... Water Management
Cover Crops
Cover Crop Survey
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)
Demonstration Projects
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
Grazing and Rangeland
Hypoxia
Know Your Watershed
Leadership
Mississippi River Basin Initiative (MRBI)
No-Till
National Aquatic Resource Survey (NARS)
National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI)
Nutrient Management
Operational Tillage Assessment System (OpTIS)
Pasture
Ridge Till
Soil Health
Strip Till
Tours
Training
Water Quality
Watershed Groups Watershed Implementation and Innovation Network (WIIN)
Weed Management
Wetlands
|
... in 2005, these statistically-based surveys have begun to provide EPA, States, Tribes and others partners with information to provide nationally consistent reports on the condition of the nation’s waters, to identify national and regional water quality priorities and to evaluate the effectiveness of the nation’s investment in water quality protection and restoration. These assessments report on core indicators of aquatic life and public health using standardized field and laboratory methods and a national quality control program.
The NARS reports provide unbiased estimates of the condition of the broader population of a water resource type based on a representative sample of individual waters selected using a randomized approach. The first cycle of the surveys will establi ... more. |
Links to the National Surveys
The National Aquatic Resource Surveys
The National Wetland Condition Assessment
The National Coastal Condition Assessment
The National Lakes Assessment
The National Rivers and Streams Assessment
Aquatic Resource Monitoring, EPA ORD
Aquatic Resource Monitoring, EPA ORD
This Web site provides information on monitoring of aquatic resources in the US, primarily focused on design and analysis of probability based surveys. Links are provided to other aquatic resour ... more. |
... and which management practices will improve soil function.
SOIL BIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Respiration
All soil breathes. The rate of respiration, which is determined by measuring carbon dioxide production in the soil, indicates biological activity. High respiration does not always indicate good soil quality.
When oxygen is added to the plow depth, as in conventional tillage methods, biological activity increases temporarily and microorganisms rapidly decompose organic matter.
Mike Hubbs (left), agronomist with NRCS, collecting core sample for bulk density while waiting on respiration test.
This high rate of biological activity in a system of low residue inputs decreases soil organic matter. Less organic matter degrades overall soil quali ... more. |
John Vrieze's on-farm wastewater treatment system starts with manure (left), removes the suspended solids to create low-P "tea water" (center), then filters out dissolved solids to yield clear water (right).
Graphic courtesy of Integrated Separation Systems
Wastewater Treatment Plants Dewater Dairy Manure
by Steve Werblow
Ne ... more. |
... State University)
Soren Rundquist (Regrow Ag)
Dave Gustafson (Conservation Technology Information Center)
Hosted by The Nature Conservancy
OpTIS 2.0:
New Data, Regions,
& Insights
June 16, 2021
Description: The Nature Conservancy, the Conservation Technology Information Center, and Regrow Agriculture share the latest expansion of the Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS) data. Guest speakers include: Linda Prokopy, Ph.D., Purdue University; Margaret Jodlowski, Ph.D., Ohio State University; and Ian Crawford, Sustainability Manager, Simplot Agribusiness.
OpTIS and DNDC:
Mining Diamonds from
Soil Carbon Data
October 16, 2020
Description: View the hour-long webinar recording from Oct. 16, 2020. This is the second ... more. |
... to farmers’ challenges is the growing awareness of environmental issues, such as climate change and water quality. Research is underway to determine how a comprehensive set of fertilizer best management practices (BMP) and conservation best management practices may help reduce nutrient pollution and soil erosion.
To help address these issues, the 4R nutrient stewardship system was developed. This peer-reviewed set of BMPs promotes the use of the right fertilizer source at the right rate, the right time and the right place.
The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) board of directors recently adopted the 4R nutrient stewardship system as the basis for managing nutrients at the field level.
The 4R system continues to gain support ... more. |
Automated Use of Remote Sensing Data to Monitor Conservation Practices
The Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS), a Regrow technology (https://www.regrow.ag), uses remote sensing (satellite-based) data to monitor conservation practices in agricultural systems, including various forms of reduced tillage and the planting of winter cover crops. While the OpTIS calculations are performed and validated at the farm-field scale, the privacy of individual producers is fully protec ... more. |
... quantities of residue and may include the use of cover crops after low residue producing crops. CRM includes all field operations that affect residue amounts, orientation and distribution throughout the period requiring protection. Site-specific residue cover amounts needed are usually expressed in percentage but may also be in pounds. CRM is an “umbrella” term encompassing several tillage systems including no-till, ridge-till, mulch-till, and reduced-till.
Conservation Tillage Types (30 percent or more crop residue left, after planting).
Any tillage and planting system that covers 30 percent or more of the soil surface with crop residue, after planting, to reduce soil erosion by water. Where soil erosion by wind is the primary concern, any system that maintains at least 1, ... more. |
... closed tile intakes and other best management practices.
"The farmer has to think about water before the rain droplets strike the soil," Thompson notes. "The first thought is how to try to prevent the raindrop from striking bare soil. Once it's on the soil surface, we want it seeping into the ground and not running off the field, so we're working on tillage systems and buffering riparian areas.
"We've accomplished all those goals and had a big positive response in our surface waters and wetlands," he adds. "But the water passing through the drainage systems still needed some sort of treatment and is still very energy-charged when it comes out the outlet."
As a result, drainage water management co ... more. |
Remote Sensing Technology Drives Conservation Solutions
New Data Show Soil Health Practices on IA, IL and IN Farmland Is Moving in the Right Direction
Today marks the first release of regional-scale data from the Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS), a new tool that has the potential to unlock conservation solutions for a variety of food and agricultural supply chain stakeholders. These data document the level of adoption of soil health practices for Illinois, Indiana and Iowa from 2005 to 2018. By the end of July, the same data will be available for the entire Corn Belt—an area extending from e ... more. |
... in the soils. Increased organic matter serves as a food source to various soil organisms and increases the biological activity. Higher biological activity increases nutrient cycling and availability and also reduces nutrient loss from runoff. Soil structure and tilth are improved, increasing infiltration rates and reducing compaction.
Despite these benefits, many farmers still believe tillage leads to higher corn yields. In a single year, this may be true. With tillage, the breakdown of organic matter is accelerated, and nutrients are quickly released to the crop. However, continuous tillage decreases soil organic matter, decreasing the overall level of released nutrients. With less organic matter, soil productivity and soil structure decline. Over time, our soils have lost 50 to 70 p ... more. |
Conservation Tillage Facts
What is it?
It is a system of crop production with little, if any, tillage. It increases the residue from the crop that remains
in the field after harvest through planting. This results in increased natural recycling of crop residues.
Used on 38% (109 million acres) of all U.S. cropland (293 million planted acres).
Goal is 50% (146 million acres) of the pla ... more. |
... for data on the adoption of conservation practices across the U.S. Though federal support of the popular crop residue management transect survey ended in 2004, scientists, policy makers and marketers have continued to tap CTIC's databases. Now, we're at the forefront of using remote sensing to bring back state, regional and national data on crop residue and cover crop management.
Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS)
The Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS) has been developed by Regrow, TNC, and CTIC as a method for the automated use of remote sensing (satellite-based) data to monitor conservation practices in agricultural systems, including various forms of reduced tillage and the planting of winter cover crops.
Crop Residue Management Survey Data
Since 1 ... more. |
A massive new data set chronicling residue management and winter cover crop use in Iowa, Illinois and Indiana from 2005 through 2018 is now in the final stages of preparation for release on CTIC's website. The resource—the Operational Tillage Information System, or OpTIS—uses publicly available remote sensing data to monitor the adoption of no-till, conservation tillage, and winter cover crops. Data covering the rest of the Corn Belt, extending from eastern Ohio to eastern Kansas and Nebraska and from the Missouri Bootheel to the Red River Valley of North Dakota, will be available in the next few weeks.
&n ... more. |
... Quality Monitoring Workshop
November 2007
Presentation Titles
Watershed Planning and Nine Key Elements
Getting the Big Picture: How toLook at Your Watershed
Purposes ofChemical, Physical and Biological Monitoring
Common Monitoring Parameters and Measurement Methods
Accessing Existing Web-based Data for Assessment and Planning
Using Riverwatch Data for Assessment and Planning
Observational Approaches-NRCS SVAP, Aerial Photos, Habitat RBPs
Characterizing Baseline Waterbody Conditions
Interpreting and Using Existing Data to Identify Pollution Causes and Sources
Monitoring and Pollutant Load Estimation
Simple Spreadsheet Models and More Complex Models
Id ... more. |
... be expensive to install technology to deal with the pollution coming out of these systems. They’re interested in coordinating with nonpoint-source contributors.”
Although the EPA and USDA grants were awarded in the fall of 2009, EPRI has worked on water quality trading issues for years. Prior to applying for these grants, EPRI had invested nearly $1 million in a business case assessment, running cost-benefit scenarios and determining interest from potential stakeholders.
“EPRI has been working in the Ohio River Basin for quite some time,” Fox says. “It passed our feasibility assessment against 30 criteria for a quality water quality trading program. We did our due diligence for four years, and the decision wasn’t made off the cuff.”
Many E ... more. |
... be expensive to install technology to deal with the pollution coming out of these systems. They’re interested in coordinating with nonpoint-source contributors.”
Although the EPA and USDA grants were awarded in the fall of 2009, EPRI has worked on water quality trading issues for years. Prior to applying for these grants, EPRI had invested nearly $1 million in a business case assessment, running cost-benefit scenarios and determining interest from potential stakeholders.
“EPRI has been working in the Ohio River Basin for quite some time,” Fox says. “It passed our feasibility assessment against 30 criteria for a quality water quality trading program. We did our due diligence for four years, and the decision wasn’t made off the cuff.”
Many E ... more. |
Intro to Watershed Planning & 9 Elements
Getting the Big Picture
Purposes of Chemical, Physical, and Biological Monitoring
Common Monitoring Parameters
Accessing Existing and Web Based Data
Using Hoosier RiverWatch Data for Assessment and Planning
Observational Approaches to Monitoring and Assessment
Characterizing Baseline Water Body Conditions
Interpreting and Using Existing Data to Identify Pollution Causes and Sources
Monitoring and Pollutant Load Estimation
Load Estimation Models and Spreadsheets
Identifying Critical Areas for BMP Applications
Linking BMPs to Pollutant Sources
Data Quality Objectives and Q ... more. |
The Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS) has been developed by Applied GeoSolutions (AGS) and the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) as a method for the automated use of remote sensing (satellite-based) data to monitor conservation practices in agricultural systems, including various forms of reduced tillage and the planting of winter cover crops. While the OpTIS calculations are perform ... more. |
Crop Nutrient Management Facts
What is it?
It is a system of crop production with little, if any, tillage. It increases the residue from the crop that
remains in the field after harvest through planting. This results in increased natural recycling of crop residues.
Used on 38% (109 million acres) of all U.S. cropland (293 million planted acres).
Goal is 50% (146 million acres) of the planted cropland in the U.S. by 2004.
Where is the use of conservation tillage expected to i ... more. |
... and training demonstrations as well as produce UC Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) publications and internet materials that summarize research that the workgroup conducts. In addition, the Workgroup pursues means and opportunities for increasing the adoption of conservation tillage in California.
Mission, Goals and Contact Information
Workgroup Purpose, Structure and Operational Procedures:
The purpose of the DANR Conservation Tillage Workgroup is to 1) develop knowledge and exchange information on CT production systems, 2) coordinate related research and extension programs, 3) respond to needs for information on reduced tillage production alternatives, and 4) plan and conduct statewide and regional conferences, workshops and training demonstrations as well as produc ... more. |
... dining on their Christmas feasts in the cabs of their combines.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Nov. 17, 2009 “Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin,” only 54 percent of the nation’s corn crop had been harvested, compared to the five-year average of 89 percent at that date – the slowest rate in 35 years.
Regardless of a farmer’s chosen tillage methods, he’s likely felt the pain and frustration of a slow, tedious harvest. However, for producers choosing no-till farming, the challenges might be a bit less painful.
Producers using no-till cropping systems sometimes may see a delay in planting, as the soil can take a few more days to warm to planting temperatures. However, the benefits of a no-till system can far outweigh ... more. |
... the following CTIC resources in the Free Download section of CTIC’s Online Store.
Better Soil, Better Yields is a guidebook to improving soil organic matter and infiltration with continuous no-till.
Facilitating Conservation Farming Practices and Enhancing Environmental Sustainability with Agricultural Biotechnology explores environmental benefits of conservation tillage, facilitated significantly by biotechnology crops.
A Review of BMPs for Managing Crop Nutrients and Conservation Tillage to Improve Water Quality reviews research on nutrient best management practices (BMPs) for nitrogen and phosphorus, with emphasis on integrating BMPs with conservation tillage.
CTIC leads initiatives to promote and encourage adoption of conservation systems ... more. |
... Data to Drive and Inform Climate-Smart Livestock and Dairy Agriculture at Scale." Greg Thoma of Colorado State University, Matthew Jones and John Shriver of Regrow Ag, and Kris Johnson of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) will present. Click here for the Summit agenda.
The remote sensing technology and algorithm that will be discussed at the Summit are an extension of OpTIS, the Operational Tillage Information System.
OpTIS uses public satellite data and a proprietary algorithm developed by Regrow to track cover crops and tillage practices from 2005 through 2020. Data at the HUC 8 watershed scale or USDA crop reporting district level are available free at the CTIC website. An intuitive visualization tool on the CTIC site also allows users to explore OpTIS data run throu ... more. |
... Callie North, CTIC (north@ctic.org; (317) 450-9137) or
Steve Werblow (steve@stevewerblow.com; (541) 951-4212)
NEW OpTIS DATA FROM SATELLITE IMAGERY SHOW 2.5x RISE IN CORN BELT COVER CROPS
Corn Belt cover crop acres climbed from 2.8 million to 7.5 million between 2015 and 2021
WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana (February 2, 2023)—A new tranche of data from the Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS) tracked a 250% climb in cover crop acreage—from 2.8 million acres in 2015 to 7.5 million acres in 2021—led by row crop farmers in the southern portion of the region. The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), which hosts free access to OpTIS data on its ctic.org website, dubbed this week's release "OpTIS 3.0."
& ... more. |
OpTIS 2.1—FEATURING 2020 DATA—WILL BE ONLINE FREE BY YEAR-END
A new year's worth of remote sensing data on tillage and winter cover crops from the Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS) will be available by the end of December, expanding the dataset that extends back to 2005 across the Corn Belt.
A powerful, intuitive visualization tool on the CTIC website allows visitors to explore trends in tillage and cover crop adoption through maps and charts while manipulating geography, date range and crop rotation. OpTIS data will be visibe on our ... more. |
... or a farmer that fits this description, contact Chad Watts at watts@ctic.org.
OpTIS:
CTIC is currently working with Applied GeoSolutions, a data analytics company based out of New Hampshire, to refine and implement a remote sensing-based system that estimates crop residue amounts and determines the presence or absence of cover crops on cropland. Through this technology, called the Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS), CTIC will lead the next phase of the Crop Residue Management (CRM) survey, which CTIC operated between 1989 and 2004.
The current OpTIS project will collect crop residue and cover crops data from the U.S. Corn Belt between 2005 and 2017, filling gaps in tillage records that have widened since CTIC’s last national survey in 2004. In addition ... more. |
... or a farmer that fits this description, contact Chad Watts at watts@ctic.org.
