut about his 11,000-acre farming and ranching operation outside of Hereford, Texas, and you'll find out he pulled out 75% of his pivots and shifted to a largely d ... more. |
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig will kick off the 2019 Conservation in Action Tour at the event's opening social, hosted by John Deere at the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates in Des Moines. Naig is just one of many great speakers who will provide insight into Iowa agriculture's conservation efforts. Others include:
Kurt Simon, Iowa State Conservationist, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
Katie Flahive, US Environmental Protectio ... more. |
2016 Conservation in Action Tour
This tour showcased the diversity of crops in Idaho's Treasure Valley —- more than 180 crops ranging from potatoes to dairy products to trout.. Farmers, crop consultants, agribusiness professionals, state and federal agency representatives, and conservation group leaders visited four farms to see conservation agriculture and innovative conservation systems ... more. |
... D.C., and Wisconsin. And more than 15 agribusinesses shared their knowledge, expertise and product information.
Rex Martin, CTIC board chair and Syngenta Crop Protection head of industry affairs, shares his thoughts. “This tour really shows the value of CTIC – bringing together a diverse group of people to learn about, talk about and explore new opportunities for conservation in agriculture. Excellent farms, important dialogue and a great mix of public and private sector perspectives make this tour something special.” Participants appreciated the variety of information shared and time to visit with others from around the country.
WHEN: August 8-9, 2011
WHERE: Northwest Ohio
WHAT: showcased profitable, innovative Northwest Ohio ... more. |
CTIC Institutional Member, the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD), is the nonprofit organization that represents America’s 3,000 conservation districts and the 17,000 men and women who serve on their governing boards. Conservation districts are local units of government established under state law to carry out natural resource management programs at the local level. Districts work with millions of cooperating landowners and operators to h ... more. |
... with little, if any, tillage. It increases the residue from the crop that
remains in the field after harvest through planting. This results in increased natural recycling of crop residues.
Used on 38% (109 million acres) of all U.S. cropland (293 million planted acres).
Goal is 50% (146 million acres) of the planted cropland in the U.S. by 2004.
Where is the use of conservation tillage expected to increase?
Conservation tillage soybean acres are expected to increase rapidly.
Wheat and cotton acres will also increase significantly the next five years.
Corn acres are expected to remain steady until technological and/or management research
helps farmers overcome challenges.
How does it help create better soil?
By ... more. |
Drawing on talent from across the U.S. and around the world, St. Louis is a vibrant hub for agriculture and technology- the perfect place to celebrate 40 years of conservation in action. Download the agenda HERE.
Monday, September 12th:
6:30-9:30pm CTIC 40th Anniversary Celebration
Trolley Room, St. Louis, Forest Park
Speakers include:
-Rod Snyder, Agriculture Advisor, EPA
- Scott Herndon, President of Field to Market
- Bruno Pigott , US EPA OW Deputy Assistant Administrator
- Karen Scanlon, former CTIC Executive Director
... more. |
Come meet us in St. Louis on September 12 and 13 for our 15th annual CTIC Conservation in Action Tour!
On this year's tour, we will:
Celebrate CTIC's 40th anniversary at a reception on Monday evening, September 12
Get out into the field September 13 at the Henry White Experimental Farm in St. Clair County, Illinois, to see conservation in action, and
Gather on the afternoon of the 13th Donald Danforth Plant Science Center to explore the grow ... more. |
December 2021 Conservation in Action News
A LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
2022 marks CTIC’s 40th anniversary. That’s right, 40 years.
Looking back on our previous 40 years through conversations with members and long-time supporters, CTIC has long been at the center of prominent discussions around the most important conservation topics. Over the years, we have worked on many important c ... more. |
CTIC invites qualified professionals to apply for three open positions. We seek a skilled communications director, an experienced project manager and a communications intern. Apply today to join a great team dedicated to agricultural conservation.
PROJECT DIRECTOR
CTIC project directors lead grant-funded projects, manage budgets and assume responsibility for all project-related paperwork. He/she will follow an existing work plan and strive to achieve project goals within the defined timeframe. In addition, the project director provides important in-house technical expertise and helps to answer questions from members and partners. ... more. |
CTIC Institutional Gold Member, Soil and Water Conservation Society, has a mission to foster the science and art of natural resource conservation. Their work targets conservation of soil, water, and related natural resources on working land - the land used to produce food, fiber, and other services that improve the quailty of life people experience in rural and urban communities. They work to discover, develop, implement, and constantly improv ... more. |
CTIC is seeking a Communications Director to help develop, deliver and monitor programs, messages and materials to promote conservation agriculture. The position involves regular communications with but not limited to federal, state and local government agencies; agriculture industry, media and associations; conservation groups and watershed partnerships. This position may also be responsible for grant-funded projects that involve technology transfer, publications, information dissemination, media relations or other communication ... more. |
CTIC recently received a Grant from EPA’s Great Lakes Restoration Initiative that will fund the promotion of cover crops and conservation tillage in the Lake Erie, Lake Huron and Lake Michigan Watersheds. Agricultural producers will be provided with technical, educational and social support which will work together to create strong cover crop and conservation tillage systems that can be sustained after the project ends.
Education
CTIC will work with partners to host 18 workshops in the three watersheds (Lake Michigan Wat ... more. |
CTIC champions, promotes and provides information on technologies and sustainable agricultural systems that conserve and enhance soil, water, air and wildlife resources, and are productive and profitable.
Lead Projects
CTIC is a leader and collaborator in projects that address conservation agriculture's most important topics. Funded by public investments, foundation grants, agribusiness and private donations, our projects provide insight into agricultural systems that are both economically and environmentally beneficial.
Provide Information
CTIC is a clearinghouse of information on conservation agriculture. We can help you find documents, data, and links on a wide r ... more. |
Hello all,
A few weeks ago, Mark Schmidt, past chair with CTIC and a close friend, mentioned that CTIC has always been a consistent and steady voice through the years for conservation promotion and information. We went on to discuss how the packaging for conservation may change—with new phrases, buzzwords, and entities coming to the forefront—but the essence and importance only continue to grow.
As CTIC celebrates its 40thanniversary, I’ve reflected on all the people the organization has engaged with over the years to accomplish our mission. ... more. |
April 2020
Welcome to Conservation in Action NEWS, CTIC's e-newsletter. We'll share news about the Conservation Technology Information Center as well as stories on how our members and partners are helping farmers put conservation systems into practice.
If you've got a story you'd like to share, contact us! In the meantime, we hope you enjoy the newsletter.
NOTE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTO ... more. |
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Medal-level members receive the basic benefits plus...
GOLD
$8,500
SILVER
$3,500
BRONZE
$1,000
Complimentary registrations to CTIC’s Conservation in Action Tour
✓
Spotlight feature in a CTIC e-newsletter (e.g. Conservation Partners)
✓
Company ad or a contributed article in a CTIC e-newsletter (e.g. Conservation Partners)
✓
Company logo in a CTIC e-newsletter (e.g. Conservation Partners)
✓
✓
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... more. |
CTIClinks private businesses, non-profit organizations, associations, and local, state, regional, and federal government agencies to address their common conservation agriculture issues. Our coalition-led initiatives range from small watershed projects to national events and conferences. With strength, wisdom, and knowledge in numbers, CTIC’s coalitions work to disseminate information on new technologies and tools, to ensure conservation agriculture works on the ground.
The Conservation Agriculture Systems Alliance (CASA)unites voluntary produce ... more. |
Join Us in Celebrating Our 10th Conservation in Action Tour!
Now is the time to sign on as a sponsor of CTIC's 2017 Conservation in Action Tour and position your company as a leader in conservation farming. Contact Chad Watts atwatts@ctic.orgor call 765-494-9555 for sponsorship details.(Click on the chart below to download a sponsorship flyer.)
Tour sponsors receive:
National recognition a ... more. |
Agricultural conservation systems produce good yields and strong profits while responsibly managing environmental resources. These systems efficiently manage nutrients and pests, control irrigation and drainage water flows, use cover crops, rotate crops to maximize conservation benefits and
minimize equipment wear. See CTIC's conservation systems information sheet HERE.
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AgDay featured CTIC in a story as part of its ongoing "Future of Farming" series. Tyne Morgan, national reporter, visited the CTIC office in early March to interview Karen Scanlon, CTIC executive director. The story aired Wednesday, March 21.
Karen and Upstream Hero Larry Bonnell, interviewed on his farm in Michigan, discussed conservation successes, cover crops and water quality in the broadcast.
The AgDay report also promoted CTIC's Conservation In Action Tour 2012 in the Mississippi Delta this year.
To view the broadcast, click here, or for a written summary click here.
CTIC thanks AgDay and Tyne Morgan for great promotion of conservation and the Conservation In Action ... more. |
What is agriculture doing to protect water quality and improve soil health? Find out on CTIC's Conservation in Action Tour 2010. Participants will visit farms and farmers in east central Virginia who have built successful, profitable farming operations through conservation and are providing their community with valuable ecosystem services. Recognizing, supporting and paying for agriculture’s ecosystem services – through government programs and new market-based approaches – will be exp ... more. |
Conservation Tillage and Plant Biotechnology: How New Technologies Can Improve the Environment By Reducing the Need to Plow
Introduces and outlines environmental benefits of conservation tillage, while highlighting trends that like biotechnology with conservation tillage.
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... CTIC celebrates its 30th anniversary throughout 2012, we recognize corporate, institutional and individual members for their loyalty and offer our thanks for their years of support.
Thanks to our members, CTIC has grown over the last three decades, expanded our focus, increased and diversified our partners and worked with thousands of people across the country to advance conservation.
Throughout March, we recognize corporate member The Mosiac Company, institutional member The Fertilizer Insititute and individual member Joe Glassmeyer.
