Posted on May 2, 2022
Most farmers are climate skeptics. But it turns out improving their soil also fights climate...
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Two Illinois farmers set out to improve soil health in the Midwest. The program they founded also has a myriad of climate benefits.
This story was produced in partnership with the Food & Environment Reporting Network
Climate change is not a big concern for Lin Warfel. Sure, he’s noticed the increasing rainfall over the 60 odd years he’s been farming corn and soybeans in central Illinois — especially when ponds form in his soybean fields. But he’s pretty sure there’s nothing he can do about it.
This story was produced in partnership with the Food & Environment Reporting Network
Climate change is not a big concern for Lin Warfel. Sure, he’s noticed the increasing rainfall over the 60 odd years he’s been farming corn and soybeans in central Illinois — especially when ponds form in his soybean fields. But he’s pretty sure there’s nothing he can do about it.
Most farmers are climate skeptics. But it turns out improving their soil also fights climate...
Posted from kcur.org
Climate Change
Farming
Agriculture
USDA
Posted 2 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Farmer Lin Warfel’s winter cover crop, for example, sequesters carbon and stabilizes his soil with its root system. His lack of tillage keeps carbon in the ground and makes his soil hardier and less likely to runoff in a rain or wind storm.
He doesn’t use STAR practices in all of his fields. But the ones that do incorporate STAR practices have a five-star rating.
It’s something more farmers will need to implement in order to meet President Biden’s lofty goal of establishing a net-zero agriculture industry in the U.S.
“We've been hoping for something like this for a long time,” said Paige Buck with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Illinois.
Buck says the USDA has been glad to see the STAR program spread throughout Illinois and into three other states, including Iowa, Indiana and Colorado. She says what’s made it so popular is that it's farmer-led and farmer-trusted.
“Sometimes getting advice from the government or from getting it online, sometimes that's not what a farmer needs,” she said. “What they need to do is they need to hear from another farmer.”
If we hope to stave off the worst effects of climate change, she said more programs like this are needed."
..."Farmer Lin Warfel’s winter cover crop, for example, sequesters carbon and stabilizes his soil with its root system. His lack of tillage keeps carbon in the ground and makes his soil hardier and less likely to runoff in a rain or wind storm.
He doesn’t use STAR practices in all of his fields. But the ones that do incorporate STAR practices have a five-star rating.
It’s something more farmers will need to implement in order to meet President Biden’s lofty goal of establishing a net-zero agriculture industry in the U.S.
“We've been hoping for something like this for a long time,” said Paige Buck with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Illinois.
Buck says the USDA has been glad to see the STAR program spread throughout Illinois and into three other states, including Iowa, Indiana and Colorado. She says what’s made it so popular is that it's farmer-led and farmer-trusted.
“Sometimes getting advice from the government or from getting it online, sometimes that's not what a farmer needs,” she said. “What they need to do is they need to hear from another farmer.”
If we hope to stave off the worst effects of climate change, she said more programs like this are needed."
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