OpTIS:
CTIC is currently working with Applied GeoSolutions, a data analytics company based out of New Hampshire, to refine and implement a remote sensing-based system that estimates crop residue amounts and determines the presence or absence of cover crops on cropland. Through this technology, called the Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS), CTIC will lead the next phase of the Crop Residue Management (CRM) survey, which CTIC operated between 1989 and 2004.
The current OpTIS project will collect crop residue and cover crops data from the U.S. Corn Belt between 2005 and 2017, filling gaps in tillage records that have widened since CTIC’s last national survey in 2004. In addition ... more. |
... a farmer that fits this description, contact Tammy Taylor attaylor@ctic.org
OpTIS:
CTIC is currently working with Applied GeoSolutions, a data analytics company based out of New Hampshire, to refine and implement a remote sensing-based system that estimates crop residue amounts and determines the presence or absence of cover crops on cropland. Through this technology, called the Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS), CTIC will lead the next phase of the Crop Residue Management (CRM) survey, which CTIC operated between 1989 and 2004.
The current OpTIS project will collect crop residue and cover crops data from the U.S. Corn Belt between 2005 and 2017, filling gaps in tillage records that have widened since CTIC’s last national survey in 2004. In addition ... more. |
... Mentioned in the Presentation:
10-State Standards
EPA Manuals
Decentralized Water Resources Collaborative/WERF Project Products
Lowe, et al. 2007
CIDWT Practitioner Curriculum
Factors Affecting the Performance of Primary Treatment in Decentralized Wastewater Systems (D'Amato 2008)
IAMPO Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC)
Assessment of Grease Interceptor Performance (Ducoste 2008)
Resources for manifold diameter vs flow
November 30th: Focus on Decentralized Wastewater System Design : Part 2
Advanced Treatment Options: Customized and Proprietary Units Clustered Collection and Treatment Systems Treatment System Operation and Maintenance
View the November 30th presentation, Vic D' ... more. |
Introduction
CTIC has partnered since 2010with Regrow and The Nature Conservancy on the development, testing and application of the Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS), an automated system to map tillage, residue cover, winter cover, and soil health practices using remote sensing data. The latest version of the OpTIS data are available below for Croplands. With this latest update (April 2024), the partners are now also releasing analogous data for Grasslands. All pages include charts and maps to further enhance identification ... more. |
The National Crop Residue Management Survey is a valuable tool that can be used to measure adoption of important soil-saving practices, demonstrate energy cost savings and monitor efforts to improve the environment. The Survey has been compiled and tracked by CTIC since 1982 and is the only survey in the U.S. to measure and track the type of tillage used by crop at the county level. Tillage methods tracked include no-till, ridge-till, reduced-till and intensive/conventional tillage, according to NRCS definitions.
Project Partners
State offices of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, local NRCS field offices, Conservation Districts and Extension offices
Project Description
The nationwide survey of cons ... more. |
Risks to Recreation
Integrating Children’s Exposure in Risk Assessment
Helena Solo-Gabriele
No Bio Available
No Bio Delivered
Video Length - 9:10
Outbreaks Associated with Untreated Recreational Water — United States, 2009-2017
Michele Hlavsa
Speaker Bio
Michele Hlavsa is chief of the U.S. CDC's Healthy Swimming Program and the agency’s lead on the Model Aquatic Health Code. She collaborates with U.S. and ... more. |
... says Dan Gillespie, a corn and soybean grower from Nebraska's Loess Hills who also serves as the state no-till specialist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Nebraska. “He stopped by and said, ‘I had a wonderful time no-tilling my field yesterday. My neighbor had a four-wheel-drive tractor and a field cultivator out, and while he was running out there doing tillage, I was planting.'”
Back to Basics
In April, Gillespie compared the difference in time and fuel between conventional tillage and no-till.
“I wanted to give farmers a direct look so they could say, ‘this is how much it's costing me and this is how much time it's taking. Is it worth it?'” Gillespie says.
... more. |
... primary hypothesis is that the way in which information is presented will significantly affect farmers’ interest in and eventual adoption of offset-eligible practices. In many cases,it isbelieved thatthis framing effect will be as strong as or stronger than the effect of a modest offset payment.
The information presented promotes conservation tillage with an environmental stewardship frame versus a neutral, control frame, and discussing the potential for offset payments for conservation tillage or not. As noted, we intend to determine if the framed treatments will generate greater interest in conservation tillage than unframed treatments, including unframed treatments that mention potential offset opportunities.
Partner
Purdue Univers ... more. |
CTIC has partnered with Regrowand The Nature Conservancy on the development, testing and application of the Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS), an automated system to map tillage, residue cover, winter cover, and soil health practices using remote sensing data. While OpTIS calculations are performed at the farm-field scale using publicly available data, the privacy of individual producers is fully protected by reporting only spatially-aggregated results at regional and watershed scales.
OpTIS-based ... more. |
... ranchers with conservation systems that fit their local conditions, their operations and their economics. Environmental sustainability depends on economic sustainability, and it is great to see the IPCC acknowledge that."
Tracking Trends
Komp points out that a new project CTIC has been involved with, the Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS), will play an integral role in helping track trends in conservation systems and even help enable farmers to earn income from sequestering carbon in their soils. OpTIS runs data from satellite images through sophisticated software to track trends in land use, including winter cover crops, no-till and reduced tillage. Results are reported on the county or USDA cro ... more. |
... just five years, to more than 15 million acres in 2017.
As for herbicides like glyphosate, they can play a critical role in conservation practices. Modern agriculture includes mechanization and intensification, which provides many important societal benefits including greater crop yields, more efficient animal production enterprises, and multiple new consumer products. Conventional tillage is often an essential contributor to these benefits, but there are some scenarios where it can also lead to extensive soil disturbance – and the resulting erosion of top soil and unwanted delivery of soil sediment to surface waters.
That’s where glyphosate and other herbicides became part of the conservation solution – by reducing the need for mechanical tillage. Co ... more. |
FREE WEBINAR ON USING SATELLITE DATA TO MODEL WATER QUALITY, APRIL 26 NOON EDT
A free webinar on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 at 12:00 pm EDT will feature key insights from researchers using data from the Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS) to help model water quality. Register here for the webinar and question-and-answer session with the panel.
Speakers during the live, hour-long "OpTIS 3.0: Unlocking Water Quality Insights" program will include:
Dr. Asmita Murumkar, The Ohio State University, using OpTIS data on tillage and cover crops in their modeling work in Ohio&# ... more. |
Working closely with US EPA, CTIC is taking the agency's three-day National Recreational Water Quality Workshop virtual this year. Click here for the agenda.
The workshop provides a nationwide forum for recreational water quality managers, stakeholders, researchers and public health officials at all levels to share information and ideas about implementing successful recreational water quality p ... more. |
... a farmer that fits this description, contact Tammy Taylor attaylor@ctic.org
OpTIS:
CTIC is currently working with Applied GeoSolutions, a data analytics company based out of New Hampshire, to refine and implement a remote sensing-based system that estimates crop residue amounts and determines the presence or absence of cover crops on cropland. Through this technology, called the Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS), CTIC will lead the next phase of the Crop Residue Management (CRM) survey, which CTIC operated between 1989 and 2004.
The current OpTIS project will collect crop residue and cover crops data from the U.S. Corn Belt between 2005 and 2017, filling gaps in tillage records that have widened since CTIC’s last national survey in 2004. In addition ... more. |
... farmer that fits this description, contact Tammy Taylor at taylor@ctic.org.
OpTIS:
CTIC is currently working with Applied GeoSolutions, a data analytics company based out of New Hampshire, to refine and implement a remote sensing-based system that estimates crop residue amounts and determines the presence or absence of cover crops on cropland. Through this technology, called the Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS), CTIC will lead the next phase of the Crop Residue Management (CRM) survey, which CTIC operated between 1989 and 2004.
The current OpTIS project will collect crop residue and cover crops data from the U.S. Corn Belt between 2005 and 2017, filling gaps in tillage records that have widened since CTIC's last national survey in 2004. In additi ... more. |
Keep nutrients in the Right Place, where crops can use them.
The farmer uses real-time kinematic precision guidance to apply N fertilizer in fall or early spring in a closely-controlled location relative to where the seed will be sown.
Strip-till conservation systems use minimal tillage. They combine soil drying and warming benefits of conventional tillage and soil-protecting advantages of no-till by disturbing only the portion of soil that will contain the seed row.
Here we are using fall applied N with an RTK strip-till system and comparing it to a conventional chisel plow system.
A special feature at this site is the demonstration of N use efficiency (NUE) rate comparis ... more. |
Keep nutrients in the Right Place, where crops can use them.
The farmer uses real-time kinematic precision guidance to apply N fertilizer in fall or early spring in a closely-controlled location relative to where the
seed will be sown.
Strip-till conservation systems use minimal tillage. They combine soil drying and warming benefits of conventional tillage and soil-protecting advantages of no-till by disturbing only the portion of soil that will contain the seed row.
Here we are using fall applied N with an RTK strip-till system and comparing it to a conventional chisel plow system.
A special feature at this site is the demonstration of N ... more. |
Leaving last year's crop residue on the soil surface by limiting tillage. Includes no-till, mulch-till and ridge till.
How it works
Leaving last year's crop residue on the surface before and during planting operations provides cover for the soil at a critical time of the year. The residue is left on the surface by reducing tillage operations and turning the soil less. Pieces of crop residue shield soil particles from rain and wind until plants can produce ... more. |
... the perfect time to join CTIC- join CTIC as a member as we celebrate our 40th anniversary and hostour annual tour.
https://ctic.org/Membership/Membership_Info
YOUR MEMBERSHIP IN CTIC SUPPORTS:
• Innovations in tracking the adoption of conservation on the ground...from field-level validation to online surveys to remote sensing
• Demonstrations of conservation systems
• Education on everything from cover crop establishment to cutting-edge tools and models
• Training for farmers, CCAs and retail agronomists, conservation agency staff, federal staffers and more
• Ongoing dialogues with policymakers and regulators
•Innovations like the new PLUS-UP stimulus program and the Conservation Validation Network
• And much ... more. |
This project, funded by a 2008 Conservation Innovation Grant, promotes the use of cover crops to ease farmers’ transition to use of continuous no-till. Continuous no-till (CNT) has been around long enough that there is little doubt among experts of its many advantages. Despite the proven economic and environmental benefits of CNT, some farmers remain hesitant to fully adopt the system. In 2004, the National Crop Residue Management survey indicated that only 22.6 percent of farmers were no-tilling. Attempting CNT without proper technical knowledge may cause a disastrous first year and taint opinions toward the practice. Potential economic risks and yield losses during the first five years also can cause farmers to resist CNT. However, if farmers can maintain a CNT system for th ... more. |
... said Dan Uthe, an industrial process consultant with Novecta in Johnson, Iowa.
The first day of the consultation was dedicated to exploring the science of soil carbon sequestration in the soil. Researchers from the South American tropics, the Australian bush, the Midwestern United States and China presented the results of their studies on how soil carbon levels responded to various tillage regimes. Not surprisingly, there were no simple answers.
Changes in soil carbon are small – imagine finding 1,000 pounds of carbon in a mass of soil 2.5 acres in area and 3 feet deep. Complex chemistry dictates that the soil can only sequester a limited amount of carbon per year, and that after a certain number of years – scientists believe it is 15 to 20 years – a field r ... more. |
... beneficial results are:
1. Soil Quality
2. Economics
3. Water Resources
Soil Quality Concerns
The general soil quality condition indicates a declining trend in soil organic matter content. This indicator is the reason the Southern Plains Agricultural Resources Coalition chose soil quality concern on cropland as the primary resource concern. This decline is largely due to the tillage practices and lack of crop rotations employed over the last 40 or 50 years. Soil organic matter levels are characteristically below 0.5% on cropland and continue to trend downward. This is well below the 3.5 to 4.5% present before tillage was introduced to this area.
Among other things, tillage practices on cropland have been used to bury and/or chop up crop residues in order to speed up th ... more. |
... data to explore whether crop insurance programs discourage growers from planting cover crops.
The webinar, recorded live on April 29, is part of a six-webinar series coordinated by CTIC over the next two years. The April program also features Soren Rundquist of Regrow Ag and CTIC's Dave Gustafson describing updates in the algorithm and coverage area of OpTIS.
The Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS) uses a proprietary algorithm to analyze satellite imagery to identify winter cover crops and crop residue levels. Data are available from 2005 to 2020 and may be queried free at the HUC8 or Crop Reporting District level across a range of commodity crop rotations.
OpTIS data have also been run through the De-Nitrification/DeComposition model to provi ... more. |
... chance to get a (virtual) front row seat for the latest OpTIS research updates! Since you last joined us for an OpTIS webinar, we’ve added data for 2019-2020 and even more states.
We’ll be joined by Prof. Roderick Rejesus of NC State as he’ll describe how he used remote sensing data from OpTIS to study the impact of crop insurance programs on cover crop use. The Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS), a Regrow technology (https://www.regrow.ag), uses satellite data and a sophisticated algorithm to monitor conservation practices in agricultural systems, including reduced tillage and winter cover crops.
This free webinar event wouldn’t be complete without hearing from Soren Rundquist (Regrow) and Dave Gustafson (CTIC) as they review the late ... more. |
... for new partnerships that will lead us through 2021 and into our 40th anniversary year in 2022.
Meanwhile, we and our partners are making inroads to develop a market-based mechanism to compensate farmers for reducing phosphorus levels in the waterways of the Western Lake Erie Basin.
With other partners, we are getting ready to release an expanded data set from our Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS). In addition to expanding the geography and adding another year of data, we are fine-tuning it to make OpTIS data a mainstay of evaluating changes in tillage and cover crop practices across a growing expanse of the Corn Belt.
We are constantly finding new ways to share information on cover crops, soil health, conservation practices from deep in the ... more. |
... farmers in the Maumee and Sandusky river basins to reduce P loads by 40 percent using subsurface application, cover crops, and buffer strips. Through educational materials, workshops, and one-on-one training, CTIC, The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) and the Soil Health Partnership (SHP) will provide technical support to farmers on sustainable nutrient management practices.
Using the Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS)—which analyzes publicly available satellite imagery to track tillage and cover crop adoption at the watershed scale—the field-level Nutrient Tracking Tool (NTT) and models and monitoring data from Heidelburg University, CTIC and its partners will create baselines for water quality trading programs and monitor adoption of the conservation practices. T ... more. |
... 12, 2018)—The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), a clearinghouse of information on conservation farming practices, has launched its brand-new website at www.ctic.org. The easy-to-search, simple-to-navigate site contains thousands of documents and links to information on conservation farming systems. Among the highlights are:
A searchable database from the Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS), which uses satellite imagery to provide detailed data on tillage practices and cover crops at the county or watershed (HUC-8) scale;
Cover crop insight, including details of the economic and environmental benefits of cover crops and the results of five annual farmer surveys on cover crop use;
Tips on organizing watershed groups and multi-stakeholder conserv ... more. |
... Ms. Blackwood has submitted two patent applications and led six workshops training the next generation of scientists in molecular applications. In her free time, Ms. Blackwood enjoys gardening, boating, cooking, and spending time with her daughter Jessie.