Thanks for your membership!
CORPORATE
CTIC recognizes Gold Corporate Member, The Mosaic Company, in our member spotlight. The Mosa ... more. |
As the Conservation Technology Information Center celebrates its 30th anniversary throughout 2012, we will recognize corporate, institutional and individual members for their loyalty and offer our thanks for their years of support.
“CTIC values each member,” says Karen Scanlon, executive director. “All of our successes, past and present, depend on the participation, input and support ... more. |
Upcoming Events
July
Soil and Water Conservation Society Annual Conference
July 18-21,2010, St. Louis, Mo.
Fellows Forum, Sunday, July 18th, 2010:“Gulf Hypoxia – A Midwest Perspective”
The 32nd Southern Conservation Agriculture Systems Conference: Conservation Agriculture Impacts--Local and Global
July 20-22, 2010,Jackson and Milan, Tenn.
... more. |
... says. MCCC plans to add a cover crop selection tool — a hands-on learning module to help farmers select the cover crop that would benefit them the most.
CTIC is assisting MCCC in the development of the cover crop selection tool. That tool is part of a three-year, two-state project, called Using Cover Crops to Facilitate the Transition to Continuous No-Till, funded by a 2008 Conservation Innovation Grant awarded to CTIC by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. CTIC and MCCC, along with The Ohio State University, Ohio No-Till Council, Purdue University, Michigan State University, Ag Conservation Solutions and the Owen County Soil and Water Conservation District will work with four farmers in Indiana and four farmers in Ohio to assist them in using cover crops to transit ... more. |
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At the heart of the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) lies a dedicated and diverse group of professionals who lead our organization with vision, expertise, and a shared commitment to sustainable agriculture and environmental conservation. Our Board of Directors is comprised of individuals who bring a wealth of experience and knowledge from various fields, uniting to drive CTIC's mission forward.
Get ... more. |
The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC)was formed in 1982 to support the widespread use of economically and environmentally beneficial agricultural systems.
Members of CTIC, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, include farmers, policy makers, regulators, academic researchers, agribusiness leaders, conservation group personnel, farm media, and others. The organization is supported by the U.S ... more. |
CTIC will be celebrating its 40th Anniversary this year, looking back at the evolution of the organization—and of conservation agriculture in America—and looking forward to the next 40 years of the organization's mission.
Over the years, CTIC has progressed from a strong focus on no-till and reduced tillage to a broader approach to economic and environmental sustainability that grew to include water and air quality, soil health, and climate-smart agriculture. Through it all, CTIC has been a cle ... more. |
Welcome to Conservation in Action NEWS, CTIC's e-newsletter. We'll share news about the Conservation Technology Information Center as well as stories on how our members and partners are helping farmers put conservation systems into practice.
Learn more about CTIC at our website...and if you've got a story to share, please contact us!
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Thank you for attending CTIC's 12th annual Conservation In Action Tour. If you haven't already, please respond to this quick evaluation. We really do use your responses to improve future events. You can reach us with any questions or feedback that don't fit the evaluation form at ctic@ctic.org or 765-494-9555.
2019 Conservation In Action Tour evaluation
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VPK7G5X
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For more than 35 years, the Conservation Technology Information Center has brought together people, information, and insight to move agricultural sustainability ahead. We provide the safe space where farmers, regulators, researchers, agribusiness, conservation group staffers and other stakeholders can explore conservation systems that improve soil health, water and air quality, and the producer's bottom line.
In short, ... more. |
PowerPoint slides from Jamie Ridgely, chief operating officer of Agren, Inc. and presenter of Aug. 29 WIIN webinar on "Engaging Non-operator Landowners in Conservation."
Resource:
Engaging Absentee Landowners in Conservation
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What a year! Reflecting back on 2017 makes us grateful for members like you because you helped make it possible. Here are some of the highlights:
Our 2017 Conservation Action Tour drew nearly 200 people from across the country. The tour took place right here in West Lafayette, Indiana and we visited four different farms who are championing conservation agriculture. Thank you to everyone who attended from near and far and who helped support the tour.
We continued to provide technical and educational support across the country through workshops and meetings tha ... more. |
What a year! Reflecting back on 2017 makes us grateful for members like you because you helped make it possible. Here are some of the highlights:
Our 2017 Conservation Action Tour drew nearly 200 people from across the country. The tour took place right here in West Lafayette, Indiana and we visited four different farms who are championing conservation agriculture. Thank you to everyone who attended from near and far and who helped support the tour.
We continued to provide technical and educational support across the country through workshops and meetings tha ... more. |
CONNECT
We build coalitions that connect farmers, agribusinesses, researchers and policymakers to share information, take a closer look at issues and demonstrate systems.
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CTIC's 11th annual Conservation in Action Tour is heading to the eastern shore! Join us in Maryland as we visit part of the country's largest estuary, the Chesapeake Bay, to get a front row view of how the area is leading the way in innovative conservation to improve water quality.
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Mark your calendar for the 2013 Conservation In Action Tour, July 9 and 10 in Livingston County, Ill. We’ll be visiting the hub of several outstanding watershed conservation projects, with stops at demonstration plots, on-farm trials and in-stream water quality testing stations.
More than 40 percent of the farm acreage in the 80-square-mile watershed is enrolled in conservation programs, and many of the watershed’ ... more. |
Attend the 6th World Congress on Conservation Agriculture (WCCA) to learn, discuss and network about Soil Health and Wallet Wealth. Agricultural production systems are not sustainable unless they are profitable, and Conservation Agriculture (CA) holds the key to building and maintaining healthy soils and profitable farming systems.
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The Soil and Water Conservation Society will hold their 67th annual conference in Fort Worth, Texas from July 22-25, 2012. This year's conference theme is "Choosing Conservation: Considering Ecology, Economics and Ethics" and will feature presentations, workshops, symposia, and technical tours to facilitate the sharing of resource conservation knowledge. In honor of our 30th anniversary celebration, CTIC wil ... more. |
The CTIC Board of Directors will meet Jan. 30, 2013, in San Antonio, Texas, for its Winter 2013 meeting. In addition to discussing the 2013 Conservation In Action Tour, the Board will evaluate current projects, track progress on the strategic plan and review the FY2012 audit. CTIC Members will elect new officers and directors as well.
WHEN: Jan. 30, 2013, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
WHERE: Marriott Rivercenter Hotel in San Antonio, Texas
... more. |
CTIC took a party theme to the 67th International Annual Conference of the Soil and Water Conservation Society, titled "Choosing Conservation: Considering Ecology, Economics and Ethics," held July 22-25 in Fort Worth, Texas. Our exhibit stood out with balloons and festive gift bags to celebrate our 30 years of service to agriculture.
Karen Scanlon, CTIC executive director, and Chad Watts, CTIC project director, talked with conference part ... more. |
CTIC celebrated 30 years of championing, promoting and providing information on technologies and sustainable agricultural systems at Commodity Classic, March 1-3.
The CTIC booth featured a presentation chronicling the 30-year journey of conservation, CTIC and our members. Many attendees stopped by our booth, learned about our commitment to conservation and took home a piece of CTIC history.
"We were very excited to attend Commodity Classic to spread CTIC's message of conservation and sustainability as part of our 30th anniversary celebration," says executive director Karen Scanlon.
Visitors to the ... more. |
A Review of BMPs for Managing Crop Nutrients and Conservation Tillage to Improve Water Quality
This publication will review research on nutrient management BMPs for the two nutrients of major concern, Nitrogen and Phosphorus, with an emphasis on integrating BMPs with conservation tillage.
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Conservation Agriculture Carbon Offset Consultation
This CD contains materials prepared for the Conservation Agriculture Carbon Offset Consultation, presented by CTIC and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations on Oct. 28-30, 2008. Included are: agenda, welcome letter from U.S. Senator Richard Lugar, presentations and full papers by invited experts, speaker biographies and additional m ... more. |
Conservation Buffer Facts
Conservation Buffers are small areas or strips of land in vegetation, designed to slow water runoff, provide
shelter and stabilize riparian areas. Strategically placed in the agricultural landscape, buffers can effectively mitigate
the movement of sediment, nutrients, and pesticides within farm fields. Buffers include: contour buffer strips, field
orders, filter ... more. |
CTIC seeks an enthusiastic communicator to join our team for the summer (and maybe longer) and help to champion, promote and provide information about conservation systems in agriculture.
The CTIC Communications Intern will develop, deliver and monitor programs, messages and materials to promote conservation agriculture. He/she will assist CTIC staff in creating communications and information material that supports CTIC projects, promotes CTIC and provides value to our membership. Audiences include, among others, federal, state and local ... more. |
... Christian Church
Elwood, Indiana
Presentations from the meeting are below:
Cover Crops, No-till, and Soil Quality, Dan Towery
Indiana Specific Niches, Dave Robison
You have heard about the benefits of cover crops, now learn how to make them work! Spend the day with an all star cast of speakers from Purdue University, NRCS, Michigan State University, CISCO seeds and Ag Conservation Solutions and learn how to use cover crops on your operation.
The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) has partnered with Madison County SWCD, Purdue University, NRCS, Michigan State University, the Midwest Cover Crops Council , CISCO seeds and Ag Conservation Solutions to bring you a full day workshop on How to Use Cover Crops.
First, you will learn about the economic an ... more. |
Conservation Agriculture Systems Alliance
Conference Call
Tuesday, Feb. 10 at 11 a.m. (eastern)
Participants:
Russ Evans
Brian Lindley
Bill Kuenstler
Tim Healey
Karen Scanlon
Peter Gamache
Agenda:
Message Committee report
- Finalize message
Operations Committee report
- Pledge
- Mission/vision
- Proposals - Purdue
Community of Practice in support of Conservation Agricu ... more. |
CTIC thanks our Medal Members for supporting the promotion of comprehensive conservation and sustainable agricultural systems.
CTIC Medal Members
In 2009, CTIC launched a new membership structure that allows members to receive additional value and recognition for their support of comprehensive conservation and sustainable agricultural systems. With additional membership dues above the basic ... more. |
Research & Technology Briefs
What’s Your Fieldprint?
Corn, cotton, soybean, and wheat growers now have access to a free, confidential online tool that will assess how some operational decisions affect natural resource conservation and sustainability.
The Fieldprint Calculator, available at www.fieldtomarket.org, provides an easy way to analyze and assess their current land use, energy use, water use, greenhouse gas emission, and soil loss. It also explores various scenarios that may help improve farm natural resource management and, ultimately, their operation efficiency and financial return. Click here for more in ... more. |
Conservation Tillage Systems and Management Handbook
The 29 chapters not only cover a broad range of topics, but the authors represent all regions of the United States. The right book for those with a basic understanding of conservation tillage who want to expand their technical knowledge.
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Making things happen
CTIC is THE credible, reliable source for information and technology for agricultural conservation. We are dedicated to delivering balanced information to our members about the emerging issues facing our industry, and to keeping our network of members connected, all while maintaining our commitment to conservation.
CTIC champions, prmotoes and provides information about comprehensive conservation agricultural systems.
Our members are CTIC's strength. With our solid, active and de ... more. |
... industry partnerships and more, FCSAmerica is helping make agriculture stronger for today and tomorrow.
Illinois Corn Growers Association
www.ilcorn.org
The Illinois Corn Growers Association (ICGA)is a grassroots membership organization for corn farmers and those connected to the industry. They focus on a wide variety of educational and legislative priorities including conservation, market development, transportation, and water quality. The group sustains a notable legislative presence in Springfield, IL, and Washington, DC.
Lessiter Media Conservation Ag Division
www.no-tillfarmer.com
Lessiter Media offers grower an array of publications, books, and wide array of multi-media to assist in the successful application of conservation practices on their farms ... more. |
CTIC Data Licensing Agreement
The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) provides Data to the public as part of its mission to champion, promote, and provide information about comprehensive conservation and sustainable agricultural systems that are beneficial for soil, water, air and wildlife resources and are productive and profitable for agriculture. By using Data from the CTIC web-site, the User agrees to the following Data Lice ... more. |
Four Sponsorship Levels Available
Ruby, Diamond, Platinum and Gold
Sponsor today! To learn more about sponsoring our 2022conservation in action tour please email Ryan Heiniger at heiniger@ctic.org
*Please note: Sponsors must submit all materials (logo, notebook ads, handouts, etc.) to north@ctic.org
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Hello!
Don't forget to register for CTIC'sone-day discussion about innovative approaches to reducing phosphorus in the Western Lake Erie Basin.
The Conservation Technology Information Center, Heidelberg University and Bayer Carbon Program just concluded a one-year pilot of the PLUS-UP phosphorus credit program. On November 15, we will be reviewing the program—the credits, the modeling, reporting and results—and exploring how we could best scale up the concept.
We are inviting you because we think your insight would help us ... more. |
Our friends at the Hilton Frontenac, St. Louis have extended the room block offer for the 2022 Conservation in Action tour!Book today to get the special $138/night CTIC Conservation in Action Tour room rate!
Our room block now closes on Tuesday, so don’t miss this chance to take advantage of the great discount.
Book your room now!
Learn more and register today!
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We're always on the lookout for a great conservation story to share with our members, partners and friends. Got a success story? A lesson to share? Contact executive director Mike Komp at komp@ctic.org and let's find ways to shine a spotlight on conservation.
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SHARE YOUR INSIGHT IN SARE/CTIC/ASTA COVER CROP SURVEY
Farmer insights are now being sought for the sixth nationwide cover crop survey by USDA's SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education) program, the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) and the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA).
The online questionnaire is now open at https://bit.ly/CCSurvey2020.
The survey takes about 10 to 15 minutes to complete. Participants who complete the survey can enter a drawing for Visa gift cards worth up to $200.
"Since 2012, the SARE/CTIC/ASTA Cover Crop Survey has provided very important persp ... more. |
CTIC has completed their workwith USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) on a project in support of NWQI. This project identifiedsuccessful watershed management activities that engaged landowners, farmers, and the broader public to protect water quality. Insights developed through this project will inform future NRCS efforts to support local watershed initiatives with technical and financial resources.
As a first step, CTIC convenedwaters ... more. |
View the CDR and HUC8 Tillage and Winter data charts by clickong on the corresponding titles below.
CRD Conservation Tillage
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Online registration takes just moments at www.ctic.org/cia_tour/registration. The $175 registration fee includes transportation, stops and all meals. A limited number of rooms are available at the Embassy Suites Downtown in Des Moines at a special Conservation in Action Tour rate of $129 per night for August 20 and 21.
For more information on the Conservation in Action Tour, visit CTIC's website or call CTIC at (765) 494-9555.
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... areas or by adjusting their cover crop management to allow additional blooming. Beekeepers will place hives on the partnering farm and monitor colony health and productivity. These partnerships will provide a useful model of communication between farmers and beekeepers and help us learn how farmers can support pollinator health without sacrificing profitability.
This project is funded by a Conservation Innovation Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Conservation Service and by several partnering organizations. Partners include: Bayer CropScience, Corn & Soybean Digest, CropLife Foundation, Dupont Pioneer, Monsanto, National Corn Growers Association, The Nature Conservancy, Purdue University, and Syngenta.
Join Our Cover Crops Mailing List
Sign up ... more. |
By becoming a member of CTIC, you'll be connected to a world of people from government, academia, agribusiness, the supply chain, and the farm who are committed to practical, productive conservation farming systems.
Contact Crystal Hatfield, hatfield@ctic.org, for more information on becoming a member.
Join Today
Members support CTIC's important work. Help make it happen. We:
deliver balanced informationaboutemerging agriculture conservation issues
keep members up to speed on our projects
support environmentally responsible and economically vi ... more. |
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Medal-level members receive the basic benefits plus...
GOLD
$1000
SILVER
$750
BRONZE
$500
Discounted registrations to CTIC’s Conservation in Action Tour
25% off
15% off
10% off
Medal member recognition on CTIC website
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Organization logo in a CTIC e-newsletter (e.g. Conservation Partners)
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Special recognition at a CTIC Board of Directors meeting
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Recognition in social media outlets
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... farmers, researchers, policymakers, agribusiness, and lead discussions that move conversations ahead.
INFORM
CTIC is a clearinghouse for convservation information, from Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS) regional trend data to how to implement practices on your farm.
CHAMPION
CTIC helps farmers, advisers, and ag retailers tap conservation resources. We promote conservation practices and advocate for policies that make them economically sustainable.
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CTIC Projects « Promoting Conservation « NARS Water Quality Spotlights
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CTIC members play a critical role when it comes to spreading and championing the message of conservation agriculture. Keep growing and learning with us by renewing your CTIC membership!To renew, please email Crystal Hatfield at hatfield@ctic.org or call 765-494-9555.
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Help us spread the conservation message! CTIC is actively seeking a Communications/Outreach Manager. Click here for more information.
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CTIC celebrates International Year of Soils at 2015 Commodity Classic. Visit CTIC at Commodity Classic booth 918, where Karen Scanlon, CTIC executive director, and Chad Watts, CTIC project director, will discuss:
Our multi-state project to document the agronomic and economic benefits of cover crops.
The 2015 Conservation in Action Tour in Minnesota, which will feature innovative partnership efforts for conservation farming success.
CTIC’s work to track cover crop use and document the benefits of keeping the soil covered from harvest to planting. At the booth, pick up a copy of the 2013-2014 Cover Crop Survey Report to see how and why farmers across the country are planting cover crops.
... more. |
... supporting environmental stewardship. Both products contain the same unique active ingredient to help reduce nitrate leaching into ground and surface water. This ingredient also helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and makes more nitrogen available to plants.
Jason Moulin, portfolio marketing leader for Dow AgroSciences, noted that technology such as nitrogen stabilizers is essential to conservation agriculture.
“As an agricultural industry, we must work together to ensure that our increasing global food demand is supported with improved technology that conserves our most precious resources,” Moulin said. “As a leader in bringing innovation and technology to agriculture, Dow AgroSciences understands and works to identify ways to partner with those producers and stake ... more. |
Syngenta's ambition is to bring greater food security in an environmentally sustainable way to an increasingly populous world by creating a worldwide step-change in farm productivity. Through deploying world-class science, we aim to transform the way crops are grown and look beyond yield.
Conservation is a key part of that step-change. Syngenta is a long-time supporter of CTIC and the Center's efforts to study and advocate conservation farming in the Mississippi River Basin, across the U.S. and worldwide. |
... water quality. It is an innovative, voluntary tool that connects industrial and municipal facilities, subject to wastewater permit requirements, with agricultural producers to economically achieve water quality improvements. It has the potential to bea flexible and cost-effective approach for maintaining, restoring or enhancing water quality.
Funded By
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Conservation Innovation Grant
Project Partners
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Environmental Trading Network, International Certified Crop Advisers, Water Environment Federation
Activities
Water quality credit trading may be asuccessful, market-basedmethod for agriculture producers to be paid for contributing to water quality improvement.How ... more. |
A highly qualified crop consultant (watershed coordinator) has been identified in each watershed to provide one on one technical support to the producers who participate in this program. These people will meet with producers and help them make important decisions to ensure a successful transition to using a cover crop and conservation tillage system.
Lake Michigan Coordinator
Christina Curell
Central Region Water Quality Educator, Mecosta
14485 Northland Drive
Big Rapids, MI, 49307
Phone: (231) 592-0792
Cell: (231) 287-8617
Email: curellc@msu.edu
Christina graduated from Michigan State University ... more. |
... - long-time friends, members also exhibiting and new faces interested to learn what we do and how to get a fun gift bag from our booth.
David Crow, founder of DC Legislative and Regulatory Services, Inc. and CTIC member, joined CTIC Executive Director Karen Scanlon at the CTIC booth to engage writers, editors,publishers, students and other exhibitors in conversation about conservation. David came prepared to share the insight he’s gained from attending all the Congressional Farm Bill markup sessions and talking with key players on both sides of the aisle. Several ag journalists took advantage of the opportunity to interview David.
Farm Industry News, DTN, No-Till Farmer, Meister Media, AgWired, Progressive Farmer, Prairie Farmer and more stopped by to ... more. |
USDA Natural Resources Credit Trading Reference
Credit trading guide for conservation specialists. Learn the basics of credit trading; the features of an efficient environmental market; how to form efficent and effective markets; how credit trading integrates with federal, state and privately supported conservation programs; and how to make environmental credit markets work effectively in agriculture.
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Great Lakes Cover Crop Initiative The Great Lakes Cover Crop Initiative (GLCCI) is a regional effort to establish 15 thousand acres of cover crops in the Lake Michigan, Lake Erie and Lake Huron watersheds in three years.
This goal will be accomplished through extensive outreach through field days, workshops and other conservation events. In addition to the outreach events, GLCCI coordinators are working in each watershed to give farmers one on one consultations to help them establish successful cover crops and learn to manage their systems to include growing acres of cover crops.
In 2012 we have several events planned.
We will be hosting a Farmer Networking Session at the Conservation Tillag ... more. |
Cover Crops and Conservation Tillage Reduce NPS Pollution
Project Description
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Conservation tillage systems offer numerous benefits that intensive or conventional tillage simply can’t match:
1. Reduces labor, saves time
As little as one trip for planting compared to two or more tillage operations means fewer hours on a tractor and fewer labor hours to pay ... or more acres to farm. For instance, on 500 acres the time savings can be as much as 225 hours per ye ... more. |
... & Associates
Great Miami River Watershed Water Quality Credit Trading Program - Sarah Hippensteel, The Miami Conservancy District
Nutrient Management for the Ohio River - Peter Tennant, ORSANCO
Water Quality Credit Trading - Bill Franz, U.S. EPA
Sauk River Watershed Water Quality Credit Trading and Ecosystem Services Project - Carrie Raber, Stearns County Soil & Water Conservation District
Sauk River Ecosystem Services - Carrie Raber, Stearns County Soil & Water Conservation District
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Who: Wye Mills, MD
What: March 4-5, 2009
Where: Chesapeake College
Together with its partners, Environmental Trading Network, the International Certified Crop Advisers, the Water Environment Federation, and the Maryland Departments of Agriculture and the Environment, the Conservation Technology Information Center hosted this interactive event as part of Maryland’s public outreach on its newly developed nonpoint-source trading program.
Water quality trading is a market-based approach to improve water quality. It is an innovative, voluntary tool that connects industrial and municipal facilities (point sources) with agricultural producers or other landowners (nonpoi ... more. |
... fulfills its mission with the generous
support of our members.
CTIC Medal Members
In 2009, CTIC launched a new membership structure that allows members to receive additional value and recognition for their support of comprehensive conservation and sustainable agricultural systems. With additional membership dues above the basic level in each membership category, members achieve medal status of Gold, Silver or Bronze. The additional support provided by our Medal Members enables CTIC to enhance our regional and national projects, to explore new partnership opportunities and to bring national recognition to public and private efforts to a ... more. |
Research & Technology Briefs
Calculating Economic Returns for Conservation Tillage and Cotton
Scientists at the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) have improved the precision of calculating the costs and benefits of using conservation tillage in cotton production.
Learn more at this web site: www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2009/090317.htm.
EPA Announces Video Contest
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will award $2,500 to the winning video ... more. |
... and direct water to a pond.
How it helps
Reduces soil erosion on lowlands by catching runoff water and preventing it from reaching farmland below.
Vegetation in the diversion channel filters runoff water, improving water quality.
Vegetation provides cover for small birds and animals.
Allows better crop growth on bottom land soils.
Planning ahead
Are there proper soil conservation measures installed to prevent the diversion from filling with sediment?
Is the outlet planned in a location which will not cause erosion?
Is the diversion and outlet large enough to handle the runoff amount for that location?
Tech notes
Diversions cannot substitute for terraces used for erosion control.
Diversions must be built to carry at least the peak amount of runoff generated b ... more. |
... protect?
How close do you want the habitat area to your farmstead?
Tech notes
Plant the wildlife area with a vegetative cover of grass, trees or shrubs.
Exclude livestock.
To attract a specific wildlife species, choose cover and habitat for that species.
Create a diverse habitat to attract a wider variety of wildlife.
Consult with a local wildlife biologist, Soil & Water Conservation District, Natural Resources Conservation Service, or wildlife group in your area for local recommendations.
Include a food plot if possible.
Encourage shrub growth between woodlands and grasslands.
Include bird houses and feeding stations in habitat areas.
Plant fruit and nut bearing trees or shrubs to the windward side of a woodland habitat area.
Maintenance
Prescribed burning ma ... more. |
CTIC Member since 2001
Initially, the Delta Conservation Demonstration Center joined CTIC for the exchange of information from different organizations and groups. We are seeing that benefit today.
CTIC keeps us informed of opportunities to participate in grants and meetings. This organization is a conduit to share information, and through CTIC, we have the opportunity to share what we are doing with other producers and organizations.
The grea ... more. |
CTIC Presents: Farmers for Soil Health webinars
Termination and Management of Cover Crops
in the North Central States
February 6, 2024
Description: Featured speakers:
Colin Geppert, a farmer in South Dakota
Dr. Erin Silva of University of Wisconsin
Myron Sylling, a farmer in Minnesota
Join the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) and Farmers for Soil Health on Tuesday, February 6 at 10:00 am CST for a free webinar on cover cropping in Wisconsin, Minnesota and South Dakota...and $50/acre Farmers for Soil Health incentives to help you along!
Learn tips from farmers who use cover crops in northern climates, as well as pointers on terminating covers. You'll also learn about CTIC' ... more. |
Past Projects
CTIC and its partners lead projects at the local, regional and national level to address agriculture's pressing conservation needs. Each projectincludes public and private sector partners, shares information about new technology and tools, and promotes agricultural systems that are both economically viable and environmentally beneficial.
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Helpful Links
CTIC and its partners lead projects at the local, regional and national level to address agriculture's pressing conservation needs. Each projectincludes public and private sector partners, shares information about new technology and tools, and promotes agricultural systems that are both economically viable and environmentally beneficial.
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The use of cover crops is steadily increasing throughout the United States. Many no-till farmers consider cover crops to be the next step in conservation agriculture.
Leaving the soil undisturbed and keeping something growing as many days as possible restores the natural cycles of the soils. Residues and roots create more organic matter in the soils. Increased organic matter serves as a food source to various soil organisms and increases the biological activity. Higher biological activity increases nutrient cycling and availability and also red ... more. |
Conservation Technology Information Center
3495 Kent Avenue
Suite L100
West Lafayette, Indiana 47906
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Thank You Sponsors!
The 2017 Conservation in Action Tour is hosted by CTIC with the support of our Tour Sponsors:
Evening Social
John Deere
Diamond
Bayer CropScience
Monsanto
Platinum
Dow AgroSciences
Syngenta
The Fertilizer Institute
Click hereto see a complete list of 2017 Tour sponsors.
Why attend the Tour?
This is one of the most well-organized mult ... more. |
Conservation in Action Partners - November 2018
CTIC Member Mail - May 2018
CTIC Member Mail - April 2018
CTIC Member Mail - March 2018
CTIC Member Mail - January 2018
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CCA Credit QR Codes
Thank you again for attending the 2022 Conservation in Action Tour!
CCA certified tour participants can earn 0.5 CEU for each session attended at the Henry White Farm. Please scan the QR code for each session with the CCA app on your phone. Any questions, please email Hans Kok at kok@ctic.org.
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Registration ends TODAY, September 6th at 1:00pm EDT for theCTIC Conservation in Action Tour.
This is your last chanceto register for the nation's best conservation agriculture tour.
Don't miss your chance to see what St. Louis has to offer and explore the past and future of ag with us!
What to expect at this year's Conservation in Action Tour:
Monday, September 12th:
6:30-9:30pm CTIC 40th Anniversary Celebration
T ... more. |
Join us for a special opportunity!
CTIC and the Henry White Demonstration Farm are happy to announce that they are opening the morning tour stop of the 2022 Conservation in Action Tour to farmers across the area.
Henry White Demonstration Farm:
4769-4807 Centreville Ave
Millstadt, IL 62260
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Save the Dates!
CTIC 2021 Virtual
Conservation in Action Tour
This year's virtual tour will bring you around the country in 4 one-hour "stops"—each with an on-farm video followed by a live panel discussion.
Here's the lineup:
July 20 — Carbon farming
August 3 — Phosphorus management
August 17 — Pollinator habitat
August ... more. |
... Length - 11:42
Citizen and Community Evolvement to Make a More Swimmable California
Erick Burres
Speaker Bio
Erick Burres is a Senior Environmental Scientist Specialist with California’s State Water Resources Control Board where he leads the Clean Water Team. Mr. Burres has a BS in Zoology and a MPA in Public Policy and Administration. He has worked on wildlife conservation, fisheries and watershed stewardship projects since the late 1980’s and has been with the Clean Water Team since 2000.
Video Length - 12:18
Utah’s Joint Harmful Algal Bloom and E. coli Recreational Water Quality Advisory Program
Kate Fickas
Speaker Bio
Dr. Kate Fickas earned her Ph.D. at OSU coming up with novel ways to use dense time series analysis ... more. |
... that cover crops allowed them to plant earlier or at the same time as non-cover-cropped fields. Among those who had "planted green," seeding cash crops into growing cover crops, 54% said the practice helped them plant earlier than on other fields.
Those findings were among several new insights from the 2019-2020 National Cover Crop Survey, conducted by the non-profit Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), with financial support from the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program and the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA). These organizations have worked together on several past national cover crop surveys, with the first survey dating back to the 2012 crop year.
The 2019-2020 survey, which included perspectives from 1,172 fa ... more. |
... to capturing nutrients and holding them in the root zone over the winter. As interest in cover crops continues to grow, it’s important to understand the trends, opportunities and challenges surrounding these important tools. Insight from farmers who use cover crops—or from those who haven’t yet made the move—is vital for fellow farmers, as well as for crop advisors, conservation specialists and policymakers.
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... survey reported that cover crops allowed them to plant earlier or at the same time as non-cover-cropped fields. Among those who had "planted green," seeding cash crops into growing cover crops, 54% said the practice helped them plant earlier than on other fields.
Those findings were among several new insights from the 2019-2020 National Cover Crop Survey, conducted by the non-profit Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), with financial support from the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program and the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA). These organizations have worked together on several past national cover crop surveys, with the first survey dating back to the 2012 crop year.
The 2019-2020 survey, which included perspectives from 1,172 farmers rep ... more. |
... crop growers and producers of horticulture crops.
On Wednesday, August 19 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern/9:00 a.m. Central, the data and 2020 National Cover Crop Survey report will be introduced to the press in a presentation and Q&A session. Click here to register for the press conference.
The survey was created and funded by the USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE), Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) and American Seed Trade Association (ASTA). Representatives of all three groups will participate in the press conference.
This is the groups' sixth national cover crop survey since 2012. Previous surveys in this series have been cited in academic papers, media and in congressional testimony. They are available on CTIC's website.
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... systems.
Phosphorus Water Quality Trading Program in Western Lake Erie
CTIC, in partnership with Ecosystem Services Marketplace Consortium (ESMC), Heidelberg University in Ohio, and others, has been awarded a Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) grant by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This grant will be used launch a brand-new program to compensate farmers for conservation practices that reduce phosphorus loading into western Lake Erie—market-based compensation that could include payment for practices already in place.
On June 30, 2020, we brought together farmers, crop advisers, commodity groups and other farm organizations, academia, for a web conference on how to shape this program to make it both farmer-friendly and attractive to credits buye ... more. |
March 2020
Welcome to Conservation in Action NEWS, CTIC's e-newsletter. We'll share news about the Conservation Technology Information Center as well as stories on how our members and partners are helping farmers put conservation systems into practice.
If you've got a story you'd like to share, contact us! In the meantime, we hope you enjoy the newsletter.
NOTE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Hello Everyone,
... more. |
... of local, voluntary watershed partnerships and help assure that these partnerships successfully attain their goals. The initiative is sponsored by more than 70 diverse National Partners representing private and public corporations, government agencies, and non-profit organizations. Each National Partner agrees to provide financial and/or in-kind support. The national effort is coordinated by the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), a non-profit data and technology information transfer center.
Getting To Know Your Local Watershed
We all live in a watershed. Watersheds are the places we call home, where we work and where we play. Everyone relies on water and other natural resources to exist. What you and others do on the land impacts the quality and quantity of water and o ... more. |
... survey. A big thank you to the USDA's Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program (SARE) and the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA), with help from Penton Media through their Corn and Soybean Digest publication. For results from previous years, please see below.
The fifth annual cover crop survey by the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program and the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) draws on the insight of 2,102 farmers—88 percent of whom reported using cover crops and 12 percent who identified themselves as non-users—from across the U.S. Cereal rye remained the top choice of farmers for cover cropping, followed by oats and radish. Sixty-five percent of the cover crop users reported planting mixes in 2016.
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Hello Conservation in Action Tour registrant,
The attached letter covers all the details you'll need to have a great time at CTIC's upcoming tour. If you have any questions, contact us at ctic@ctic.org or 765-494-9555.
See you next week in Des Moines!
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Komp adds that there is just over a week to reserve a place on the tour, and spaces are filling up quickly.
Online registration takes just moments at https://www.ctic.org/cia_tour/registration. The $175 registration fee includes transportation, stops and all meals.
For more information on the Conservation in Action Tour, visit CTIC's website or call CTIC at (765) 494-9555.
The CTIC Conservation in Action Tour is sponsored in part by our Diamond-level sponsors—Bayer CropScience, The Mosaic Company, Syngenta and The Conservation Infrastructure Initiative co-led by the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance (IAWA) and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS)&m ... more. |
Register Online Today
"Now is the time to register—we've got only two more weeks until our cut-off date for seats on the bus and our special Conservation in Action Tour price for hotel rooms at the Embassy Suites Downtown in Des Moines," says Komp.
Online registration takes just moments at https://www.ctic.org/cia_tour/registration. The $175 registration fee includes transportation, stops and all meals.
For more information on the Conservation in Action Tour, visit CTIC's website or call CTIC at (765) 494-9555.
... more. |
Online registration for the tour is quick and easy at https://www.ctic.org/cia_tour/registration. The $175 registration fee includes transportation, stops and all meals. A limited number of rooms are available at the Embassy Suites Downtown in Des Moines at the special rate of $129 per night for August 20 and 21.
For more information on the Conservation in Action Tour, visit CTIC's website or call CTIC at (765) 494-9555.
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Contact us for interview sources, backgrounders, photos or videos on conservation agriculture systems.
Conservation Technology Information Center
ctic@ctic.org
Phone: (765) 494-9555
3495 Kent Avenue
Suite L 100
West Lafayette, Indiana 47906
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The 2013 tour had record attendance! On July 10, over 270 people from 20 states visited the Indian Creek Watershed in Livingston County, Ill. to learn about soil health, nutrient management and drainage water management. Celebrating the theme of Community 4 Conservation, tour participants heard from speakers with experience in several aspects of conservation, such as building soil health, efficiently managing nutrients and controlling the water that drains from fields.
Tour high points:
Aerial seeding demo
Soil Pit Demonstration
Slake test
Equipment on display
T ... more. |
The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) is seeking applicants interested in serving as its new Executive Director in order to carry out its mission, which is to “connect, champion, and provide information on sustainable agricultural systems and technologies that are productive, profitable and preserve natural resources.”
The Executive Director is responsible for oversight an ... more. |
We designed this study to demonstrate differences in nitrogen rates and yields under the same nitrogen product, where the producer planted corn for two consecutive growing seasons.
We conducted this trial to:
demonstrate strip till application of anhydrous ammonia, a proven conservation practice.
demonstrate how the farmer can conduct his own on-farm NUE using field-scale equipment with minimal disruption of his normal field operations.
show how RTK guidance and variable-rate application equipment can improve nitrogen application efficiency.
show how RTK yield monitoring equipment works at harvest time.
show how the farmer and his advisers can collect data and make manag ... more. |
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Medal-level members receive the basic benefits plus...
GOLD
$500
SILVER
$250
BRONZE
$100
Discounted registrations to CTIC’s Conservation in Action Tour
25% off
15% off
10% off
Medal member recognition on CTIC website
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✓
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Recognition in social media outlets
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PrairieFarmer, October 31, 2018
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... have provided steady leadership as CTIC positions itself for even greater impact.
With a PhD in chemical engineering and three decades of experience as an environmental scientist in the crop protection industry - including tenure at Monsanto, which he represented on CTIC's board - Dave has also served on variousgovernmental and civil society efforts focused on conservation and sustainability issues. His current independent research focuses on using modeling to help food systems meet human nutrition needs in more sustainable ways.
Dave Gustafson, former CTIC board member, is serving as interim executive director.
Dave is leading the CTIC Board in a search for a full-time executive director.Contact himwith ... more. |
Conservation Technology
Information Center
3495 Kent Avenue
Suite L100
West Lafayette, IN 47906
765.494.9555
ctic@ctic.org
www.ctic.org
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The use of cover crops is steadily increasing throughout the United States. Many no-till farmers consider cover crops to be the next step in conservation agriculture.
Leaving the soil undisturbed and keeping something growing as many days as possible restores the natural cycles of the soils. Residues and roots create more organic matter in the soils. Increased organic matter serves as a food source to various soil organisms and increases the biological activity. Higher biological activity increases nutrient cycling and availability and also red ... more. |
A survey of more than 1,200 farmers across the country revealed that cover crops boosted corn yields last year by a mean of 3.66 bushels per acre (2.1%) and increased soybeans by an average of 2.19 bushels per acre (4.2%)—the third year in a row a yield increase following cover crops was recorded by the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) Cover Crop Survey. Read the full report.
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July 10– Tour Social 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.; Annapolis, MD
July 11– Conservation in Action Tour – all day; Maryland area
July 12– CTIC Board Meeting – 8 a.m. – noon; Westin
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Whether it's collaborating on a project, joining a committee or just starting a conversation about your own conservation goals, we want to hear from you. Contact our Executive Director Chad Watts at watts@ctic.org or by calling 765-494-9555.
Make sure you check us out onFacebookandTwitter!We look forward to working with you this year.
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February 20 - CTIC Board Meeting; all day; TFI Office in Washington, DC
July 11 - Tour Social 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.; Annapolis, MD
July 12 - Conservation in Action Tour - all day; Maryland area
July 13 - CTIC Board Meeting - 8 a.m. - noon; Westin
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A big thank you to the USDA's Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program (SARE) and the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA), with help from Penton Media through their Corn and Soybean Digest publication. For results from previous years, please see below.
