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  • USDA forecasts $4 billion in conservation program payments in 2024
    4/22/2024
    USDA forecasts $4 billion in conservation program payments in 2024
  • Cover crop mixes account for 18 to 25 percent of major commodity acreage with cover crops
    12/5/2022
    Cover crop mixes account for 18 to 25 percent of major commodity acreage with cover crops
  • From 2002 to 2019, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) spending increased for technical assistance to support Farm Bill program implementation
    6/6/2022
    From 2002 to 2019, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) spending increased for technical assistance to support Farm Bill program implementation
  • USDA’s NRCS is the most common source of technical assistance for crop fields with self-reported soil and water related resource concerns
    6/1/2022
    USDA’s NRCS is the most common source of technical assistance for crop fields with self-reported soil and water related resource concerns
  • More farmers are adding fall cover crops to their corn-for-grain, cotton, and soybean fields
    5/25/2022
    More farmers are adding fall cover crops to their corn-for-grain, cotton, and soybean fields
  • Water- and wind-driven erosion affect a large portion of cropland, according to estimates from both model-based and farmer-reported data
    5/20/2022
    Water- and wind-driven erosion affect a large portion of cropland, according to estimates from both model-based and farmer-reported data
  • Farmer-reported soil and water concerns vary by crop type and region
    5/6/2022
    Farmer-reported soil and water concerns vary by crop type and region
  • Cover practice choices earn a range of Environmental Benefits Index points, with Wildlife Priority Zones (WPZ) providing substantial additional points for practices with higher wildlife scores
    4/4/2022
    Cover practice choices earn a range of Environmental Benefits Index points, with Wildlife Priority Zones (WPZ) providing substantial additional points for practices with higher wildlife scores
  • Grassland practices were the most popular cover choice in the 2013 General Signup, and within that group, the most popular choice was CP2-Premium
    4/4/2022
    Grassland practices were the most popular cover choice in the 2013 General Signup, and within that group, the most popular choice was CP2-Premium
  • Higher scoring cover practices generally cost more to establish, but costs vary within practices
    4/4/2022
    Higher scoring cover practices generally cost more to establish, but costs vary within practices
  • Rates of cover crop adoption vary depending on the cash crop being planted
    10/1/2021
    Rates of cover crop adoption vary depending on the cash crop being planted
  • Fields with cover crops more likely to be in a conservation crop rotation, especially in soybean and corn fields
    8/20/2021
    Fields with cover crops more likely to be in a conservation crop rotation, especially in soybean and corn fields
  • Crop production is the largest user of freshwater in the U.S. food system, 1997-2012
    8/9/2021
    Crop production is the largest user of freshwater in the U.S. food system, 1997-2012
  • The U.S. food system relies more heavily on surface water than groundwater, 1997-2012
    8/9/2021
    The U.S. food system relies more heavily on surface water than groundwater, 1997-2012
  • Fresh vegetables and other foods each use about 20 percent of freshwater, 2012
    8/9/2021
    Fresh vegetables and other foods each use about 20 percent of freshwater, 2012
  • Water use tradeoffs exist between different dietary patterns, 2007
    8/9/2021
    Water use tradeoffs exist between different dietary patterns, 2007
  • Rye and winter wheat were the most common cover crops on corn, soybean, and cotton fields
    7/9/2021
    Rye and winter wheat were the most common cover crops on corn, soybean, and cotton fields
  • Cover crop use is more persistent on cotton and corn silage fields
    4/22/2021
    Cover crop use is more persistent on cotton and corn silage fields
  • Cover crop adoption more persistent on cotton and corn silage fields
    2/17/2021
    Cover crop adoption more persistent on cotton and corn silage fields
  • Most land exiting USDA’s Conservation Reserve Program was used for annual crop production
    9/14/2020
    Most land exiting USDA’s Conservation Reserve Program was used for annual crop production
  • Most conservation practices in USDA’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program are part of multi-practice contracts
    4/13/2020
    Most conservation practices in USDA’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program are part of multi-practice contracts
  • The fate of expiring Conservation Reserve Program acreage varied with its conservation practice
    1/13/2020
    The fate of expiring Conservation Reserve Program acreage varied with its conservation practice
  • Conservation practices have decreased soil erosion on cultivated cropland over time
    9/20/2019
    Conservation practices have decreased soil erosion on cultivated cropland over time
  • Shifts in payments for the top five crop management practices in USDA’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program
    9/6/2019
    Shifts in payments for the top five crop management practices in USDA’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program
  • Increased compliance enforcement would result in greater reductions in excess nitrogen applications
    7/26/2019
    Increased compliance enforcement would result in greater reductions in excess nitrogen applications
  • No-till and strip-till are widely adopted conservation practices, but are often used in rotation with full-width tillage
    5/2/2019
    No-till and strip-till are widely adopted conservation practices, but are often used in rotation with full-width tillage
  • Regional strategies for reducing nitrogen loadings to the Gulf of Mexico differ according to how policy objectives are formulated
    4/22/2019
    Regional strategies for reducing nitrogen loadings to the Gulf of Mexico differ according to how policy objectives are formulated
  • Lower completion rates for contracted practices are associated with greater impacts on participant behavior
    3/26/2019
    Lower completion rates for contracted practices are associated with greater impacts on participant behavior
  • The costs of reducing nitrogen discharges to the Gulf of Mexico vary by region
    12/20/2018
    The costs of reducing nitrogen discharges to the Gulf of Mexico vary by region
  • No-till adoption slows for some crops
    11/23/2018
    No-till adoption slows for some crops
  • Conservation tillage is used on a majority of U.S. corn, soybean, and wheat acres
    9/28/2018
    Conservation tillage is used on a majority of U.S. corn, soybean, and wheat acres
  • Reducing nutrient loadings to the Gulf of Mexico most cost effectively would concentrate efforts in the Lower Mississippi sub-basin
    9/27/2018
    Reducing nutrient loadings to the Gulf of Mexico most cost effectively would concentrate efforts in the Lower Mississippi sub-basin
  • Prevalence of USDA Environmental Quality Incentives Program contracts for conservation tillage varies by region
    9/12/2018
    Prevalence of USDA Environmental Quality Incentives Program contracts for conservation tillage varies by region
  • Conservation program spending levels off but continues shift to Working Land Programs
    5/4/2018
    Conservation program spending levels off but continues shift to Working Land Programs
  • USDA’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program continues expansion of financial assistance for cover crops
    4/23/2018
    USDA’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program continues expansion of financial assistance for cover crops
  • Wetland Compliance incentives are strong in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa
    2/27/2018
    Wetland Compliance incentives are strong in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa