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March 23, 2021
 
 
 
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World Water Day: Insights On U.S. Agriculture
 

Happy spring!

I’d like to believe it's not coincidence that World Water Day (March 22) and National Ag Day (March 24) occur in the same week. After all, the fate of both water and agriculture are completely interwoven across the country.

Our research shows that farmers understand more about the water cycle and their own water sources than the average American. And 90% of farmers we surveyed reported that they take action on a daily basis to protect and conserve water. Given agriculture’s contribution to water quality and water availability challenges, these findings point to a clear opportunity. Engaging our nation’s agriculture producers as partners in protecting water is essential and holds tremendous potential.

That’s exactly why we convene America’s Conservation Ag Movement, which is at work in 5 water quality outreach areas across the country. This farmer-led program is building peer-to-peer connection opportunities to spur local conservation ag action. Find out more about this work and our key partners here.

Wishing you the best that this season of renewal has to offer!

Yours In Regenerative Ag,

Amy Skoczlas Cole
Executive Vice President
Trust In Food, a Farm Journal initiative
 
 
 
 
What Farmers Want You To Know About Water
 

Shared by Kinsie Rayburn, Conservation Knowledge Officer, Trust In Food: Of those top five risks facing humanity, water challenges are central to four of them, according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks 2019 report.

Agriculture plays an important role with water. One pathway to addressing and mitigating water challenges is to engage farmers to continuously improve water management practices.

Trust In Food, in collaboration with The Water Main at American Public Media conducted research into what farmers know about water-related issues, their concern around water resources, and what conservation actions they take to protect the water resources that their operations rely on. Overall, perspectives from more than 900 farmer-respondents, representing all 9 farm production regions and 43 states, were analyzed. Here's what we found - and what farmers want you to know about the water they manage.
 
 
 
 
New Partner Spotlight: National Association of Conservation Districts
 
Now celebrating its 75th anniversary, the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) represents more than 3,000 locally led conservation districts across the U.S. America's Conservation Ag Movement is proud to recognize NACD as a new partner working with farmers nationally, regionally and locally to support voluntary stewardship of water and soil.
 
 
 
 

News We’re Following
 

Researchers Reveal The Extent To Which Rivers Across The Country Are Losing Flow To Aquifers (via Phys.org)

Shared by Nate Birt, Vice President, Trust In Food: Two out of three U.S. rivers are leaky, meaning they're potentially losing surface water into underground acquifers, according to a new study (subscription) published in the journal Nature. Researchers at the University of California at Santa Barbara say it's a trend underway since the 1940s and are hopeful it can guide future policies on water use. It's an important reminder of the interconnected nature of ecosystems and of the risks (such as surface water loss) that farmers and ranchers must weigh.
 
 

USDA Invests $28 Million in New Projects to Help Restore Lost Wetland Functions, Benefits on Agricultural Landscapes (via USDA)

Shared by Kinsie Rayburn, Conservation Knowledge Officer, Trust In Food: "Wetlands provide a wide range of benefits to both society and the environment- wildlife habitat, recreation, nutrient cycling, reducing the negative impacts of floods, carbon sequestration, the list goes on. However, wetlands cannot provide their valuable ecosystem services if they are impaired. This is why protecting wetlands is important, not only for outdoor recreationists but for farmers as well."
 
 

What Role Can Vineyards Play in Conserving California’s Biodiversity? (via Civil Eats)

Shared by Drew Slattery, Human Dimensions Of Change Lead, Trust In Food: "An engaging piece about how California vineyards are transitioning from intensive monocropping systems to more regenerative systems that promote biodiversity - and how consumers are supporting farmers in their transition. It paints a picture that could be the case across the US, not just in wine country."
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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