The fifth annual cover crop survey by the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program and the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) draws on the insight of 2,102 farmers—88 percentof whom reported using cover crops and 12 percent who identified themselves as non-users—from across the U.S. Cereal rye remained the top choice of farmers for cover cropping, followed by oats and radish. Sixty-five percent of the cover crop users reported planting mixes in 2016.
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CTIC recently began a new phase of a project funded by Iowa’s Department of Ag and Land Stewardship. In collaboration with Practical Farmers of Iowa and The Nature Conservancy, CTIC is leading development of a program that will train and incentivize retail agronomists to become advocates for conservation systems build around cover cropping. Rollout of the program is anticipated in the winter of 2019 and the project’s target area has been selected to leverage ongoing privately-funded supply chain sustainability initiatives.
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... to schedule late winter and early spring manure applications, Terry and Troy Lenssen of Lenssen Dairy in Lynden, Washington, can give soil microbes a chance to convert slurry nutrients into plant-available forms before spring growth starts in earnest, while also protecting local waterways from runoff of nutrients and bacteria. The Application Risk Management (ARM) tool developed by the Whatcom Conservation District uses a complex formula to analyze local weather forecasts, soil type, crop density, water table depth and other variables to determine whether the risks of runoff or leaching are low enough to permit a manure application.
ARM protects more than the creek and the commercial shellfish beds downstream—it protects the Lenssens’ bottom line.
“We got better yields on gr ... more. |
CTIC is working with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to improve the effective engagement by NRCS in delivering watershed projects and to enhance the agency's ability to communicate the issues and success of watershed projects. This project is identifying successful watershed management activities that engage landowners, farmers, and the broader public to protect water quality. Insights developed through this project will inform f ... more. |
Whether it's collaborating on a project, joining a committee or just starting a conversation about your own conservation goals, we want to hear from you.
Contact our Executive Director Chad Watts at watts@ctic.org or by calling 765-494-9555. Make sure you check us out on Facebook and Twitter! We look forward to working with you this year.
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CHAMPION
We demonstrate and advocate for conservation agriculture from the field to the halls of government.
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The use of cover crops is steadily increasing throughout the United States. Many no-till farmers consider cover crops to be the next step in conservation agriculture.
Leaving the soil undisturbed and keeping something growing as many days as possible restores the natural cycles of the soils. Residues and roots create more organic matter in the soils. Increased organic matter serves as a food source to various soil organisms and increases the biological activity. Higher biological activity increases nutrient cycling and availability and also red ... more. |
A survey of more than 1,200 farmers across the country revealed that cover crops boosted corn yields last year by a mean of 3.66 bushels per acre (2.1%) and increased soybeans by an average of 2.19 bushels per acre (4.2%)—the third year in a row a yield increase following cover crops was recorded by the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) Cover Crop Survey.
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Thank You Sponsors!
The 2017 Conservation in Action Tour is hosted by CTIC with the support of our Tour Sponsors:
Evening Social
John Deere
Diamond
Bayer CropScience
Monsanto
Platinum
Dow AgroSciences
Syngenta
The Fertilizer Institute
Click hereto see a complete list of 2017 Tour sponsors.
Why attend the Tour?
This is one of the most well-organized mult ... more. |
CTIC and its partners lead initiatives at the local, regional and national level to address agriculture’s pressing conservation needs. Each initiative includes public and private sector partners, shares information about new technology and tools and promotes agricultural systems that are both economically viable and environmentally beneficial.
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Book your hotel room today for the Conservation in Action Tour! Deadline is Friday, July 22. Click here for direct link to hotel or here to visit travel section on the tour website.
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Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) and the Howard G. Buffett Foundation want to learn more about producer cropping decisions. We invite producers to spend a few minutes answering two short surveys about their agricultural operations. Participants could win one of several prizes, including two $100 gift cards. You can double your chances of winning by completing both surveys.
... more. |
... exist in the Wabash River watershed to support the development and implementation of a viable, sustainable water quality trading program involving agricultural nonpoint sources and permitted point sources.
View the final report.
Funded by
USEPA Targeted Watershed Grant
Project Partners
Agridrain
Duke Energy
Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts
Indiana Farm Bureau
Indiana Soybean Association
Activities
Pollutant Suitability Analysis. We are analyzing and assessing pollutant sources and contributions from subwatersheds in the Wabash River watershed project area (i.e., the Illinois and Indiana portions of the Wabash River watershed). Our
initial discussions focused on the existi ... more. |
Conservation Technology Information Center
ctic@conservationinformation.org
Address:
3495 Kent Avenue, Suite L100, West Lafayette, IN 47906 USA
Phone:
Tel: 765-494-9555
Fax: 765-463-4106
Staff:
Executive Director: Karen A. Scanlon
Operations Director: Tammy Taylor
Project Director: Chad Watts, Mike Smith
Accounting Specialist: Crystal Hatfield
Consultants:
Computer Sys ... more. |
Since 1982, CTIC has been providing technical, educational and practical support to advance conservation farming success. Learn more by downloading our new informational brochure.
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From cover crop plots to Congressional chambers to the world stage, we spread the word about conservation farming success. Read more.
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Penn State University, University of Maryland, and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service have all been testing various soil parameters on the Cedar Meadow Farm.
Groff, Steve. 2008. Mixtures and cocktails: Soil is meant to be covered. J. Soil Water Conserv. 63(4):110A-111A.
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Cropping systems that improve soil conservation are needed for mixed grain and forage enterprises in the upper Midwest.
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;Calibri" ,"sans-serif";times="" new="" roman";times="" roman";"="">Corn Production with Kura Clover as a Living Mulch.
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... Crops Helps Chart-After Corn-Corn Silage-DR
Cover crop decision making chart for the year after corn.
Cover Crops Helps Chart-After Cereal Grains-DR
Cover crop decision making chart for the year after cereal grains.
Cover Crop rotations SAG_9_09
Cover Crops Rotations after Cash Grain Crop
Cotton Nitrogen Management in High Residue Conservation System
Nitrogen is required for adequate residue production from cereal cover crops used in notill cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) production, but residues can immobilize N needed by cotton.
Converting to No-till SAG_11_09_oct23 2009
Using cover crops to convert to no-till.
Biology of Soil compaction
Soil compaction is a common and constant problem on most ... more. |
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Monsanto works with farmers from around the world to make agriculture more productive and sustainable. We've strengthened our goal of doubling crop yields by committing to doing it with one-third fewer resources such as land, water and energy per unit produced. We're working with our partners to develop conservation systems that are better for the plant. |
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) and Conservation Information Technology Center (CTIC) partnered to provide information to watershed professionals throughout the state of Indiana. Below you can find agendas and presentations from those events.
Managing Runoff Networking Session
December 2009
Presentations
Riparian Forest Buffers
Wetland and Stream Restoration
2 Stage Ditch
W ... more. |
The Mosaic Company's mission is to help the world grow the food it needs. As the world's largest supplier of phosphate and potash, we consider this mission to be a compelling one that carries vast responsibilities.
From water conservation and energy efficiency to stringent safety programs and community investment, sustainability is embedded in virtually everything we do. We believe that lasting success comes from making smart choices about our stewardship of the environment, how we engage our people, and how we manage our resources.
The Mosaic Company is a long and active sponsor of CTIC activities. |
Plan on joining us summer 2013 in Fairbury, Ill. at the Indian Creek Watershed for another unforgettable Tour.
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The Livingston County field office provides technical assistance as well as financial assistance through EQIP and CSP programs. |
Provides local technical assistance, contact with area producers and guidance for project outreach and growth. |
CTIC is having a party and you're invited! Join us on October 25, 2012 in St. Louis, MO, to help celebrate 30 years of conservation success and look at opportunities for continued growth. The October 25 celebration will be held at the Monsanto facilities in St. Louis will feature tours, panel discussions, an evening banquet and plenty of birthday cake.
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CTIC'S 2012 Conservation in Action Tour in the Mississippi Delta was a huge success. Make sure to check out pictures, videos and interviews from the event which hosted nearly 250 participants from across the nation.
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Ag Day reporter Tyne Morgan visited the CTIC office in early March to conduct an interview with Karen Scanlon, CTIC executive director. Scanlon discussed conservation trends CTIC has seen in the last three decades and challenges facing agriculture over the next several years.
The interview aired as part of AgDay's "Future of Farming" series on Wednesday, March 21. Visit AgDay's website to see the story. |
We designed this study to demonstrate differences in nitrogen rates and yields under the same nitrogen product, where the producer planted corn for two consecutive growing seasons.
We conducted this trial to:
demonstrate strip till application of anhydrous ammonia, a proven conservation practice
demonstrate how the farmer can conduct his own on-farm NUE using field-scale equipment with minimal disruption of his normal field operations
show how RTK guidance and variable-rate application equipment can improve nitrogen application efficiency
show how RTK yield monitoring equipment works at harvest time
show how the ... more. |
... Member, is the national trade organization representing the nation's developers, manufacturers, formulators and distributors of plant science solutions for agriculture and pest management in the U.S.
INDIVIDUAL
Harold Reetz
We thank individual member Harold Reetz for his long-standing membership and participation in the Conservation In Action Tour.
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We designed this study to demonstrate differences in nitrogen rates and yields under different application times of the same nitrogen product, in an area where the producer planted corn for two consecutive growing seasons.
We conducted this trial to:
demonstrate strip till application of anhydrous ammonia, a proven conservation practice
demonstrate how the farmer can conduct his own on-farm NUE using field-scale equipment with minimal disruption of his normal field operations
show how RTK guidance and variable-rate application equipment can improve nitrogen application efficiency
show how RTK yield monitoring equipment works at harvest time
show how the farmer and his ... more. |
Economic Benefits with Environmental Protection
Explores many of the challenges, opportunities management tactics and successful marketing efforts that helped shape promotion of conservation in the Great Lakes watershed and North Central region.
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The winter CTIC board meeting will be held January 31 - February 1, 2012. This meeting is in conjunction with the National Association of Conservation Districts annual meeting. For more information, please click here.
All members are invited to attend. Please see the draft agenda for more details, and RSVP CTIC if you would like to join us.
Jan. 31 - Feb. 1, 2012
Las Vegas, NV
Tuesday (Jan. 31) -- 12:00 - 5:00 pm
Room: Brera 4, Third Level (Mezzanine)
Wednesday (Feb. 1) -- 8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Room: ... more. |
The Confined Animal Manure Manager (CAMM) program team consists of agents and specialists with Clemson University, the Clemson Extension Service, the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control, and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. The team was assembled in 1998 to comply with State Regulation R.61-43, which states:
100.190.A An operator of a new or existing swine facility, lagoon, manure storage pond, or manure utilization area shall complete a training program on the operation of swine manure management created by Clemson University.
200.190.A An operator of an animal facility or manure utilization ar ... more. |
No-Till Farming Systems
The highly anticipated World Association of Soil and Water Conservation - Special Publication No. 3 - No-Till Farming Systems book has been released in the United States. As co-publisher, CTIC is honored to be the designated U.S. distributor.
"No-till farming systems have been developed and applied around the world over several decades. The technology is dynamic: it develops and changes as we overcome obstacles in soil opening, seed placement, fertilizer ba ... more. |
The Conservation Technology Information Center, through its partnership with The Fertilizer Institute (TFI), the national trade association representing the U.S. fertilizer industry, has joined a national effort to promote 4R nutrient stewardship.
In March, TFI launched a new website, www.nutrientstewardship.com, to showcase supportive resources and educational tools for the 4R nut
rient stewardshi ... more. |
... helps
Vegetation provides cover and habitat for small birds and animals.
The strips reduce erosion by slowing water flow and increasing water infiltration.
By reducing siltation and filtering nutrients and chemicals from runoff, grass strips improve water quality.
Planning ahead
Have you decided whether you want parallel crop strips or parallel buffer strips?
Are other conservation measures such as crop residue management installed or planned to help reduce siltation of grass strips?
Will planned acres in row crops meet your production objectives?
Tech notes
Buffer strips must be at least 15 feet wide. *
Either crop strips or grass strips may be parallel. Parallel crop strips are easier to farm with no point rows, but that results in less of the slope in r ... more. |
CTIC Institutional Member, The Nature Conservancy, is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. To learn more about The Nature Conservancy, visit www.nature.org
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... in Madison, Wisconsin. Because of their common interests, ASA, the Crop Science Society of America (CSSA), and the Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) share a close working relationship as well as the same headquarters office. Each of the three Societies is autonomous, has its own bylaws, and is governed by its own Board of Directors. Society members are dedicated to the conservation and wise use of natural resources to produce food, feed, and fiber crops while maintaining and improving the environment. To learn more about the American Society of Agronomy, visit www.agronomy.org
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... Gold Member, The Fertilizer Institute (TFI), is the leading voice in the fertilizer industry, representing the public policy, communication and statistical needs of producers, manufacturers, retailers and transporters of fertilizer. Issues of interest to TFI members include security, international trade, energy, transportation, the environment, worker health and safety, farm bill and conservation programs to promote the use of enhanced efficiency fertilizer. To learn more about The Fertilizer Institute, visit www.tfi.org
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... of local, voluntary watershed partnerships and help assure that these partnerships successfully attain their goals. The initiative is sponsored by more than 70 diverse National Partners representing private and public corporations, government agencies, and non-profit organizations. Each National Partner agrees to provide financial and/or in-kind support. The national effort is coordinated by the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), a non-profit data and technology information transfer center.
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... project. Over the next three years, CTIC will provide the leadership and technical support to conduct seven aquatic resource-specific workshops and two national conferences covering all aquatics resource types. These workshops and conferences will enhance the collaboration, communication, coordination and technology transfer among over 800 professional attendees. Using a national network of conservation and agricultural leaders, CTIC will assist EPA, states and tribes in strengthening partnerships with agricultural communities to address nonpoint source pollution.
Partner
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Activities
CTIC is forming an advisory committee consisting of National Aquatic Resource Survey experts and individuals from university, research, n ... more. |
... Crops
No-Till Cotton Production
Intensifying the Rotation with Double-Crops
On-Farm Research Session
Weed Management
Corn and Soybean Production
No-Till Wheat Grazing Systems
Weed Science 101
Soils 101
Intensified Management with Grid Soil Sampling and/or Management Zones
Dedicated Absentee Landowners Session
Soil Conservation
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... Alvi
Juli Beth Hinds
will focus on information in regards to wastewater treatment for upcoming and existing development.
Presentations will be given by the members of Tetra Tech staff.
To view the agenda and topics to be discussed, click here.
Sponsored by
Conservation Technology Information Center, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Tetra Tech
November 9th: Overview of Centralized and Decentralized Treatment Issues
Summary of Centralized/Decentralized Treatment Approaches Water and Wastewater Resource Management ConsiderationsTMDLs, Watershed Planning, Antidegradation, and Wastewater Wastewater Capacity Development and Cost Issues
... more. |
By facilitating the switch to conservation tillage, biotech crops have helped dramatically reduce soil erosion and water pollution, increase carbon sequestration, and lower the use of crop protection chemicals by millions of pounds per year.
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We deliver balanced information about comprehensive, sustainable agricultural systems. With our members, we support environmentally responsible and economically viable decision making in agriculture.
Our members:
learn about emerging tools and technology
access our extensive network of experts
show their commitment to the success of conservation agriculture
Our members are CTIC's strength. With our solid, active and dedicated membership, we've demonstrated the value of public/private partnerships, and we've proven that collaboration works. Join our national public/private partnership at the basic membership level that fits you best –
Individual, Institutional or Corporate.
For addit ... more. |
... producing crops. CRM includes all field operations that affect residue amounts, orientation and distribution throughout the period requiring protection. Site-specific residue cover amounts needed are usually expressed in percentage but may also be in pounds. CRM is an “umbrella” term encompassing several tillage systems including no-till, ridge-till, mulch-till, and reduced-till.
Conservation Tillage Types (30 percent or more crop residue left, after planting).
Any tillage and planting system that covers 30 percent or more of the soil surface with crop residue, after planting, to reduce soil erosion by water. Where soil erosion by wind is the primary concern, any system that maintains at least 1,000 pounds per acre of flat, small grain residue equivalent on the surface throughout ... more. |
Instructions
Click on image to view full size version. To download image when viewing full-size, click your right mouse button on the graphic and choose the "save image" option. All images are 300 dpi resolution minimum. Please feel free to use these photos and graphics for publication. Mention of source is appreciated.
Close look at old corn stalks left standing from past harvest. The standing stalks ... more. |
Conservation Tillage Types - over 30% cover after planting..more
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Water Quality Credit Trading Workshop
August 19 - 20, 2008
Troy-Hayner Cultural Center
Troy, Ohio
Water Quality Credit Trading programs bring together agriculture and the wastewater community to solve difficult water quality issues.The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), in conjunction with the Environmental Trading Network (ETN), the Water Environment Federation (WEF) and Certified Crop Advisers, is hosting a two-day water quality credit trading workshop. This will be a detailed, intensive training program on water quality trading for agricultural operators, ag advisors, potential water quality trading aggregators and munici ... more. |
CTIC Medal Members
CTIC proudly recognizes The Mosaic Company, CTIC Gold Corporate Member.
CTIC’s Medal Membership allows members to receive added value and recognition for their support of comprehensive conservation and sustainable agricultural systems. With additional membership dues above the basic level in each membership category, members achieve medal status of Gold, Silver or Bronze. The support provided by Medal Members enables CTIC to enhance regional and national projects, to explore new partnership opportunities and to gain national recognition.
CTIC recognizes Medal Members through Partne ... more. |
... is applied, Reicosky says.
“Unless a farmer takes the precautions to cover that gap, he runs the risk of losing some of that nitrogen,” he says.
And, as the season progresses, frozen soil becomes an obstacle to applying fall anhydrous.
“Once they get one to four inches of frozen soil, they’re done,” Reicosky says.
Dan Towery, owner of Ag Conservation Solutions in Lafayette, Ind., advises farmers to apply nitrogen before spring planting only if conditions allow in March or early April.
“Farmers should keep one eye on the calendar and one eye on the soil moisture,” he says. “If it’s after April 10, it’s corn planting time. Plant corn, and don’t put anhydrous on.”
Instead, Towery says, appl ... more. |
Improving the quality and quantity of woodland growing stock and maintaining ground cover and litter for soil and water conservation.
How it works
Existing woodland or other suitable land is dedicated to timber production. Livestock is excluded. Optimum tree populations are determined by the kinds of trees planted and their adaptability to your soils. Existing trees or newly planted trees are thinned, pruned and harvested to maintain desired production. Twigs, limbs and other debris are not removed, maintaining ground ... more. |
... grass, trees or other cover to reduce erosion.
Better water quality results from reducing amounts of nutrients, chemicals, animal waste and sediment entering the stream.
Buffer zones provide cover and habitat for birds and small animals.
Planning ahead
Have you planned to install an offstream water system for livestock or limited livestock access to the stream?
Are proper soil conservation measures installed in the stream watershed to prevent siltation of buffer zones and streambed?
Will a stream crossing be needed for livestock?
Tech notes
Fence livestock out of the stream.
Smooth streambanks to provide an adequate seedbed for vegetation.
The vegetation area along streambanks should be between 15 and 25 feet wide. *
Remove fallen trees, stumps and debris that might ... more. |
... over-application of commercial fertilizers and animal
manure.