Video Length - 9:33
Predictive Models and Fast Detection of Coliphages for a Paradigmatic Improvement in Rapid Assessment of Water Quality
Anicet Blanch
Speaker Bio
Anicet R. Blanch is Full Professor of Microbiology at the University of Barcelona. His research in Water and Environmental Microbiology is focused on the development of selective and specific methods for the detection of bacteria, on Microbial Source Tracking and on the use of bacteriophages as viral indicators in water, food and sludge. He is ... more. |
... emergence of this ecoservice economy, especially to policymakers and traders who will serve as the driving force for the development of policies related to ecosystem services.
To learn more about this book, visit www.ecocommerce.us.com.
About the Writer: Tim Gieseke farms part-time in southern Minnesota and through Ag Resource Strategies, LLC provides agro-environmental assessment services. His book is titled, EcoCommerce 101: The Emergence of an Invisible Hand to Sustain the Bio-Economy and is scheduled for release in May 2010.
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... “similar to” ditches.
The stakes, and the potential benefits, are high for both the medium-sized producer and the rest of the stakeholders in their watershed. Applying for an NPDES permit can be expensive and time-consuming—a particular challenge for relatively modest-sized farms—and compliance can require expensive modifications to a farm operation. Clear-eyed assessment and a clear sense of water quality regulations can help medium AFO operators protect water quality while reducing their regulatory burden.
CAFO vs. AFO
At their most basic, CAFOs are animal feeding operations of roughly 1,000 animal units or more in which animals are confined or fed for 45 days or more in a 12-month period in an area where crops or vegetation is not maintained. Many CAFOs ... more. |
This project, funded by EPA's Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, will demonstrate the effectiveness of cover crops and conservation tillage systems to decrease agricultural nonpoint source pollution and inform producers about the economic benefits of the systems. CTIC and partners will assist agricultural producers in the Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, and Lake Huron watersheds with implementation of cover crops and conservation tillage systems on 15,000 acres by April 2013. Producers will receive technical, educational and social support ... more. |
... for himself. Impressed by what he saw, he came home and started raising money to bring the technology to Minnesota. With an investment by Fibrowatt and bonds to raise the balance of the $200 million it took to create the project, Fibrominn was born. It officially opened in October 2007.
The Wiese brothers found their solution a little closer to home in the $3.6-million Elimanure system, designed by Wisconsin-based Skill Associates. Though their 2,600 owned acres and 2,600 rented acres represented enough land for agronomically acceptable manure application, building a power plant on the dairy reduced their manure movement from an 8-mile radius to about 1,000 feet of pipeline.
Because water comprises more than half of the weight of dairy manure, the Wieses' Elim ... more. |
... to 105 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Those are ideal conditions for the bacteria that convert solids in the manure into methane and carbon dioxide. As the bacteria work their way through the manure over the course of days or weeks, the gas is captured, cleansed to enhance its energy value and fed to methane-powered engines that generate electricity. Heat from the process feeds the manure-warming system and other industrial processes, including Inland Empire’s reverse-osmosis desalination plant, which produces 14 million gallons of drinking water daily for local residents.
While the generators spin out 1 megawatt (MW) of electricity per day—enough to supply about half of what IEUA consumes—the environment wins in other ways, too. Odors and pathogens are controlled, volati ... more. |
No Tillage: The relationship between no tillage, crop residues, plants and soil nutrition
Expands the breadth and depth of knowledge of the no-till system offers new ideas to those who are ready to move into the next level of conservation tillage systems. To order online, click here.
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Adoption of Climate-Smart Ag Practices
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... carbon capture, soil health, remote sensing,andmore."
The Conservation Technology Information Center brings together farmers, crop advisers, policymakers, agribusiness leaders, conservation personnel, researchers and othersinterested in systems that help make farmers more economically and environmentally sustainable. Current projectsinclude:
•The Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS), which uses satellite imagery and a specialalgorithmto documentthe adoption of soil-building farming practices;
•Spearheading stimulus projects that encourage phosphorus managementto protect surface waters in the Western Lake Erie Basin;
•Conducting educational programs on conservation practices;
• ... more. |
... carbon capture, soil health, remote sensing,andmore."
The Conservation Technology Information Center brings together farmers, crop advisers, policymakers, agribusiness leaders, conservation personnel, researchers and othersinterested in systems that help make farmers more economically and environmentally sustainable. Current projectsinclude:
•The Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS), which uses satellite imagery and a specialalgorithmto documentthe adoption of soil-building farming practices;
•Spearheading stimulus projects that encourage phosphorus managementto protect surface waters in the Western Lake Erie Basin;
•Conducting educational programs on conservation practices;
• ... more. |
A recorded one-hour webinar on using CTIC data to analyze trends in conservation farming practices across the Corn Belt is available on CTIC's website. The video, recorded as a live webinar last October, includes a discussion of the use of Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS) data through the De-Nitrification/De-Composition (DNDC) model, as well as presentations by three users of the data:
Ward Smith, Senior Physical Scientist, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Steven Rosenzweig, Senior Soil Scientist, General Mills
Debbie Reed, Executive Director, Ecosystem Services Market Consortium
... more. |
... focus on two common challenges in recreational waters. April 21-24, 2020
Read More
The Conservation Technology Information Center
The Conservation Technology Information Center promotes, supports and provides information on conservation technologies & sustainable agricultural systems.
Read More
Latest Project from CTIC
Data are available free from the Operational Tillage Information System—OpTIS—which analyzes remote sensing data to monitor conservation practices in agricultural systems.
Access Data
Become a Member
By becoming a member of CTIC, you'll be connected to a world of people from government, academia, agribusiness, the supply chain, and the farm who are committed to practical, productive conservation farming sy ... more. |
... been selected to fill.
"Mike brings skills that reflect not only the legacy of CTIC but also the technical knowledge that will help guide our organization into the future," Tindall said.
"For nearly 40 years, CTIC has kept up with the latest technology to collect and disseminate information about conservation agriculture. Today, with projects like our new Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS), remote sensing and big-data analysis are becoming central to our mission," Tindall added. "Mike brings his experience in those fields—and his program development skills—which will help farmers, consultants, researchers, conservation professionals, policy makers and so many more stakeholders put that information to work promoting farming sy ... more. |
... level that fits you best – Individual, Institutional or Corporate. For additional benefits and recognition, increase your contribution. Each level includes additionalbenefits through Gold, Silver and Bronze.
All CTIC members benefit from:
One-year subscription to Conservation Partners and Member Mail e-newsletters
Free access to higher-resolution data from the OpTIS Operational Tillage Information System database
Recognition on CTIC’s web page
Please identify which category applies to your business to find your basic membership fee. To upgrade to medal-level membership, add the amount in the appropriate box below.
Corporate Membership Benefits
Basic Corporate Membership
Basic-1: $6,500 - Gross revenue greater than $500 million
Basi ... more. |
April marks the launch of the first data set from the Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS), which combines satellite sensing technology with sophisticated modeling to map the adoption of conservation practices on the landscape.
The 21st century heir to CTIC's long-time Crop Residue Management (CRM) Survey, OpTIS will provide comprehensive maps of crop residue management practices and cover crops down to the HUC8 scale. Annual maps and ... more. |
Ag Consultant Training in Systems that Protect Water Quality National Aquatic Resources Workshop National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI) Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS) Cover Crop Surveys
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Ag Consultant Training in Systems that Protect Water Quality National Aquatic Resources Workshop National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI) Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS) Cover Crop Surveys
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... Crop Interseeding in Rice County"
Stop #3 - Dave Legvold Farm, Northfield, Minn.
Drainage water management, including a saturated buffer demonstration, and SWCD's role in buffers, highlighting Dakota County's Farmland and Natural Areas Program (FNAP)
Download the handout Saturated Buffers: A new approach to water quality
Impacts of reduced tillage on soil health and a demonstration of Soil Warrior strip-tillage equipment
Download the handout Fine-Tuning Nitrogen Rates for Strip-Tilled Corn
Download the handout Reduce Wind Erosion for Long Term Productivity
Download the handout Considerations for Corn Residue Harvest in Minnesota
Stop #4 - Phil and Nate Ma ... more. |
... of manure. They’ve designed and built application equipment to deliver manure to the soil as directly and odor-free as possible, with minimal disturbance of surface crop residues. When Dave and Chris get going, they can cover 6 to 11 acres an hour, delivering as much as 7,500 gallons of manure per acre at up to 3.5 mph.
On a 22-foot toolbar, they mounted heavy Genesis Tillage aeration tines at a 7-degree offset in front of huge nozzles to create what Dave Beard calls a “poke, lift, squirt” surface-application system. On another toolbar, the family mounted 11 straight coulters on 22-inch centers, each followed by a 12-inch Dietrich sweep with an injector. The result: quick, accurate placement of manure 4 to 6 inches below the soil surface.
B ... more. |
Adoption of Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices
Data are available for the adoption of cover crops and conservation tillage. Remote-sensing derived, CONUS-wide cropland data for the adoption of two important conservation practices (cover crops and reduced tillage).
Data are currently available for the years 2015-2021. All data are available at the watershed (HUC8) and Crop Reporting District (CRD) geographic scales.
Explore the Climate-Smart Data Applications
Cover Crop
The extent of cover ... more. |
Established 1994
Reduced Tillage LINKAGES (RTL) is an extension organization that focuses on increasing the adoption of sustainable production systems, based on reduced tillage, by Alberta farmers and ranchers. The program is a partnership with broad-based farmer, industry, educational, wildlife, and government support and employs five agronomists.
Mission, Goals and Contact Information
Mission Statement:
To be the l ... more. |
On November 23, 2009, Agstar released FarmWare Version 3.3. FarmWare is an analytical tool designed to provide a preliminary assessment on the feasibility of integrating anaerobic digestion into an existing or planned manure management system. The new version contains updated computations for biogas generation and costs of digester systems. The software can be downloaded free from the AgSTAR Web site.
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... soils on your farm are likely to leach pesticides?
Did you establish filter strips along streams?
Did you consider pest control alternatives?
Did you use records of crops and pest control for reference?
Did you rotate crops to reduce the chance of pest problems?
Tech notes
Following are guidelines to follow for applying and mixing pesticides:
Complete a pesticide risk assessment of potential environmental damage from leaching or runoff. Consider this information when selecting a pesticide.
Wear protective clothing when applying pesticides.
Mix and load pesticides in an area that won't contaminate water supplies; and prevent back siphoning.
Triple rinse containers before disposal. Burn paper bags.
Apply pesticides during periods of minimal potential for drift ... more. |
... can do to decrease the amounts of soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) in the water supply are listed below. The bottom line is that there is no correlation between no-till farming and increased phosphorus runoff.
To read the full article from The Toledo Blade, visit: toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080907/COLUMNIST42/809070333
For more information about conservation tillage, visit CTIC's web site: www.conservationinformation.org/?action=learningcenter_core4_convotill
For any additional questions, contact Norm Widman at norm.widman@wdc.usda.gov or 202-720-3783.
Potential practices and management to address increased soluble reactive phosphorus:
Use continuous no-till cropping and high-residue mulch till systems to improve soil tilth ... more. |
... in Springfield, IL, and Washington, DC.
Lessiter Media Conservation Ag Division
www.no-tillfarmer.com
Lessiter Media offers grower an array of publications, books, and wide array of multi-media to assist in the successful application of conservation practices on their farms. Among LM’s titles are the flagship No-Till Farmer (founded 1972) and accompanying National No-Tillage Conference (founded 1993), Strip-Till Farmer (www.striptillfarmer.com) and the National Strip-Tillage Conference, and Cover Crops Strategies (www.covercropstrategies.com) and National Cover Crop Summit.
National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD)
www.nacdnet.org
The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) is the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that repr ... more. |
Conservation tillage systems offer numerous benefits that intensive or conventional tillage simply can’t match:
1. Reduces labor, saves time
As little as one trip for planting compared to two or more tillage operations means fewer hours on a tractor and fewer labor hours to pay ... or more acres to farm. For instance, on 500 acres the time savings can be as much as 225 hours per year. That ... more. |
... a field, depositing seeds in the soil while hardly disturbing the surface of the field (no-till). The field is covered with stalks and other crop residues from a past corn harvest. These crop residues will protect the soil while nourishing the new crop.
Size: 997 x 1000 pixels (566k)
Source: Case
The rows in this field have been ridged by farming equipments system known as ridge-till. The farmer then plants new seeds on top of each ridge while keeping the stalks and other crop residues on the surface of the field.
Size: 1000 x 679 pixels (417k)
Source: CTIC
This graphic explains some of the benefits of no-till and illustrates the no-till planting method. (this graphic most appropriate for use in corn growing or row crop regions of the U.S ... more. |
... acres. *
Build the basin large enough to control the runoff from a 10-year storm without overtopping.
Install a tile or infiltration outlet. *
Use fill material free if sod, roots, frozen materials and stones larger than 6 inches in diameter. It should also have correct moisture content
for adequate compaction.
Spacing for water and sediment control basins depends on the land slope, tillage and management system. Consult NRCS for recommended
spacing.
Maintenance
Reseed and fertilize as needed to maintain vegetative cover.
Check the basin after each large storm, and make any needed repairs.
* Check local recommendations.
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... Workshops:
NCCA Great Lakes Benthic Indicator Development Workshop
Chicago, IL- October 18-20, 2016
The workshop was held in Chicago, Illinois with Hugh Sullivan from EPA acting as the workshop lead with other speakers brought in to educate participants. The purpose of the workshop was to develop and validate indicator of benthic condition for use by National Coastal Condition Assessment (NCCA), States and others interested in assessing the condition of Great Lakes coastal and nearshore habitats.
CTIC awarded 9 travel scholarships for state and tribal participants to attend. A total of 20 people attended the workshop.
Workshop Agenda
R10 Wetlands Workshop
Corvallis, OR-October 1-5, 2018
The workshop was held at the Courtyard Marriot in ... more. |
... and Concentrations of Human Enteric Viruses in Water and Wastewater?
Mark Sobsey
Speaker Bio
Dr. Mark Sobsey specializes in environmental health microbiology and water, sanitation and hygiene. His research, teaching and service encompass the detection, characterization, occurrence, environmental survival/transport/fate, treatment, human health effects characterization and risk assessment of viruses, bacteria and parasites of public health concern in water, wastewater, biosolids, soil, air and food for the prevention and control of water-, food- and excreta-borne disease. His research interests address pathogens, fecal indicators and antimicrobially resistant bacteria in the environment, their occurrence, transport and fate, their removal by wastewater, water treatment and water r ... more. |
... with the St. Johns River Water Management District in Florida where he managed an 800-acre constructed wetland. Ed holds PhD and MSc degrees in environmental resource management from University College Dublin in Ireland and a BSc degree in biology from Bangor University in Wales.
Video Length - 9:53
Development of a Multifaceted Statewide Strategy for the Monitoring and Assessment of Freshwater Harmful Algal Blooms in California
Jayme Smith
Speaker Bio
Dr. Jayme Smith is a scientist atSouthernCalifornia Coastal Water Research Project (SCCWRP), a water quality research institute in Costa Mesa, CA. Dr. Smith specializes in the ecology of harmful algal blooms (HABs) and is interested in determining biological, chemical, and physical conditions that rela ... more. |
... Estuarine Watershed
Amy Zimmer-Faust
No Bio Available
No Bio Delivered
Video Length - 12:58
Ambient Water Quality Thresholds for Human-associated HF183: Effect of Water Temperature, Aging, and Co-contamination with Gull Feces
Jeff Soller
Speaker Bio
Mr. Jeffrey Soller is the Principal Scientist at Soller Environmental, LLC. He conducts microbial risk assessments, evaluates, interprets, and communicates water quality issues, and specializes in working at the interface of risk-based science and environmental policy. Mr. Soller has been a visiting scientist with the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research in New Zealand, and a Risk Policy Fellow with the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He holds degrees from Carnegie Mellon ... more. |
... is the premier international organization for professionals who practice and advance the science and art of natural resource conservation.
About the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service
NRCS provides farmers, ranchers and forest managers with free technical assistance, or advice, for their land. Common technical assistance includes: resource assessment, practice design and resource monitoring.
For more information, contact:
CTIC (Mike Komp, komp@ctic.org)
SWCS (Clare Lindahl, clare.lindahl@swcs.org)
SHI (Wayne Honeycutt, whoneycutt@soilhealthinstitute.org)
SHP (John Mesko, mesko@ncga.com)
SSSA (Luther Smith, lsmith@sciencesocieties.org)
USDA-NRCS (Bianca Moebius-Clune, bianca.moebius-clune@usda.gov)
& ... more. |
... is the premier international organization for professionals who practice and advance the science and art of natural resource conservation.
About the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service
NRCS provides farmers, ranchers and forest managers with free technical assistance, or advice, for their land. Common technical assistance includes: resource assessment, practice design and resource monitoring.
For more information, contact:
CTIC (Mike Komp, komp@ctic.org)
SWCS (Clare Lindahl, clare.lindahl@swcs.org)
SHI (Wayne Honeycutt, whoneycutt@soilhealthinstitute.org)
SHP (John Mesko, mesko@ncga.com)
SSSA (Luther Smith, lsmith@sciencesocieties.org)
USDA-NRCS (Bianca Moebius-Clune, bianca.moebius-clune@usda.gov)
& ... more. |
December 7-9, 2010
Raleigh, NC
Theme: Monitoring and Assessment to Support State and Tribal Wetland Protection
State and Tribal Wetland Regulatory Programs.
Roundtable Discussion: Use of monitoring and assessment information in the development of a state wetland regulatory program
- Michelle Henicheck, VA DEQ
- Tammy Hill, NC DENR
- Barb Scott, KY DOW: Kentucky 401 WQC Program
- Mick Miccachion, OH EPA
- Ted Walsh, NH DEC:
Summary Presentation: Jo ... more. |
Gulf of Mexico hypoxia issues pose a significant challenge in addressing the protection of the marine environment given the sheer magnitude of excess nutrient loading and the size of the contributing Mississippi River watershed. This nutrient loading is a result of cumulative nutrientdischarges across the largest river basin in North America, the Mississippi River Basin. The Wabash River watershed contributes a significant n ... more. |
The purpose of this Air Management Practices Assessment Tool is to guide you through a process of determining which mitigation practices are best suited to your operation and your objectives. The website is organized into four air emissions of interest: dust (particulates), odor, ammonia, and hydrogen sulfide. Within each gas or emittent, sources of emission are categorized by housing, manure storage, or land application.
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...
Maryland's Water Quality Trading Program - Phase II - Agricultural Nutrient Trading in Maryland - John Rhoderick Presenter
Water Quality Trading: Issues from the Wastewater Plant Perspective - Cy Jones Presenter
Water Quality Credit Trading Workshop - Jim Klang Presenter
The Nation's Conservation Districts - Bob Ensor Presenter
Farm Stewardship Certification and Assessment Program (FSCAP) - Gerald Talbert Presenter
CTIC Water Quality Credit Aggregators - George Kelly Presenter
Introduction to Maryland Water Quality Issues - Cy Jones Presenter
Water Quality Trading Opportunities in Maryland and the Bay - Are you ready to trade? - Mark Kieser Presenter
Resources and Speaker Information:
Related Resources
Speaker Contact Information
Speake ... more. |
... Soil Tilth Laboratory
USDA Agricultural Research Service
Established 1989
Research laboratory within the USDA-ARS organization charged with conducting research on farming systems and their impact on air, soil, and water quality. Multidisciplinary research teams address problems using multiple scales of studies that range from basic laboratory analyses of soils to watershed and regional assessment of farming systems impacts on environmental quality and production efficiency.
Mission, Goals and Contact Information
www.ars.usda.gov/mwa/ames/nstl
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... and policy interests of America's cooperatives and other farmer-owned enterprise.
No-Till Farmer
www.no-tillfarmer.com
Since 1972, No-Till Farmer has been delivering the latest information through magazines, newsletters, books, reports and conferences. No-Till Farmer provides valuable ideas, services and products to help farmers that are interested in any aspect of no-tillage farming.
Ohio No-till Council
ohionotillcouncil.com
The Ohio No-Till Council was formed in 1994 through the efforts of ten no-till farmers. The Council publishes it's research findings and other helpful communications through the Ohio No-Till News page of the Ohio's Country Journal. Members also help organize the annual Tri-State Conservation Tillage Conference for Ohio, ... more. |
FromSioux Falls, South Dakota, we'll travel to innovative farms that showcase the best practices in conservation agriculture.
May 6, 2025: Optional Workshops, Banquet
May 7, 2025: Conservation in Action Tour, Closing Reception
More information coming soon!
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Dan Forgey, farm manager at Cronin Farms in South Dakota, has been using no-till management for more than 17 years. Over that time, Forgey has developed a keen understanding of how his farming system works and where new challenges and opportunities exist.
The Next Step: Adding Cover Crop to a No-Till System (Video)
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Drainage water management systems can help to increase soil organic matter, eliminate compaction problems and reduce nitrate loss to nearby waterways.
Smart Drainage System™ Photo courtesy of Agri Drain
Putting Producers in the Driver's Seat
By Lisa Newby
The public is becoming more aware of what agricultural producers have always kno ... more. |
... produced in an environmentally responsible manner,” Mann says. “And, we are trying to produce products that are sustainable, as well.”
Deere’s construction and forestry division continually seeks ways to become more environmentally friendly, Mann says. Most recently, Deere has focused on producing sustainable biomass solutions. In this process, energy wood-harvesting systems collect woody biomass, which is formed into bundles for immediate use.
“This is an efficient, low-carbon fuel source,” Mann says. “Woody biomass holds great promise as an environmentally sustainable and beneficial energy source that can provide renewable energy for businesses, schools and homes.”
Deere also connects with other members of the agricultural sector ... more. |
... credit trading. The positive feedback we received on the format and content of the workshop was inspiring and will help us to deliver three more workshops in 2009.
In September, CTIC was awarded a Conservation Innovation Grant from the Natural Resources Conservation Service(NRCS) for a project that promotes the use of cover crops to transition producers to a continuous no-till farming system. Working with partners in Ohio and Indiana, we are pairing producers and crop consultants to work together to identify and incorporate cover crops into their new system. We will track progress and report results as producers begin the transition in spring. Next year, we'll offer workshops and networking meetings to spark new ideas and information exchange among producers, consultants and rese ... more. |
The National Crop Residue Management (CRM) Survey is the only survey in the U.S. to measure at the county level the type of tillage used by crop. Tillage methods tracked are: no-till, mulch-till, reduced-till, and conventional tillage. Click here to see the tillage definitions.
Available Data
Data is available online from 1989 to 2008. Some of the data can be accessed without a password (unsecured data) and the rest requires a log in and password (secured data). Passwords are given to institutional and corporate members ... more. |
Conservation Tillage and Plant Biotechnology: How New Technologies Can Improve the Environment By Reducing the Need to Plow
Introduces and outlines environmental benefits of conservation tillage, while highlighting trends that like biotechnology with conservation tillage.
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... and partners
Promote consistent messages about conservation agriculture
Share information about conservation agriculture
Endorse adoption of "the ideal" conservation agriculture systems
Facilitate removal of barriers and support member organizations
Influence policy on a broad level
Current CASA Members
Conservation Tillage Workgroup (California)
Delta Conservation Demonstration Center (Mississippi)
Georgia Conservation Tillage Alliance
Innovative Cropping Systems (Virginia)
Manitoba-North Dakota Zero Tillage Farmers Association
Mexican Conservation Tillage Association
No-Till on the Plains
Ohio No-Till Council
Pacific Northwest Direct Seed Association
Pennsylvania No-Till Allianc ... more. |
CTIC recently received a Grant from EPA’s Great Lakes Restoration Initiative that will fund the promotion of cover crops and conservation tillage in the Lake Erie, Lake Huron and Lake Michigan Watersheds. Agricultural producers will be provided with technical, educational and social support which will work together to create strong cover crop and conservation tillage systems that can be sustained after the project ends.
Education
CTIC will work with partners to host 18 workshops in the three watersheds (Lake Michigan Watershed, ... more. |
No Tillage: The relationship between no tillage, crop residues, plants and soil nutrition
In his second book on no-till farming, Chilean farmer Carlos Crovetto has delved into the inner workings of the soil and meticulously explained the relationship between no-till, crop residues, soil nutrition and crop production.
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Georgia Conservation Tillage Alliance
The mission of the Georgia Conservation Tillage Alliance is to promote the adoption of conservation tillage and other economically viable and environmentally sound agricultural and natural resource management practices through research, education, and communication.
Contact Information
www.gcta-ga.org
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Research & Technology Briefs
What’s Your Fieldprint?
Corn, cotton, soybean, and wheat growers now have access to a free, confidential online tool that will assess how some operational decisions affect natural resource conservation and sustainability.
The Fieldprint Calculator, available at www.fieldtomarket.org, provides an easy way to analyze and assess their current land use, energy use, water use, greenhouse gas emission, and soil loss. It also explores various scenarios that may help improve farm natural resource management and, ultimately, their operation efficien ... more. |
... and donuts at Stuttgart Public Library
8:30 AM—Bus departs for Terry Dabbs’ farm
Outdoors on the farm
Discovery Farms: Water quality monitoring as a driver of voluntary conservation adoption - Mike Daniels, Arkansas Discovery Farms (30 mins.)
Dabbs Farm: Conservation practices used on the farm including a tail water recovery system and conservation tillage, experience with adopting them, and on-farm benefits - Terry Dabbs, Farmer & Michele Reba, ARS (75-90 min)
12:00 PM ~ (boxed lunch provided @ the farm)
Return to Stuttgart Public Library around noon
Topics of discussion
The Stevens Farm: Precision irrigation and its place in a practical system. Impacts on productivity and water quality, including results of ... more. |
... and donuts at Stuttgart Public Library
8:30 AM—Bus departs for Terry Dabbs’ farm
Outdoors on the farm
Discovery Farms: Water quality monitoring as a driver of voluntary conservation adoption - Mike Daniels, Arkansas Discovery Farms (30 mins.)
Dabbs Farm: Conservation practices used on the farm including a tail water recovery system and conservation tillage, experience with adopting them, and on-farm benefits - Terry Dabbs, Farmer & Michele Reba, ARS (75-90 min)
12:00 PM ~ (boxed lunch provided @ the farm)
Arrive back at Stuttgart Public Library around noon
Topics of discussion
The Stevens Farm: Precision irrigation and its place in a practical system. Impacts on productivity and water quality, including result ... more. |
... AM - Check-in, coffee and donuts at Stuttgart Public Library
8:30 AM—Bus departs for Terry Dabbs’ farm
Outdoors on the farm
Discovery Farms: Water quality monitoring as a driver of voluntary conservation adoption - Mike Daniels, Arkansas Discovery Farms (30 mins.)
Dabbs Farm: Conservation practices used on the farm including a tail water recovery system and conservation tillage, experience with adopting them, and on-farm benefits - Terry Dabbs, Farmer & Michele Reba, ARS (75-90 min)
12:00 PM ~ (boxed lunch provided @ the farm)
Return to Stuttgart Public Library around noon
Topics of discussion
The Stevens Farm: Precision irrigation and its place in a practical system. Impacts on productivity and water quality, including results of on-farm wa ... more. |
... water to nearby Indianapolis
Lamb Farms , Lebanon, Indiana
• 84% of corn and soybeans are no-till or strip-till
• RTK systems used to apply and manage nutrients
• 98 percent of compost produced is used on their farm for fertilizer and soil amendment
• Nearly 50 acres of conservation buffers along ditches
Meadowlane Farms , Frankfort, Indiana
• Tillage reduced by 75 percent on 1,300 acres of corn and soybeans
• Balanced feed rations to produce balanced manure from 15,000-head hog operation
• Custom-application of manure through a homemade injector attached to a hose nearly two miles long
• Reduced water content by 50 percent with new technology that manages pigs' use of water
Rulon Enterprises , Arcadia, Indiana
... more. |
Herb and Aaron Steffen manage a 900-acre grain farm in southern Livingston and northern McLean counties. They hosted a demonstration and two nutrient use efficiency (NUE) trials.
The Steffens plant corn continuously on two-thirds of the acres and rotate planting of corn and soybeans on the rest of the land. Their minimum tillage practices leave at least 30% of the previous crops’ residue on the soil surface. This residue decreases soil erosion and feeds nutrients back to the soil.
They apply nitrogen after the corn plants emerge, when nutrient needs are the greatest. This minimizes nitrogen lost to air and water.
To maximize efficiency, farmers must select the right nutrient source. A controlled-release nitro ... more. |
... season-long nutrition.
It was side-dressed at two rates with a control plot where it was not applied.
Operation
Herb and Aaron Steffen, of Cropsey, Ill., operate a 900 acre grain farm in southern Livingston and northern Mclean counties. Two thirds of the acreage is devoted to continuous corn with one third in a corn/soybean rotation.
Minimum tillage practices are used to leave at least 30% residue on the soil surface.
Nitrogen is applied after the corn has emerged, and when the plant needs are the greatest, to minimize loss of nitrogen through leaching.
Currently there are three test plots on the Steffen farm.
>>More study details
Right Source
Match f ... more. |
... uniform nutrient distribution and provides essential nutrients crops need in one granule. It has two forms of sulfur for season-long nutrition.
Operation
Herb and Aaron Steffen, of Cropsey, Ill., operate a 900 acre grain farm in southern Livingston and northern Mclean counties. Two thirds of the acreage is devoted to continuous corn with one third in a corn/soybean rotation.
Minimum tillage practices are used to leave at least 30% residue on the soil surface.
Nitrogen is applied after the corn has emerged, and when the plant needs are the greatest, to minimize loss of nitrogen through leaching.
Currently there are three test plots on the Steffen farm.
Resource:
Steffen Corn on Corn No-till Mosaic Microssentials® MESZ
Right Source
Match ... more. |
A highly qualified crop consultant (watershed coordinator) has been identified in each watershed to provide one on one technical support to the producers who participate in this program. These people will meet with producers and help them make important decisions to ensure a successful transition to using a cover crop and conservation tillage system.
Lake Michigan Coordinator
Christina Curell
Central Region Water Quality Educator, Mecosta
14485 Northland Drive
Big Rapids, MI, 49307
Phone: (231) 592-0792
Cell: (231) 287-8617
Email: curellc@msu.edu
Christina graduated from Michigan State University with a ... more. |
Herb and Aaron Steffen manage a 900-acre grain farm in southern Livingston and northern McLean counties. They hosted a demonstration and two nutrient use efficiency (NUE) trials.
The Steffens plant corn continuously on two-thirds of the acres and rotate planting of corn and soybeans on the rest of the land. Their minimum tillage practices leave at least 30% of the previous crops’ residue on the soil surface. This residue decreases soil erosion and feeds nutrients back to the soil.
They apply nitrogen after the corn plants emerge, when nutrient needs are the greatest. This minimizes nitrogen lost to air and water.
To maximize efficiency, farmers must select the right nutrient source. A controlled-rele ... more. |
Remote-sensing derived, CONUS-wide cropland data for the adoption of two important conservation practices (cover crops and reduced tillage), as well as soil and GHG outcomes based on the use of these practice-adoption data as input to the DNDC model.
Data are currently available for the years 2015-2021. All data are available at the watershed (HUC8) and Crop Reporting District (CRD) geographic scales.
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View the CDR and HUC8 Tillage and Winter data charts by clickong on the corresponding titles below.
CRD Conservation Tillage
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This study evaluated how winter cover crops with various applied nitrogen rates affect net revenue and risk from no-tillage corn production.
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;Calibri" ,"sans-serif";times="" new="" roman";times="" roman";"="">Stochastic dominance analysis of winter cover crop and nitrogen fertilizer systems for no-tillage corn.
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A Review of BMPs for Managing Crop Nutrients and Conservation Tillage to Improve Water Quality
This publication will review research on nutrient management BMPs for the two nutrients of major concern, Nitrogen and Phosphorus, with an emphasis on integrating BMPs with conservation tillage.
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... and the potential impact on conservation.
The task force is made up of representatives from conservation districts, academia, federal agencies and related industry. They began by studying how the weeds developed a resistance to herbicides.Next, they began determining the impacts of herbicide resistance on soil and water conservation and assessing the potential impact on conservation tillage practices, especially no till crop production.
Herbicide resistance is a good example of survival of the fittest. Producers essentially selected for weeds that were naturally resistant or showed some tolerance for the chemical. When producers allowed “stray” weeds to grow in the fields after chemical treatment, the resistant weeds were allowed to go to seed and thus ... more. |
... CTIC Web site, www.ctic.org. To become a valued sponsor of this event, contact CTIC at 765-494-9555.
New CTIC publication to detail environmental benefits of agricultural biotechnology
Agricultural biotechnology is a powerful tool for increasing yields, improving crop
quality and characteristics, and facilitating sustainable farming practices such as conservation tillage — all vital to keeping up with the world’s growing demand for food, feed, fuel and fiber.
A new booklet developed by the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) — “Facilitating Conservation Farming Practices and Enhancing Environmental Sustainability with Agricultural Biotechnology” — digs deep into the data surrounding the adoption of biotech ... more. |
... catalytic reduction systems in its facilities and has implemented projects to reduce toxic emissions of ammonia, nitrate and methanol. Currently, the company is installing low-NOx burners and greenhouse abatement systems to further reduce NOx and carbon dioxide emissions.
www.terraindustries.com
INSTITUTIONAL
Alberta Reduced Tillage LINKAGES (RTL)
The Alberta Reduced Tillage LINKAGES (RTL) program is a partnership with broad-based farmer, industry, educational, wildlife and government support. RTL's mission is to be a reliable and trustworthy resource focused on increasing the adoption of sustainable production systems by Alberta farmers and ranchers.
www.reducedtillage.ca/
... more. |
Conservation Tillage Systems and Management Handbook
The 29 chapters not only cover a broad range of topics, but the authors represent all regions of the United States. The right book for those with a basic understanding of conservation tillage who want to expand their technical knowledge.
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... Ohio, on August 23. A PLUS-UP stakeholder workshop will be held the following day in Toledo, Ohio. Watch this link for details.
With a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, CTIC and our partners at Heidelberg University's National Center for Water Quality Research, St. Mary's University of Minnesota, and the Bayer Carbon Program developed a credit-based system to raise and disburse stimulus funds that help farmers cover the cost and management of practices that reduce phosphorus loads. The Bayer Carbon Program underwrote the DRP credits.
"Our goal with the PLUS-UP pilot project has been to develop an efficient, effective program," says project manager Hans Kok. "That's why we focused on DRP, which is completely available ... more. |
... SEED
BOOSTING BIODIVERSITY AND WATER AVAILABILITY ON RANGELAND
Most conversations about the Ogallala Aquifer in the southern High Plains revolve around water scarcity. But ask Chris Grotegut about his 11,000-acre farming and ranching operation outside of Hereford, Texas, and you'll find out he pulled out 75% of his pivots and shifted to a largely dryland system.
Grotegut's secret weapon: biodiversity. At the heart of his system is a broad mix of native grasses, forbs and legumes from Bamert Seed that protect his fields from erosion and heat, improve the capture and infiltration of rainwater, and turn sunlight and water into nutrients that support his livestock.
It's all about plant succession, a steady march toward a mi ... more. |
... in Action Tour
This tour showcased the diversity of crops in Idaho's Treasure Valley —- more than 180 crops ranging from potatoes to dairy products to trout.. Farmers, crop consultants, agribusiness professionals, state and federal agency representatives, and conservation group leaders visited four farms to see conservation agriculture and innovative conservation systems up-close.
What We Learned:
Stop #1 - Dixon Farm, Greenleaf, Idaho
Water quality and availability as it impacts high-efficiency irrigation
Irrigation/water delivery system
Semi-permanent drip irrigation
Managing multi-year crops in highly variable soils
Stop #2 – M&M Feedlot, Parma, Idaho
Business and neighborly impacts of c ... more. |
... staffers, soil and water conservation district personnel, environmental and agribusiness leaders, and others gathered on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay for CTIC’s “Bringing Back the Bay” Conservation in Action Tour July 10 and 11.
The Chesapeake Bay has become the proving ground for a wide range of best management practices (BMPs) designed to protect the fragile system from excess nutrients and sediments flowing in from a 64,000-square-mile watershed that reaches all the way into New York State. Area farmers have become experts in managing nutrients at every level, from applying manure and commercial fertilizer to minimizing runoff from their fields.
In addition to perspectives on innovative practices from a range of crop, dairy and poultry produce ... more. |
Josh Lloyd tries to do "what Mother Nature does" on his farm near Clay Center, Kansas. That means a no-till system combined with the planting of a polyculture of cover crops -- turnips, radishes and canola -- in rotation with his sorghum and wheat acres.
Caldwell, Jeff. 2009. The great crop rotation cover-up. Agriculture Online.
Using Cover_crops SAG 08 09
This is a literature review of cover crop benefits from Dabney et al. 2001 and Dabney 1996.
Oilseed_Radish
Oilsee ... more. |
A group of agriculture and conservation stakeholders in the Pacific Northwest is working to devise strategies that will ease the transition of land protected under the Conservation Reserve Program to no-till production system.
Photo courtesy of CTIC
Conservation Reserve Program – Exit Strategies
By Russ Evans
In the rain-fed region of the inland Pacific Northwest (PNW) – especially the dryer, low rainfall regions that rely on summer fallow – the regular calls for Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) signup were met with enthusiasm ... more. |
... water from their operations.
EPA's New CAFO Rule Changes "Duty to Apply"
for NPDES Permit
By Steve Werblow
A new rule for confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) requires only operations that discharge or “propose to discharge” water from their facilities to apply for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits. However, according to Allison Wiedeman of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), applying for the NPDES permit – which all CAFOs were formerly required to do – remains the least risky way for CAFO operators to make sure they don’t run afoul of clean water regulations.
“We’re understanding more than ever that the advantage of gett ... more. |
Animal manure management is a significant challenge for many small dairy farms. One manure management system in limited use is a bedded pack. A bedded pack management system (BPMS) is defined here as a covered barnyard and feeding area that holds a variety of dairy cattle, storing their manure through the accumulation of an unturned bedding of dry material for later use as a nutrient amendment.
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... requires the perfect combination of science, technology, art, and luck. Some factors, like the weather, still require a bit of luck. Thankfully, science and technology continue to make strides, reducing the impact of uncontrollable factors like the weather and markets. This reduces the risk inherent in farming. By using a plan to analyze the crop nutrient management portion of your production system, you can reduce risk and, ultimately, maximize profit. Environment.
Good nutrient management planning is an integral part of a system of practices that conserve and enhance natural resources. It reduces production and environmental risks. The more nutrients your crop converts to grain or fiber, the less opportunity for nutrients to reach streams, lakes or groundwater. And, if you’re like ... more. |
... State University; and conservationists from USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission for a deep dive into how crop consultants can help their clients benefit from conservation practices.
Discussions ranged from the agronomic and water-management benefits of conservation systems—including precision irrigation, tailwater management, reduced tillage and cover crops, among others—to cost-share programs that can have direct benefits to farmers' bottom lines.
We also visited the Dabbs Farm outside of Stuttgart for a close-up look at the family's reservoir and tailwater management system and the Arkansas Discovery Farm's water quality monitoring program.
Click here for full video coverage of each of the presentations in t ... more. |
... after celebrating its 40th Anniversary last week in St. Louis, while also conducting its 15th annual Conservation in Action Tour, which attracted a diverse group of nearly 150 participants including farmers, crop consultants, researchers, agribusiness leaders, conservation staffers, and policymakers. During the morning, attendees saw climate smart practices such as cover crops and conservation tillage at work in the field. Later, they moved indoors to the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center to hear from a number of experts about what the future will bring in several key climate smart areas: soil carbon technologies, data science, remote sensing, and advanced nutrient technologies.
About the Conservation Technology Information Center
The Conservation Technology Information Cent ... more. |
... after celebrating its 40th Anniversary last week in St. Louis, while also conducting its 15th annual Conservation in Action Tour, which attracted a diverse group of nearly 150 participants including farmers, crop consultants, researchers, agribusiness leaders, conservation staffers, and policymakers. During the morning, attendees saw climate smart practices such as cover crops and conservation tillage at work in the field. Later, they moved indoors to the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center to hear from a number of experts about what the future will bring in several key climate smart areas: soil carbon technologies, data science, remote sensing, and advanced nutrient technologies.
About the Conservation Technology Information Center
The Conservation Technology Information Cent ... more. |
... Time
Make nutrients available when crops need them
Time the application
Consider controlled release technologies and inhibitors
Choose fertilizer product
Right Place
Keep nutrients where crops can use them
Choose application method
Incorporate fertilizer
Use buffer strips
Use conservation tillage
Implement cover crop systems
Right Rate
Match amount of fertilizer to crop needs
Test soils
Yield goal analysis
Crop removal balance
Nutrient management planning
Plant tissue analysis
Record keeping
Variable rate technology
Site-specific management
Sponsors
&n ... more. |
... Time the application
+ Consider controlled release technologies and inhibitors
+ Choose fertilizer product
Right Place
Keep nutrients where crops can use them
+ Choose application method
+ Incorporate fertilizer
+ Use buffer strips
+ Use conservation tillage
+ Implement cover crop systems
Right Rate
Match amount of fertilizer to crop needs
+ Test soils
+ Yield goal analysis
+ Crop removal balance
+ Nutrient management planning
+ Plant tissue analysis
+ Record keeping
... more. |
... or stripcropping needed for steeper slopes?
Are field borders needed to replace end rows in the contouring system to control sheet and rill erosion?
Tech notes
Establish a key line around the hill by using a hand level or contour gauge.
Contour key line grade should not exceed 2% except within 100 feet of an outlet. In that case, the grade can be a 3% slope.
Perform all tillage and planting operations parallel to the key contour line.
Contouring is less effective in preventing soil erosion on steeper or longer slopes.
Replace end rows with field borders to reduce erosion.
Topography may be too steep and/or irregular to contour.
Maintenance
Use grassed waterways in areas where runoff is concentrated to prevent gully erosion.
Contoured rows should ... more. |
Explore The Data
Croplands
Remote sensing-derived, CONUS-wide cropland data for mapping tillage, residue cover, winter cover, and soil health practices. Data are currently available for the years 2015 through 2021.
The available data include the level of adoption of cover crops and conservation tillage practices, as well as soil and GHG outcomes based on the use of this practice-adoption data as input to the DNDC model. Access to these conservation practice data by crop rotation is avail ... more. |
DNDC: The Denitrification-Decomposition (DNDC) model was used to simulate carbon and nitrogen soil dynamics as a function of the soil health management practices monitored by OpTIS (crop diversity, conservation tillage, and cover crops).
DNDC performs process-based simulations of nitrogen and carbon dynamics in agroecosystems. Based on environmental drivers (inputs like soil characteristics, temperature and precipitation data, crop characteristics, and crop management) the model predicts crop growth and yield, soil organic carbon (SOC) changes (loss vs. sequestration) andgreenhouse gas emissi ... more. |
... sustainability goals.
Hall of Fame
Frank Lessiter has served as editor of No-Till Farmer for 51 years, since the publication was launched in 1972. He and wife, Pam, acquired No-Till Farmer and established Lessiter Media in Brookfield, Wis., to acquire the magazine in 1981. Today, the 40-person company also publishes Strip-Till Farmer and Cover Crop Strategies and has run the National No-Tillage Conference since 1993.
The Conservation in Action tour is a homecoming for Lessiter, who was raised on a 6-generation Michigan Centennial Farm in Lake Orion, Mich., which he and his son Mike visited the week of the award ceremony. Lessiter is a dairy science graduate from Michigan State University.
Lessiter's contributions to conservation ag’s adoption are profound. He and his pub ... more. |
Indiana Pilot Study
Ten years of tillage-transect data collected by the State of Indiana were used to verify the ability of OpTIS algorithms to automatically process publicly-available remote sensing data, in order to accurately characterize tillage practices and the presence of winter cover crops.
View Resource
Next Step
Building on the success of the Indiana Pilot, CTIC is now again partnering with A ... more. |
CTIC Projects « Connecting People « Indian Creek Watershed Project « Strip Tillage Fall Nitrogen Application
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Ten years of tillage-transect data collected by the State of Indiana were used to verify the ability of OpTIS algorithms to automatically process publicly-available remote sensing data, in order to accurately characterize tillage practices and the presence of winter cover crops.
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CTIC, with funding provided by the United Soybean Board, updated its 2003 publication on conservation tillage and biotechnology. CTIC's new publication, "Facilitating Conservation Farming Practices and Enhancing Environmental Sustainability with Agricultural Biotechnology", explores the environmental benefits of conservation tillage practices, which are facilitated significantly by biotechnology crops. The publication, reviewed by a panel of experts, shows the dramatic improvements in envir ... more. |
... through 1995 were used to estimate corn yield response functions for hairy vetch, crimson clover, winter wheat, and no cover alternatives.
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;Calibri" ,"sans-serif";times="" new="" roman";times="" roman";"="">Economic analysis of the effects of winter cover crops on no-tillage corn yield response to applied nitrogen.
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Cover Crops and Conservation Tillage Reduce NPS Pollution
Project Description
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Biotech crops have reduced the risks and challenges of switching to conservation tillage or no-till practices. Since glyphosate-tolerant crops were introduced in 1996, acreage of no-till full-season soybeans in the U.S. has increased by nearly 70%.
Click here to see the data.
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Conservation Tillage Types - over 30% cover after planting..more
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... that allow for better control, with minimum risk to the environment. Resistant plants, cultural controls, soil amendments, beneficial insects, natural enemies, barriers, physical treatments, behavioral disruptants, biological and conventional pesticides are some of these management strategies.
Increases Profits
Inputs such as mechanical cultivation, pesticides, fertilizers and tillage trips cost money. By using best management practices to apply these inputs when they are actually needed, growers can reduce costs. Weed and pest management can help match the best method of control with the optimum time to maximize benefits of the control. Thus, weed and pest management can improve the bottom line for growers.
Reduces Risks
Weed and pest management results in fewer h ... more. |
... to Dave
Brandt to present to Acgo.
Still want to work together (Brian and Peter) on working paper of what research should look
like and direction it should take.
Want to work on CASA PowerPoint that each member can use to promote CASA at their
meetings, etc.
Community of Practice in support of Conservation Agriculture – Karen to resend to group.
Member Updates
Reduced Tillage LINKAGES: Finished FarmTech conference; 1,200 attendance. Ross Johns from
Australia talked GRDC and his farm. Wayne Smith and John Phipps also spoke. Projects:
measuring energy uses in different tillage systems; evaluating GHG calculator, HOLOS, which
can be downloaded and used to estimate GHG emissions from farm. Will send link. Will be
closing organization in August 2009; will keep us p ... more. |
... covers (radishes). Hafner says many different types of root systems improve soil quality and its holding capacity. “A mix of cover crops allows water soluble nutrients to be captured and available for the next year’s crop,” he said.
Hafner grows corn, soybeans, hay and small grains on about 1,500 acres, and runs a 250-cow/calf herd on another 500 acres. Hafner practices tillage, but only the top four inches of soil. He says cover crops help keep fall-applied manure from washing away. “When you turn cover crops over that are 6, 8 or 10 inches tall, it helps keep the phosphorus on the farm reducing leaching,” he said. “[As an organic farmer] I need those nutrients.”
Since Hafner practices some tillage, his soils have less crop residue cover t ... more. |
Research & Technology Briefs
Calculating Economic Returns for Conservation Tillage and Cotton
Scientists at the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) have improved the precision of calculating the costs and benefits of using conservation tillage in cotton production.
Learn more at this web site: www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2009/090317.htm.
EPA Announces Video Contest
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will award $2,500 to the winning video that ed ... more. |
Weed & Pest Management (IPM) Benefits
Increases Profits
Inputs such as mechanical cultivation, pesticides, fertilizers and tillage costs money. By using best management practices to apply these inputs when they are actually needed, growers can reduce costs. Weed and pest management can help schedule required controls at the right time to maximize the benefits of the practice. Weed and pest management can improve the bottom line for growers.
Reduces Risks
Weed and pest management results in fewer pesticide application ... more. |
... to Arkansas and celebrated 'Diversity in Conservation: People, Crops, Technology'! Attendees were able to visit 3 amazing farm stops and learn more about the people driving conservation in Arkansas. From rice to cotton and more, attendees were able todiscover how conservation practices are tailored to the unique challenges and opportunities presented by the region's varied ecosystems.
CTIC hosted 2 pre-tour webinars designed to enhance attendee's tour experience. These webinars provided valuable insights and information that helped enrich the understanding of Arkansas' conservation practices and initiatives.
CTIC Presents: Rice Stewardship Partnership and the Importance of Rice in Arkansas
CTIC Presents: Techno ... more. |
... the impacts of spring application and fall application of nitrogen on nutrient use efficiency on field site
Three monitoring stations collect tile water at a Livingston County, IL farm field.
These objectives help reach the ultimate goal of improving yields and/or reducing N loading into the Vermilion River Watershed as a result of implementing a better N management system.
Project results will include water quality monitoring data associated with NUE in-field calculations as well as demonstrations of the usability of tile outlet monitoring by producers, the cost effectiveness of these monitoring solutions for measuring nutrient loss and the impact of associated outreach efforts to increase adoption of nutrient management practices.
Th ... more. |
Register Online Today
"Now is the time to register—we've got only two more weeks until our cut-off date for seats on the bus and our special Conservation in Action Tour price for hotel rooms at the Embassy Suites Downtown in Des Moines," says Komp.
Online registration takes just moments at https://www.ctic.org/cia_tour/registration. The $175 registration fee includes transport ... more. |
DIG DEEP INTO CONSERVATION PRACTICES ON CTIC'S CONSERVATION IN ACTION TOUR, AUG 20-21
The Conservation in Action Tour on August 20 and 21, organized by the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), will give participants a chance to dig deep into a wide range of conservation farming practices, including constructed systems such as wood chip bioreactors, saturated buffers, sediment control basins and others.
The tour begins and ends in Des Moines. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig will welcome the group at an opening social on the evening of August 20 hosted by John Deere at the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates in downtown Des Moines.
... more. |
... farmers are conducting additional nitrogen rate strip trials to quantify opportunities to reduce nitrogen inputs following legume cover crops. The result of this work will be a clearer picture of cover cropping’s role in improving productivity and sustainability on farms throughout the Midwest. Critically, it will assign real dollar figures to the potential for increased profitability in a system that utilizes cover crops.
The project will also investigate the capacity of marginal and cover cropped ground to function as habitat for honey bees. Five pairs of farmers and beekeepers will be established. The farmers will provide additional bee forage either by planting pollinator habitat in marginal areas or by adjusting their cover crop management to allow additional blooming. Beekeepers ... more. |
... agencies to address their common conservation agriculture issues. Our coalition-led initiatives range from small watershed projects to national events and conferences. With strength, wisdom, and knowledge in numbers, CTIC’s coalitions work to disseminate information on new technologies and tools, to ensure conservation agriculture works on the ground.
The Conservation Agriculture Systems Alliance (CASA)unites voluntary producer organizations across North America that share similar missions and goals, encounter similar challenges and struggle with all too common problems. The CASA communication network strengthens not only individual efforts but also the shared goal of increasing conservation in agriculture.
Local stakeholder groups focus onimproving nutrient manag ... more. |
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;Calibri" ,"sans-serif";times="" new="" roman";times="" roman";"="">Partitioning roots for studying cropping systems containing more than one species is important since root growth interaction could influence system performance.
Root Segregation of C3 and C4 Species using Carbon Isotope Composition.
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During the first 3-4 years of a no-till system, the soil biology and chemistry undergoes several significant changes.
No-Till Management- Nitrogen Management
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... will not be grazed the same time year after year.
Plan rest periods so each pasture (paddock) will have adequate time to recover during the growing season to promote plant growth.
All livestock must be removed from pastures while they are being rested.
Maintenance
Keep fencing secure.
Some paddocks may need to be mowed or hayed during heavy growth periods.
Remove pasture water systems during winter if necessary, and reinstall them in the spring.
If herd size changes dramatically, update rotation schedule, paddock numbers and paddock size.
Apply fertilizer and nutrients according to soil tests.
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Today there are thousands of Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) nationally that require an National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)permit. Producers and their technical service providers need specialized informationand assistance with new technologies to resolve livestock waste management issues and address water quality concerns.
Collaborative watershed effortsfocused on managing livestock waste need resourcesto help inform the public and the producers.
Project Partner
Environmenta ... more. |
... digester and targeted application – and grows its own cow feed on 2,300 acres of corn. Joe Nester, independent crop consultant, described agricultural technology used at the dairy and methods for improving production efficiency and profitability.
Participants travelled to the Mavis Farm, where Gary and Scott Mavis shared their philosophy on conservation and how they are systematically transitioning their operation to a successful, profitable no-till system. John McGuire, Simplified Technology Services, discussed precision ag technology.
Then at Allen Dean's 1,900-acre corn, soybean and cover crop operation, visitors heard a presentation by Frank Gibbs, USDA resource soil scientist, who discussed the benefits of cover crops to soil health. View a ... more. |
... October 7 and 8, 2010
Photo courtesy of NRCS
Where: Pike Bay Town Hall
15514 State 371
Cass Lake, Minnesota 56633
The wastewater Information System Tool (TWIST) is a user-friendly management tool that will allow tribal staff and other agencies working with on site septic systems to effectively inventory and manage small wastewater treatment systems in their jurisdictions. It's designed to track information related to homes and facilities served, permits, site evaluations, types of systems, inspections and complaints.
&nbs ... more. |
... event, participating farmers, policy makers, agricultural advisors, conservation professionals, private industry, and others will visit farms and farmers in the Williamsburg area. Tour stops will feature successful, profitable farming operations built with conservation in mind.
These producers, like so many across the nation, provide their communities with valuable ecosystem services. Presenters will discuss the appropriate role, system and support for Bay Region ecosystem services provided by agriculture – through government programs and new market-based approaches. Participants will learn more about the actions producers take to protect soil and water quality, plus possible generation and sale of these services, often measured with carbon or water ... more. |
... are able to leave the one hour programs with specific information for integrating the tools into their work.
What's on the menu for Season II of Manure du jour?
The 2010 season of this Pennsylvania-grown webinar series has offered an array of choices – ranging from research on alternative and innovative manure application technologies, to waste-to-energy systems, GIS-based decision support tools for adaptive management, to the movement of estrogen through soils and water. Season II highlights include:
Dr. Rick Day
PA One Stop Conservation – An Adaptive Management GIS Tool Dr. Rick Day, Associate Professor of Soil Science and Environmental Information Systems, Penn State Department of Crop and Soil Sciences/ Penn State Land Anal ... more. |
... courtesy of Kathleen Logan-Smith
During the morning session, David Dunn shared results of a three-year comparison of nitrogen stabilizer products on rice. Dunn is a supervisor at the Delta Regional Soils Testing Lab at the University of Missouri Delta Center, Portageville, Mo.
For 12 years Dunn has conducted field research to support the MU soil test recommendation system. His research emphasizes in season crop nutrient management, primarily for rice. Dunn’s study will continue to be conducted at two locations representing the two major soil types used for rice production in Missouri. At each location, rice was cultivated using the standard methods of phosphorus and potassium fertilization, water management, and weed and insect control for dry-seeded, delaye ... more. |
... many growers are getting back to basics by applying gypsum (calcium sulfate), which helps improve the structure and balance of their soil.
Improving your business from the ground up—and down
Gypsum has been used for centuries as a soil additive. Its use has been widespread in Europe, and it is growing in popularity in the United States. Gypsum is especially popular in no-till systems, because of the marked improvement in soil structure and decrease in soil compaction.
There are three ways to obtain gypsum. It can be mined, but this method is not usually readily available or cost-effective. The second method is to reclaim and recycle gypsum products, including drywall from new construction projects. The final method is to collect the calcium sulfate that is the bi-produ ... more. |
... nutrients and chemicals.
How it helps
Streambanks are covered with rocks, grass, trees or other cover to reduce erosion.
Better water quality results from reducing amounts of nutrients, chemicals, animal waste and sediment entering the stream.
Buffer zones provide cover and habitat for birds and small animals.
Planning ahead
Have you planned to install an offstream water system for livestock or limited livestock access to the stream?
Are proper soil conservation measures installed in the stream watershed to prevent siltation of buffer zones and streambed?
Will a stream crossing be needed for livestock?
Tech notes
Fence livestock out of the stream.
Smooth streambanks to provide an adequate seedbed for vegetation.
The vegetation area along streambanks shou ... more. |
Sampling and testing manure to determine nutrient content. This promotes proper nutrient application to fields.
How it works
Taking a representative sample from stored manure and sending it to an approved lab for analysis to determine nutrient content is the first step in a manure management system. This data is used to match application rates to plant nutrient needs and soil test data.
How it helps
Manure testing and proper application to the land can reduce crop input costs.
Preventing over-application of manure to crop fields results in improved water quality.
Planning ahead
What form of manure do you plan to apply?
Have you calibrated your spreader to apply the volum ... more. |
Structure that stores manure until conditions are appropriate for field application.
How it works
The type of manure storage structure you use depends upon your livestock operation, animal waste management system and planned field application. Several options exist including an earthen storage pond, above or below ground tank, pit underneath a confinement facility or a sheltered concrete slab area. Manure can be pumped, scraped and hauled, pushed or flushed into your storage structure. The structure's purpose is to safely contain the manure and keep nutrient loss and pollution of downstream water bodi ... more. |
This is an Extension system website featuring resources and answers to inquiries from livestock waste experts. Includes timely topics and newsletters, and a calendar of conferences and educational events.
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... of row crops do you need?
Does your crop rotation allow for alternating row crops with small grains and
forages?
Will herbicide carryover be a problem?
Tech notes
Row crop strips need to be nearly the same width as small grains or meadow.
A 10% variance is allowed.
Plant grass or legume field borders instead of end rows and establish
waterways as part of your stripcropping system.
Key lines used for laying out strips should not exceed a 2% slope; except
within 100 feet of an outlet, when the grade can be 3%.
Strip widths may be adjusted downward to accommodate your equipment
width for even rounds.
Stripcropping is not as effective if crop strips become too wide, especially on
steep slopes. Use the following table to plan maximum widths: *
% Slope Crop s ... more. |
... Eileen J. Kladivko, professor of agronomy at Purdue University and MCCC Executive Committee member, says this Web site will not only help farmers to find useful information on cover crops and how to use them, but also raise awareness of the potential importance of cover crops for anybody tied to agriculture.
“We hope others will realize cover crops are important to the overall system of farming and to water quality,” she says.
Kladivko is one of the six executive committee members who envisioned the idea of coming together to pool resources and connect with others interested in cover crops and then share that with the public through a Web site.
“There is a lot of knowledge in the Midwest, but it was never well-linked,” she says.
Now f ... more. |
... (methane, as well as indirect and direct nitrous oxide) are based on the use of the practice-adoption data as input to the DNDC model. Data are currently available for the years 2015-2021.
The Denitrification-Decomposition (DNDC) model was used to simulate carbon and nitrogen soil dynamics as a function of the soil health management practices monitored by OpTIS (crop diversity, conservation tillage, and cover crops). As with previous releases, all data are undergoing various forms of peer review and may be updated in the future. If you see a region that is "grayed-out," that means there were insufficient data available for the DNDC model to be run.
Explore the Cropland DNDC Modeling Results
Cropland DNDC Modeling
Data are available for soil carbon changes ... more. |
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... in 2021, CTIC and TNC have been in conversation with a number of other organizations interested in partnering on the creation of the Conservation Validation Network (CVN), which we envision as a valuable set of anonymized ground-truthing data available to support advances in remote sensing methodologies being used to track adoption of regenerative conservation practices like reduced tillage and winter cover crops.
With seed funding made available by TNC Indiana and Corteva, CTIC led a CVN Indiana Pilot. Phase I of the Pilot had three deliverables, the first of which was to host the CVN Kickoff Workshop (hybrid in-person/virtual) on Wednesday, August 25, 2021at the Purdue Research Park, next door to our West Lafayette headquarters. Approximately 40 individuals participated, ... more. |
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... now for the September 12-13 Conservation in Action Tour and CTIC 40th Anniversary Celebration, in St. Louis.
Here are some highlights:
CTIC 40th Anniversary Gala in St. Louis' Forest Park on Monday evening, September 12.
