The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) has brought over 200 producers to engage in soil health and conservation practices through outreach and research by participating in the soil health champions network.
When implementing soil health practices on farmland, NACD and its members advocate for the “big three” soil health practices: crop rotation, cover crops and no or minimum tillage systems.
Beth Mason, NACD’s North Central region representative said that the main goal of the soil health champion’s network is to get more acres in the United States to implement these measures.
“How do we bring this new innovative way of producing food and grain and everything to the masses?” Mason said. “How do we push past the practices of early adopters to implement these new sustainable and regenerative practices.”
One of the biggest and most impactful advantages to being a soil health champion is outreach and engagement, Mason said. She said that soil health champions work to increase awareness and get support for sustainable agriculture through advocacy and education for multiple audiences.
“When people start utilizing their titles and say ‘I’m a soil health champion with NACD’ it gets a lot of conversations going.” Mason said, “this brings a lot more awareness to our overall goal and mission by using those titles.”
Candice Abinanti, director of communications at NACD said that it’s important to note the conservation districts that create NACD and the membership is completely voluntary.
“Conservation districts are a voluntary, locally lead, incentive-based approach to conservation.” Abinanti said, “hopefully this entices producers to implement conservation on their land.”
Local engagement and outreach isn’t the only place soil health champions are hard at work. They also are busy using their titles to advocate conservation practices to government officials and host them for field days.
“We’ve had some of our officers go and speak before special committees in Congress about conservation in the farm bill.” Mason said, “a lot of congressmen and women’s staffs are invited to field days to experience firsthand what’s taking place on operations.”
Field days are a great way to showcase to others what some producers are doing on their land, Mason said, but it also is a great way to help attract new soil health champions as well.
Mason said they’re always looking for producers to become soil health champions because at the end of the day they’re the ones who will be able to make the change that NACD is looking for.
“Producers are listening to their peers more than they’re listening to us here at NACD.” Mason said, “we could tell them this all day long, but what they’re looking for is someone who has skin in the game.”
Producers are looking for someone who is also putting their livelihood on the line to make these recommended changes, Mason said. She said that the soil health champions are encouragers to producers wanting to get involved with the network.
Mason said that NACD is always seeking individuals in agriculture and beyond to become members of NACD and even the soil health champions network to advocate for conservation measures.
“There are no age or generational restrictions,” Mason said. “NACD hopes to serve as a place for everyone to join the conservation movement.”
Macie Miller, Lead Writer; Kloe Corn, Photo Director; Tatum Christie, Design Coordinator; Aspen Fenter, Digital and Advertising Manager; Kaylee Hendricks, Digital and Advertising Manager