Correct manure and biosolids application on all fields can improve soil tilth and organic matter.
Planning ahead
Have you tested your soil and livestock manure for their nutrient levels?
Are organic wastes or sludge available for you to use?
Have you determined realistic yield goals?
Are proper soil conservation measures installed?
Have you accounted for nitrogen credits produced by legume crops?
Tech notes
Choose best application method. Use broadcast, starter, surface band or injection.
Use the late spring nitrogen test when appropriate when corn plants are between 6 to 12 inches tall. *
Avoid applying manure on frozen or snow-covered ground if possible.
Use nitrogen inhibitor i ... more. |
... gully from forming.
How it helps
Grass cover protects the drainage way from gully erosion.
Vegetation may act as a filter, absorbing some of the chemicals and nutrients in runoff water.
Vegetation provides cover for small birds and animals.
Planning ahead
Is major land reshaping needed?
Is there a proper outlet for surface runoff at the bottom of the waterway?
Are soil conservation measures installed to prevent siltation?
Will tile drainage be necessary to establish vegetation in the waterway? *
Tech notes
A waterway should be deep enough and wide enough to carry the runoff from the area draining into it. Check with NRCS for recommended depth and width.
Plant seed at recommended time and rates. Place seed about 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep. Plant across the area or in a ... more. |
... than entering water supplies. Filtered water then enters water bodies.
How it helps
Grass, trees and shrubs provide cover for small birds and animals.
Ground cover reduces soil erosion.
The vegetative strip moves rowcrop operations farther from a stream.
Vegetation prevents contaminants from entering water bodies, protecting water quality.
Planning ahead
Are adequate soil conservation measures installed above filter strips?
Are plants adapted to your soil types?
Have you selected the correct species of vegetation for the control you need? For example, are you establishing the filter strip around a sinkhole, to control runoff from a feedlot or to filter runoff from cropland?
Tech notes
Filter strips are most effective on slopes of 5% or less.
Filter strips for cro ... more. |
... allow water to spill through the dam without causing erosion.
How it helps
Prevents soil erosion and protects water quality by collecting and storing runoff water.
Provides water for livestock, fish and wildlife, and recreational opportunities.
Adds value and beauty to a farm or farmstead.
Provides a water supply for emergencies.
Planning ahead
Are adequate soil conservation measures installed near the proposed pond site to protect it from filling with sediment?
Is there a dependable source of clean water to fill the pond?
Will the pond store enough water for proposed uses—i.e. livestock, wildlife and recreation?
Is the soil at the proposed site capable of holding water?
Tech notes
Provide for a natural or constructed spillway.
If the dam is for ... more. |
... cover prevents soil erosion and protects water quality.
Residue improves soil tilth and adds organic matter to the soil as it decomposes.
Fewer trips and less tillage reduces soil compaction.
Time, energy and labor savings are possible with fewer tillage trips.
Planning ahead
Will your crop produce enough residue?
Is crop residue management part of a planned system of conservation measures?
Do you have the needed equipment?
Tech notes
Planning for residue cover begins at harvest.
Ensure ample residues are spread evenly over the field by the combine.
Reduce the number of unnecessary tillage passes.
Every tillage pass buries more crop residue.
Use straight points and sweeps on chisel plows instead of twisted points.
Twisted points can bury 20% more re ... more. |
The Confined Animal Manure Manager (CAMM) program team consists of agents and specialists with Clemson University, the Clemson Extension Service, the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control, and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. The team was assembled in 1998 to comply with State Regulation R.61-43, which states:
100.190.A An operator of a new or existing swine facility, lagoon, manure storage pond, or manure utilization area shall complete a training program on the operation of swine manure management created by Clemson University.
200.190.A An operator of an animal facility or manure utilization ar ... more. |
... on the least erosive areas of the selected
field.
Plots on slopes steeper than 5% should be planted on the contour.
A plot can be planted on the same area each year as long as soil loss
does not exceed acceptable limits.
Accepted crops include: corn, sorghum, oats, barley, wheat, sunflower,
buckwheat, millet, partridge pea and soybeans. *
Soybeans and sunflowers can not be used in Conservation Reserve
Program food plots. *
Reduced till or no-till planting in encouraged.
Maintenance
Exclude livestock
Don't control weeds with herbicides unless noxious weeds persist. If
herbicides are needed, spot spray. Avoid using herbicides that would
endanger adjacent seedings.
* Criteria may need to be adjusted for local conditions.
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In Illinois, there are three different manure management plans that a livestock facility might need to have. University of Illinois Extension has worked with Illinois Department of Agriculture, Illinois Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to develop one website of step-by-step instructions that, if completed, will comply with the needs of all three agencies.
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Design of manure storage and treatment facilities requires an understanding of the operation involved in food animal production and engineering design principles. It also requires access to manure production data, as well as reporting and presentation software to put it all together. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service created the Animal Waste Management computer program to bring all of these features together.
This software has been used by consultants and government technical service providers for a number of years in designing storage and treatment facilities for animal production operations all over the country. The 2008 EPA CAFO rules cite this tool as part of the procedure to determine if a ... more. |
... temporarily protect the ground from wind and water erosion during times when cropland isn't adequately protected against soil erosion.
How it helps
Cover crops keep ground covered, add organic matter to the soil, trap nutrients, improve soil tilth and reduce weed competition.
Planning ahead
Do you have a seeding method that won't harm standing crops?
Are adequate soil conservation measures installed?
Tech notes
Cover crops are most often recommended when low residue producing crops such as soybeans or corn silage are grown on erodible land.
Cover crops need 30-40 days of good growth before the first hard frost.
Seeding after harvest will normally not allow cover crops to grow large enough to survive the winter. *
Seed from the end of August until mid-Septembe ... more. |
... Lake Resort and Conference Center
2650 Lodge Road
Sherrodsville, OH 44675
888-819-8042
**To make reservations - call and reference the Water Quality Workshop to receive the group rate of $89 per night.
To view the Agenda, click here.
Together with its partners, Environmental Trading Network, the International Certified Crop Advisers, and the Water Environment Federation, the Conservation Technology Information Center will host a Water Quality Credit Trading Workshop at Atwood Lake Resort and Conference Center (30 miles south of Canton, OH) on July 8 and 9, 2009.
Water quality trading is a market-based approach to improve water quality. It is an innovative, voluntary tool that connects industrial and municipal facilities (point sources) with agricultural producers or other la ... more. |
For over 28 years, CTIC has been collecting and disseminating information on agricultural conservation. From air quality to yield, we have information to share.
Click on the first letter of your topic to see the resources we have available. Don't see what you're looking for? E-mail us at ctic@ctic.org.
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No Tillage: The relationship between no tillage, crop residues, plants and soil nutrition
Expands the breadth and depth of knowledge of the no-till system offers new ideas to those who are ready to move into the next level of conservation tillage systems. To order online, click here.
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Provide Information
Find conservation resources including websites, documents, research results, and our current projects. CTIC members can access our list of experts. Join Today (link to Become a Member)
* Topics A-Z
* CTIC Initiatives (link to Lead Initiatives)
* Guides and Research Documents (link to Online Store/Free Publications)
* Experts (Members Only)
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... magazine
* 10% discount on CTIC products during your annual membership term
* Special recognition at a CTIC Board of Directors meeting
* Two gift memberships at the Individual Silver level
* Ad space in two issues of Partners magazine ($600 value)
* Recognition at two CTIC event during your annual membership term
* Two complimentary registrations to CTIC’s Conservation In Action Tour
* Recognition on CTIC’s Website
* One-year subscription to Partners magazine and Member Mail e-newsletter
* Access to Crop Residue Management Survey data from 1989 to 2004 through CTIC Website
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“Given half a chance, a municipal consultant could help solve some of these problems,” says DeMichele. “But up until a year or two ago, a farmer could only use USDA money to get technical advice from USDA. That eliminated all the consultants who had already solved problems in the municipal arena.”
DeMichele sees some hope in the current draft of the Conservation Resource Recovery section of the 2007 Farm Bill. And the Water Environment Federation is trying hard to make community projects and local utilities eligible for EQIP and other manure management cost-share funds. The Federation is also trying to encourage consultants with experience in municipal waste management to qualify for USDA Technical Service Provider (TSP) status. “Learning experienc ... more. |
...
“Our software will be able to automatically calculate soil erosion with RUSLE 2 this fall,” adds Joern. “Erosion is part of most states’ PIs. By linking MMP’s rate calculator to RUSLE 2 and state PIs, planners will be able to determine what the optimum rate of manure is for any field very quickly. We also hope to be able to automatically insert NRCS conservation plans into the NMP this fall.”
Joern says Purdue’s MMP team will be working later this fall with the NRCS to train NRCS staff and technical service providers (TSPs), the current target audience for the program. “Right now, it’s a tool to help the TSP be more efficient with developing plans,” he says. “If you’re a farmer that uses a computer, ... more. |
... the EPA grant for Producer Partnerships to Reduce Hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico. We hope to be able to participate as a partner with CTIC in grants such as this in the future, too.
If you are a company that manufactures or sells a product used in no-till agriculture, CTIC is the organization you should support. CTIC is the only organization that I am aware of that promotes the agricultural conservation practice that truly minimizes the impact of agriculture on the environment – continuous no-till.
Continuous no-till agriculture is smart agriculture. It reduces air and water pollution associated with tillage, improves soil quality and results in higher profits to producers.
If you are a company that consumes agricultural products, CTIC is an organization deserving your support. M ... more. |
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
US Environmental Protection Agency
National Association of State Departments of Agriculture
Livestock Waste Management Information for the Midwest - CTIC
International Plant Nutrition Institute—Plant Nutrition Today
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