Conservation agriculture can create far-reaching environmental and economic benefits, yet farmers may need help bearing the short-term risks and costs. This study asks if two actors in the Iowa corn value chain—landowners and insurance providers—could be tapped to support practices such as no-till, cover cropping, and crop rotation.
The authors flag an important obstacle to wider adoption: the time lag farmers face before their yields increase, which in some cases could take years. To further develop economic incentives for farmers, the study recommends systematic research on the yield effects of conservation agriculture.
At present, the study found that 23% of Iowa respondents were using cover crops, mostly on fewer than 100 acres, suggesting that farmers may be trying them out before committing to adoption on a larger scale.
Media Coverage:
•Farm Journal/AgWeb
•Iowa Farmer Today
•Take Part
•National Wildlife Federation
•Big Picture Agriculture
•The Grand Isle Independent
•Iowa Environmental Focus
•Twin Cities Daily Planet
Citations:
•ADM/Unilever brochure, “Sustainable Soy: Continuous Improvement Program”