September 13 field tour at the Henry White Experimental Farm in St. Clair County, Illinois, including cover crops, conservation tillage systems, and healthy pollinator habitat alongside fields managed with all the tools of modern agriculture technology.
Panel discussions on carbon-smart farming, remote sensing technology, and the latest approaches to nutrient management.
An Ag Tech Showcase and tour of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center.
Register now online—space is limited. The $275 registration fe ... more. |
... by CTIC, based on the Farmer’s enrollment of Fields into the Phosphorous Load Reduction Stimulus Program (“PLUS-UP”).
CTIC agreed to pay Farmer $100 per pound of load reductions of dissolved reactive phosphorous based on computer modeling performed by Heidelberg University, compared against a baseline of no Conservation “Practices”: i.e., conventional tillage, no cover crops, and none of any of the other relevant conservation practices employed by the Farmer on the enrolled Fields between harvest of the 2021 crop and planting of the 2022 crop.
Once planting of the 2022 crop has been completed for the enrolled Fields, the Farmer is asked to affirm the conservation practices employed on each Field, using this form. Farmers wishing to receiv ... more. |
CTIC will be celebrating its 40th Anniversary this year, looking back at the evolution of the organization—and of conservation agriculture in America—and looking forward to the next 40 years of the organization's mission.
Over the years, CTIC has progressed from a strong focus on no-till and reduced tillage to a broader approach to economic and environmental sustainability that grew to include water and air quality, soil health, and climate-smart agriculture. Through it all, CTIC has been a clearinghouse for information and a hub for bringing a wide range of people together to share insights and ideas on making conservation farming systems more successful.
The 40th Anniversary celebrati ... more. |
... and technology—the perfect place to celebrate 40 years of advances in conservation
farming and the diverse people and perspectives driving its future," says Mike Komp, CTIC's executive director. "For four decades, CTIC has been bringing people together to advance conservation agriculture. Over that time, we've evolved from our early days of manual conservation tillage surveys to the work we're doing today with satellite data."
CTIC will kick off the event with a 40th Anniversary celebration on Monday, September 12. On Monday evening, we will include a sponsored reception along with a presentation exploring the past, present and future of the organization's work as a hub of information, connecting people who are passionate about conser ... more. |
... http://www-agecon.ag.ohio-state.edu/faculty/bsohngen/bmp/filter.htm#grass
Conservation planning with the Core 4 approach.
As each year passes, we improve our understanding of how to manage for better soil, cleaner water, greater profits and a brighter future. We call this management approach the Core 4. The four fundamental components integrated into this approach are: Conservation Tillage; Crop Nutrient Management; Weed and Pest Management; and Conservation Buffers. If you’d like to learn more about the Core 4 approach, call your local agronomic and/or natural resources professional:
* Agricultural Retailer
* Certified Crop Advisor
* Conservation District
* Extension Agent
* Independent Crop Consultant
* Natural Resources Conservation Service
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... available phosphorus)... Read more.
Slow Release Fertilizer
Herb and Aaron Steffen manage a 900-acre grain farm in southern Livingston and northern McLean counties. They hosted a demonstration and two nutrient use efficiency (NUE) trials.
The Steffens plant corn continuously on two-thirds of the acres and rotate planting of corn and... Read more.
Strip Tillage Fall Nitrogen Application
We designed this study to demonstrate differences in nitrogen rates and yields under the same nitrogen product, where the producer planted corn for two consecutive growing seasons.
We conducted this trial to: demonstrate strip... Read more.
Strip-till Nitrogen
Keep nutrients in the Right Place, where crops can use them.
The farm ... more. |
We designed this study to demonstrate differences in nitrogen rates and yields under the same nitrogen product, where the producer planted corn for two consecutive growing seasons.
We conducted this trial to:
demonstrate strip till application of anhydrous ammonia, a proven conservation practice.
demonstrate how the farmer can conduct his own on-farm NUE using field-scale equipment with minimal disruption of his normal fie ... more. |
... is estimated to exceed 9 billion people by 2050, placing unprecedented pressure on American farmers to grow even more of the crops that clothe, fuel and feed the world. One way to help alleviate this pressure is to significantly improvesoil healthon cropland.
By adopting practices like planting winter cover crops and reducing—or better yet eliminating—tillage practices, farmers can significantly improve productivity of their fields, reduce soil erosion, improve water quality and increase carbon storage. In fact, agricultural soils are among the planet's largest reservoirs (orsinks) of carbon. Improving soil on American croplands has the potential to mitigate 25 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. That’s the equivalent to t ... more. |
CONNECT
CTIC brings people together. We build coalitions. We connect farmers, researchers, policymakers, agribusiness, and lead discussions that move conversations ahead.
INFORM
CTIC is a clearinghouse for convservation information, from Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS) regional trend data to how to implement practices on your farm.
CHAMPION
CTIC helps farmers, advisers, and ag retailers tap conservation resources. We promote conservation practices and advocate for policies that make them economically sustainable.
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... for the national Farming for Maximum Efficiency program (The MAX®) sponsored byCTICand Successful Farming magazine.
WinMax manages crop input data, calculates crop fertilizer recommendations, generates production cost and nutrient management worksheets, and allows sets of custom input costs to be created and used in all calculations.
Various management options, such as tillage, pest control and fertilizer strategies, can be compared to help assess which practices are both economically efficient and environmentally sound.
Visit WinMax site.
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Agricultural conservation systems produce good yields and strong profits while responsibly managing environmental resources. These systems efficiently manage nutrients and pests, control irrigation and drainage water flows, use cover crops, rotate crops to maximize conservation benefits and
minimize equipment wear. See CTIC's conservation systems information sheet HERE.
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We designed this study to demonstrate differences in nitrogen rates and yields under the same nitrogen product, where the producer planted corn for two consecutive growing seasons.
We conducted this trial to:
demonstrate strip till application of anhydrous ammonia, a proven conservation practice
demonstrate how the farmer can conduct his own on-farm NUE using field-scale equipment ... more. |
We designed this study to demonstrate differences in nitrogen rates and yields under different application times of the same nitrogen product, in an area where the producer planted corn for two consecutive growing seasons.
We conducted this trial to:
demonstrate strip till application of anhydrous ammonia, a proven conservation practice
demonstrate how the farmer can conduct his ... more. |
CTIC's new publication, Facilitating Conservation Farming Practices and Enhancing Environmental Sustainability with Agricultural Biotechnology.
This publication explores the breadth of the environmental benefits of conservation tillage practices, which are facilitated significantly by biotechnology crops. Access the full document or executive summary to learn about the dramatic improvements in environmental sustainability and productivity over the past several years.
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Spying on Residue
Remote Sensing of Crop Residue Cover and Soil Tillage Intensity
Remote Sensing the Spacial Distribution of Crop Residues
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CTIC Institutional Member, No-Till Farmer, provides the management information for farmers interested in and practicing reduced tillage techniques. To learn more about No-Till Farmer, visit www.no-tillfarmer.com/
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... values each member,” says Karen Scanlon, executive director. “All of our successes, past and present, depend on the participation, input and support of our members.”
In 1982, a group of agribusiness leaders, together with the National Association of Conservation Districts, formed CTIC to promote and provide information about conservation tillage.
In the three decades since, CTIC has expanded its focus, increased and diversified its membership and worked with thousands of people across the country to advance conservation.
Our members make it all possible. Thank you!
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... events. In addition to the outreach events, GLCCI coordinators are working in each watershed to give farmers one on one consultations to help them establish successful cover crops and learn to manage their systems to include growing acres of cover crops.
In 2012 we have several events planned.
We will be hosting a Farmer Networking Session at the Conservation Tillage and Technology Conference in Ada, Ohio on March 6th. The Networking session will be at the end of a full day of cover crop presentations. Farmers and speakers are invited to gather at the Inn and discuss the information that has been presented throughout the day. Link to the CTC conference http://fabe.osu.edu/ctc/ If you are interested in sponsoring this event please contact Angie Williams 765-37 ... more. |
By facilitating the switch to conservation tillage, biotech crops have helped dramatically reduce soil erosion and water pollution, increase carbon sequestration, and lower the use of crop protection chemicals by millions of pounds per year.
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CTIC's new publication, Facilitating Conservation Farming Practices and Enhancing Environmental Sustainability with Agricultural Biotechnology, explores the breadth of the environmental benefits of conservation tillage practices, which are facilitated significantly by biotechnology crops. Access the full document and executive summary to learn about the dramatic improvements in environmental sustainability and productivity over the past several years.
According to Dr. Norman Borlaug, the father of the Green Revolution, farmers must produce more food in the next 50 years than has been produced in the past ... more. |
... Unilever, designed the tool for farmers, supply chain managers and companies interested in quantifying their agricultural carbon footprint and finding practical ways of reducing it.
Study Demonstrates No-Till Improves Soil Stability
A joint Agricultural Research Service (ARS)-multi-university study across the central Great Plains, on the effects of more than 19 years of various tillage practices, shows that no-till makes soil much more stable than plowed soil. The study was led by Humberto Blanco-Canqui at Kansas State Universityat Hays, Kan., and Maysoon Mikha at the ARS Central Great PlainsResearch Station in Akron, Colo. ARS researchers Joe Benjamin andMerle Vigil at Akron were part of the research team that studied foursites across the Great Pl ... more. |
... Each farm ranges from 60 to 400 acres. Schroeder doesn’t hesitate, though, when talking about ways he and his brother work to conserve the land.
The Schroeder brothers no-till about 60 percent of their cropland, and only lightly disk some poorly draining bottomland and flatland. Butch Schroeder says reducing soil erosion is his primary goal in no-tilling and practicing conservation tillage. But he says there are cost benefits, too. “With every field pass, you throw a lot of fuel out there,” he says. “For what it takes to produce a good yield, we have cut back on field passes and fuel usage as much as possible.”
This terrace lies on cropland Schroeder farms in Guthrie County. Terraces are effective in reducing the rate of runoff and allowing soil par ... more. |
CTIC's new publication, Facilitating Conservation Farming Practices and Enhancing Environmental Sustainability with Agricultural Biotechnology, explores the breadth of the environmental benefits of conservation tillage practices, which are facilitated significantly by biotechnology crops. Access the full document and executive summary to learn about the dramatic improvements in environmental sustainability and productivity over the past several years.
According to Dr. Norman Borlaug, the father of the Green Revolution, farmers must produce more food in the next 50 years than has been produced in the past 1 ... more. |
... feet beyond that area. *
Don't plant trees on the south or east side of a road. At mature height
the trees will cast a shadow and prolong icy road conditions. *
Keep plantings 20 to 30 feet away from phone or utility lines.
Plant trees according to spacing recommendations for the species.
Do not plant over septic leach fields.
Maintenance
Control competing vegetation with tillage or herbicides before planting and for the first three years after planting.
Fence livestock out.
Inspect regularly to help control damage.
* Check local recommendations.
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... not allow cover crops to grow large enough to survive the winter. *
Seed from the end of August until mid-September. *
Cover crops may be air seeded prior to harvesting soybeans and other crops, or seeded conventionally after silage harvest.
Many crops can be used for cover crops. Cereal rye is common.
Kill cover crops in the spring. Mowing or herbicide application is acceptable. Tillage is not recommended because it will bury residue.
Early kill is important to reduce the risk of depleting moisture needed for the grain crop.
Legume cover crops add nitrogen to the soil, providing a low-cost fertilizer for grain crops.
Follow the NRCS recommended seeding rates for the cover crop you select: *
Crop lb./ac.
Oats 70
Cereal rye 90
Winter wheat 90
Alfalfa 12
Sweet cl ... more. |
... changing nutrient requirements during the growing season, a combination of technology and your management skills assure optimum nutrient availability at all stages of growth. No-till corn generally requires starter fertilizer to give the seedling a healthy start.
8. Recommended timing. When does the soil temperature drop below 50 degrees? Will a nitrogen stabilizer be used? What’s the tillage practice? Strip-till corn and no-till corn require different timing approaches than corn planted into a field that’s been tilled once with a field cultivator. Will a starter fertilizer be used to give the seedling a healthy start? How many acres can be covered with available labor (custom or hired) and equipment? Does your manure application depend on a custom applicator’s schedule? W ... more. |
... than abundant food, fiber and energy. They also expect agriculture to protect air, soil, water and wildlife.
What do farmers need to do?
Core 4 Conservation farmers all strive toward these goals and will achieve the results in the best way possible for their particular land and management abilities. Four of the key systems likely to be involved crop production include:
Conservation Tillage
Crop Nutrient Management
Pest Management (IPM)
Conservation Buffers
What is different about this?
Core 4 Conservation goes beyond talking about what agriculture is doing to protect the environment. It is a public way of showing that agriculture is taking responsibility to build on the environmentally sound management practices already used on the farm. This will be done by tracking ... more. |
Agricultural biotechnology delivers more than just streamlined pest management options or the promise of healthier, higher quality crops. Biotech-derived crops allow growers to adopt sustainable farming practices ranging from conservation tillage to integrated pest management. Those practices protect soil, water and air quality and allow producers to sustain our natural resources as well as our lives and lifestyles.
The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), with funding from the United Soybean Board, has produced Facilitating Conservation Farming Practices and Enhancing Environmental Sustainability with Agricultural Biot ... more. |
... or sells a product used in no-till agriculture, CTIC is the organization you should support. CTIC is the only organization that I am aware of that promotes the agricultural conservation practice that truly minimizes the impact of agriculture on the environment – continuous no-till.
Continuous no-till agriculture is smart agriculture. It reduces air and water pollution associated with tillage, improves soil quality and results in higher profits to producers.
If you are a company that consumes agricultural products, CTIC is an organization deserving your support. Most businesses involved in processing ag products to produce consumer goods have to comply with air and water regulations. A company can take their commitment to product stewardship one step further by supporting the onl ... more. |
We live our values by making sustainability goals part of everything we do throughout the soybean lifecycle - from soil to seed to marketplace. Our environmental stewardship programs encourage reduced tillage as well as other tactics to improve energy efficiency, water conservation, water and air quality, and a variety of best management practices. |
Conservation Technology Information Center's Conservation in Action Tour
Join us on an unforgettable tour of South Dakota!
May 6-7, 2025
Sioux Falls
Start your 2025 growing season off right by exploring conservation agriculture in the Great Plains! The 18th Annual Conservation in Action Tour is showcasing South Dakota. It’s a unique planting season tour that will focus on soil health, biodiversity, c ... more. |
... events, outreach and impact reporting for CTIC. He has worked as a business journalist for most of his career, predominantly for agriculture media brands that focus on inputs, technology and sustainability. He most recently was director of content forFarm Journal's Trust In Food,and he is passionate about helping farmers create more resilient, efficient and profitable production systems. Connect with him at frabotta@ctic.org
Elise Koning
Project Director, Diverse Corn Belt and Conservation in Action Tour
Elise grew up on a cattle, sheep, and horse operation in Parke County, Indiana, the Covered Bridge Capital of the World. After serving as Indiana FFA State Sentinel, she studied agricultural communication at Purdue University. She then earned he ... more. |
At CTIC it is our mission to champion, promote and provide information on sustainable agricultural systems that conserve and enhance soil, water, air and wildlife resources and are productive and profitable.
