IT WAS AN UNUSUALLY WARM DAY in late October as the group began to gather by the dairy barns. There were farmers of all ages and agricultural sectors chatting. I was fortunate to leave my emails and Zoom meetings behind and arrive in time to attend an ASA workshop on soil health. Dr. Allen Williams of Understanding Ag, a regenerative agricultural consulting company, was there to discuss the results of a three-year grant project conducted in partnership with ASA. The project engaged three farms to test the impact of interseeding cover crops—the practice of planting a secondary crop amongst a cash/main crop in the
vegetative growth stage—rather than waiting to plant cover crops after the cash crop is harvested. The goal was to measure improvement in the biological activity in the soil which could serve to reduce the need for fertilizer inputs, minimize soil erosion, and improve water filtration and carbon storage, and more. Ultimately, we all wanted to know whether this regenerative agricultural practice could decrease a farmer’s expenses while improving or maintaining crop yields and whether it could help with farm viability and climate resiliency. The short answer is Yes.
As Allen and the participating farmers began to talk about the project and observations, I realized how much we as a land trust have in common with all the farmers attending that day. Allen, a farmer himself, mentioned the need for flexibility and the patience to see the benefits from interseeding that will accrue year after year. The need to experiment and adjust along the way. The farmers in the grant project were eager to learn, share information, and be transparent when things didn’t go as planned (like overseeding or getting the cover crop in a little later than they had hoped).
ASA also is always adapting and fine-tuning our approach. We value learning and transparency and seek to accelerate the pace and impact of our conservation efforts. We also had another clear connection with those farmers that day – hope for the future. Together, we are trying to make changes today that will have long-lasting benefits, not just for our farm or organization, but for all.
Toward that end, ASA is finalizing a new strategic land conservation plan.
We’re aiming high with an ambitious goal of conserving another 15,000 acres
by the end of 2030, and ensuring our projects have positive, long-lasting impacts
on farmers, our communities, and our climate. I hope you will be there with us
every step, even if we need to make a tweak along the way.
Together in conservation,
Renee J. Bouplon