CTIC is proud to be a clearinghouse of information on conservation agriculture. CTIC continues to advance practical systems that improve soil health and water quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance resilience to intensifying climate change, and deliver other environmental benefits. ... more. |
Past Projects
CTIC and its partners lead projects at the local, regional and national level to address agriculture's pressing conservation needs. Each projectincludes public and private sector partners, shares information about new technology and tools, and promotes agricultural systems that are both economically viable and environmentally beneficial.
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... groups, in which producers with a wide range of approaches—from traditional corn/soybean rotations to highly diversified operations—gather to discuss the challenges and opportunities posed by diversification.
Hosting in-field research, allowing agronomists, entomologists, hydrologists and soil scientists to study farmers' existing management systems, ranging from conventional corn/soybean rotations to more complex cropping and/or grazing systems. Host producers will not be asked to change their management; researchers will share and help interpret data produced on participating farms.
Joining Reimagining Agricultural Diversification (RAD) Teams, engaged conversations among producers, agricultural advisors, community leader ... more. |
Helpful Links
CTIC and its partners lead projects at the local, regional and national level to address agriculture's pressing conservation needs. Each projectincludes public and private sector partners, shares information about new technology and tools, and promotes agricultural systems that are both economically viable and environmentally beneficial.
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CTIC Data Licensing Agreement
The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) provides Data to the public as part of its mission to champion, promote, and provide information about comprehensive conservation and sustainable agricultural systems that are beneficial for soil, water, air and wildlife resources and are productive and profitable for agriculture. By using Data from the CTIC web-site, the User agrees to the following Data Licensing Terms (modeled after “Attribution ShareAlike CC BY-SA”):
(1) The User will properly attribute all Data as having been obtained from CTIC (www.CTIC.org) and the designated Data Pro ... more. |
... ag.
Farmers can find more information at www.ctic.org.
New Soil Health Specialist Joins CTIC
In addition to announcing their new program, CTIC is proud to announce the hiring of Dan Coffman as the Soil Health Specialist to lead the delivery of the Farmers for Soil Health program in Minnesota. Dan received his Bachelor’s of Science degree from NDSU in Agriculture Systems Management, he has previously worked for co-ops and a seed dealership gaining experience in precision agriculture and cover crops. Dan started his farming operation in 2019 in Nicollet, Minnesota where he resides with his wife and 4 children. He has transitioned 50% of his farms acreage to organic production and makes it a priority to utilize soil health practices.
Upon joining CTIC ... more. |
2022-2023Cover Crop Survey
Click here to open the report on insights from 795 farmers representing 49 states, including commodity crop, horticulture and livestock producers. The 2022-2023 survey introduced new questions on integrating livestock into cover crop systems, as well as growing cover crops for seed and participating in soil carbon programs.
Findings in the seventh National Cover Crop Survey from CTIC, USDA-NIFA's Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program and the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) yielded new perspectives on planting green and challenged commonly held notions linking land ownership to cover cr ... more. |
... Institute, The Sustainability Consortium, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, University of Missouri Center for Regenerative and the National Center for Appropriate Technology’s ATTRA. FSH is being funded by Climate Smart Commodity grants from USDA.
CTIC is a 501(c)(3) organization that promotes and provides information on climate smart technologies and sustainable agricultural systems that conserve and enhance soil, water, air and wildlife resources and are productive and profitable. The organization was founded in 1982 to support the widespread use of economically and environmentally beneficial agricultural systems.
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Developing effective climate smart technologies and conservation agriculture systems starts with people, each bringing perspective on what's needed and how to address the economic and environmental challenges in the field. For 4 decades, CTIC has provided the forum for people to connect across boundaries, bringing together people from government, academia, agribusiness, the non-profit community and the farm to find ways to put conservation into action.
Connector
CTIC,& ... more. |
The Conservation Technology Information Center
The Conservation Technology Information Center promotes, supports and provides information on conservation technologies & sustainable agricultural systems.
Read More
The Latest on Cover Crops and Residue
The Operational Tillage Information System—OpTIS—uses publicly available satellite imagery and a unique algorithm to provide insight on cover crop adoption and tillage practices. With a great visualization tool and data going back to 2005, OpTIS is a powerful resource for grabbing a snapshot of land use practices or delving into trends.
Check it out
Become a Member
By becoming a me ... more. |
... sustainable. The Center's staff develops demonstration projects, convenes and facilitates meetings, disseminates research findings, runs market-based nutrient credit programs, and serves as a hub for information on a wide range of conservation farming topics. CTIC staff members sum up their mission as "champion, promote and provide information on climate smart, sustainable agricultural systems."
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... programs that help farmers, conservationists, agribusiness professionals, academics and policymakers protect soil health, water quality and the atmosphere.In 2023, CTIC will continue that legacy as the trusted source for data on conservation farming practices, the coordinator of demonstration projects, a builder of local capacity, and a partner in developing high-impact education on conservation systems.We’re going to keep our boots on the ground and our hands in the soil as we continue to be at the forefront of conservation. And we're exploring new horizons through projects like OpTIS, which taps satellite data; CSA Connector, which will bring our mission to the app age; new partnerships, new science on a climate smart future for American farmers, and more.
Renew your membership o ... more. |
The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC)was formed in 1982 to support the widespread use of economically and environmentally beneficial agricultural systems.
Members of CTIC, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, include farmers, policy makers, regulators, academic researchers, agribusiness leaders, conservation group personnel, farm media, and others. The organization is supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and other public entities.
It is our mission to champion, promote and ... more. |
CTIC champions, promotes and provides information on technologies and sustainable agricultural systems that conserve and enhance soil, water, air and wildlife resources, and are productive and profitable.
Lead Projects
CTIC is a leader and collaborator in projects that address conservation agriculture's most important topics. Funded by public investments, foundation grants, agribusiness and private donations, our projects provide insight into agricultural systems that are both economica ... more. |
The CTIC Conservation in Action Tour is getting back on the bus! Join us in St. Louis, Mo., September 12 and 13 for a celebration of CTIC's 40th Anniversary and our 15th Conservation in Action Tour.
Two action-packed days will include an up-close look at conservation systems in action, the latest in ag tech, and an exploration of the past, present and future of conservation agriculture.
On Monday evening, September 12th, we will be celebrating CTIC's 40th Anniversary. We will be celebrating in the heart of St. Louis—Forest Parkin theelegantTrolley Room. At the celebration, we’ll enjoy drinks, food andthe chance ... more. |
... groups, in which producers with a wide range of approaches—from traditional corn/soybean rotations to highly diversified operations—gather to discuss the challenges and opportunities posed by diversification.
Hosting in-field research, allowing agronomists, entomologists, hydrologists and soil scientists to study farmers' existing management systems, ranging from conventional corn/soybean rotations to more complex cropping and/or grazing systems. Host producers will not be asked to change their management; researchers will share and help interpret data produced on participating farms.
Joining Reimagining Agricultural Diversification (RAD) Teams, engaged conversations among producers, agricultural advisors, community leader ... more. |
CTIC, in conjunction with U.S. EPA and the Agricultural Drainage Management Coalition (ADMC), will be hosting a Drainage Water Management Certification webinar on July 7, 2022. The webinar will be a 6-hour interactive online training and certification course on planning drainage water management systems.
A total of 5 CEUs will be available for CCAs and PEs. Partial CEUs will be available for completion of session 1, 2, or 3. Upon successful completion of the quiz modules, an ADMC course certificate will be awarded.
The course sessions will be led by Dr. Gary Sands, professor and extension engineer at the University of Minnesota. A recording of the training session and ... more. |
... insight into conservation planning, as well as CEU credits.
In addition to the 4Rs—Right Source, Right Rate, Right Place, Right Time—there's a new "plus": Conservation Practices.
Visit www.4RPlus.org for details.
NRCS and Local Conservation Opportunities
Conservation Service describes programs that can help farmers install or adopt conservation systems that can dramatically reduce nutrient loading in surface waters. Funding is available from state and federal programs to encourage the adoption of a wide range of systems.
Conservation Systems for Flat and Tiled Landscapes
Keegan Kult of the Ag Drainage Management Coalition (ADMC) details drainage management practices, including bioreactors and saturated buffers, that can he ... more. |
... and better for the environment.
CTIC is a membership organization, which means your membership—your participation and your dues—keep the doors open. You also give us our momentum, driving us forward on our mission to Connect, Inform and Champion. Your membership helps us put projects on the ground, bring innovations to life and spread the word about conservation systems that work.
Our members are our biggest advocates, our advisors and our inspiration.
If you're a member of CTIC, thank you for your support. If you want to become a member, visit our website or contact komp@ctic.org to explore membership levels and benefits.
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Welcome to Conservation in Action NEWS, CTIC's e-newsletter. We'll share news about the Conservation Technology Information Center as well as stories on how our members and partners are helping farmers put conservation systems into practice.
Learn more about CTIC at our website...and if you've got a story to share, please contact us!
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2020 Conservation In Action Tour- In Person EventPostponed
Join us virtually!
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, CTIC's 2020 Conservation in Action Tour has been postponed to 2021. We will instead host a virtual event in collaboration with the American Society of Agronomy's Sustainable Agronomy Conference on August 20, 2020.
Session #5: Environmental Benefits of Sustainable Agronomy&mda ... more. |
... accounting of the environmental footprint of their raw materials, stakeholders throughout the agri-food supply chain are working diligently to quantify and benchmark sustainability. CTIC is a partner in several initiatives to bring together participants from various points in the supply chain to develop metrics and processes that provide useful insight and fit into real-world, on-farm management systems.
Phosphorus Water Quality Trading Program in Western Lake Erie
CTIC, in partnership with Ecosystem Services Marketplace Consortium (ESMC), Heidelberg University in Ohio, and others, has been awarded a Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) grant by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This grant will be used launch a brand-new program to compensate farmers for conservation pr ... more. |
... available—contact Mike Komp for details.
Check out our tour video here, or learn more about the program online at our website.
OpTIS VISUALIZATIONS ARE ONLINE
Interactive maps and time series charts showing the adoption and impact of conservation practices in the Corn Belt are now online in a powerful new data visualization tool based on the Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS). OpTIS analyzed publicly available satellite data to document the adoption of conservation practices across the Corn Belt from 2005 to 2018.
CTIC is encouraging users to interact with the new tool and provide feedback in a five-minute online survey accessed from the map pages.
Maps of conservation tillage and cover crop adoption at th ... more. |
... than 800 attendees.
Click here for information about the next NARS training workshop.
CTIC/EPA Consultant Training
Through a collaborative agreement with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), CTIC provides leadership and technical support for 5 workshops between 2015 and 2020 that teach Certified Crop Advisors, ag retailers and other agronomic consultants to identify conservation systems that could benefit their clients' farms, then connect them with technical and financial support for implementation. Practices include in-field nutrient management, drainage water management systems, bioreactors, saturated buffers and more.
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... doing to promote Conservation In Action. We believe it is our role to tell the story of these efforts.
Enjoy the day,
Mike
OpTIS DATA NOW AVAILABLE FOR THE ENTIRE CORN BELT
Cover crop use following corn and soybeans in the Corn Belt doubled between 2006 and 2018, climbing to 4 million acres, according to an analysis of data from the Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS).
OpTIS uses publicly available satellite imagery and a proprietary algorithm developed by Applied GeoSolutions (AGS) to analyze tillage practices and ground cover. The algorithm was ground-truthed by visits to nearly 1,500 fields in 10 states in 2017 and 2018.
Data covering 645 counties in the Corn Belt between 2006 and 2018 are ava ... more. |
Cover crops are among the most exciting and most complex conservation systems on today's agricultural landscape. CTIC and its partners have been at the forefront of exploring, demonstrating, and promoting cover crops to help make them as effective as possible.
Bee Integrated Demonstration Project
CTIC is supporting this Honey Bee Health Coalition led effort to bring together beekeepers and farmers to demonstrate how a suite of best practices can be implemented o ... more. |
... and precision application of fertilizer. The tour also includes lunch at New Century FS and dinner and a keynote speaker at Jester Park Lodge in Granger, Iowa.
Bayer, Mosaic and Syngenta have sponsored previous Conservation in Action Tours. The Conservation Infrastructure Initiative signed on this year specifically to expose tour participants from around the country to conservation systems being employed in Iowa.
The Fertilizer Institute and Corteva Agriscience have signed on as a Platinum sponsors.
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DEADLINE EXTENDED: ONE MORE WEEK TO REGISTER FOR CTIC'S CONSERVATION IN ACTION TOUR!
The Conservation Technology Information Center has extended the registration deadline for its August 20-21 Conservation in Action Tour—which will showcase conservation agriculture systems in central Iowa—to Friday, August 2. The special tour room block rate at the Embassy Suites Downtown in Des Moines has also been extended until 4:00 pm CST on Monday, July 29.
"We are still seeing strong interest in the tour and can open another bus to accommodate interested farmers, crop consultants, conservatio ... more. |
JUST TWO WEEKS LEFT TO REGISTER FOR CTIC CONSERVATION IN ACTION TOUR!
Seats are filling up fast for the 12th annual Conservation in Action Tour hosted by the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), which will explore conservation farming systems on farms and an innovative ag retail location in central Iowa August 20 and 21. Registration will close July 26.
"The CTIC Conservation in Action Tour provides a detailed look at conservation practices along with great opportunities to discuss those systems with the farmers, ag retailers and conservation professionals who work with them every day," notes Mike Komp, executi ... more. |
DIG DEEP INTO CONSERVATION PRACTICES ON CTIC'S CONSERVATION IN ACTION TOUR, AUG 20-21
The Conservation in Action Tour on August 20 and 21, organized by the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), will give participants a chance to dig deep into a wide range of conservation farming practices, including constructed systems such as wood chip bioreactors, saturated buffers, sediment control basins and others.
The tour begins and ends in Des Moines. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig
will welcome the group at an opening social on the evening of August 20 hosted by John Deere at the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates in downtown Des Moine ... more. |
Terry Tindall of J.R. Simplot and CTIC board chair says CTIC's tours have built a nationwide reputation over the years for providing an up-close look at conservation systems in the field, and also for creating opportunities for outstanding networking.
“I am very pleased with how the plans have come together for the CTIC 2019 Conservation in Action Tour," Tindall says. "These tours balance local conservation practices with a national message of doing better. Those attending will realize that these tours are the best in North America ... more. |
Bayer CropScience, The Mosaic Company, Syngenta and the Conservation Infrastructure Initiative co-led by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) and the Iowa Association of Water Agencies (IAWA) have signed on as a Diamond-level sponsors of the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) Conservation in Action Tour. The tour, which will be held August 20 and 21 in Des Moines, Iowa, is CTIC's 12th ann ... more. |
... tour also includes lunch at New Century FS and dinner and a keynote speaker at Jester Park Lodge in Granger, Iowa.
Bayer, Mosaic and Syngenta have sponsored previous Conservation in Action Tours. The joint IDALS-IAWA initiative signed on this year specifically to expose tour participants from around the country to conservation systems being employed in Iowa.
The Fertilizer Institute has signed on as a Platinum sponsor.
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... his team will open their state-of-the-art plant for a look at commercial-scale management of fertilizer, seed treatments and other inputs. The FS team will also provide an exploration of the role of Certified Crop Advisors in implementing conservation and production goals.
LICA Demonstration Farm, Melbourne. The tour will visit the 80-acre home of a wide range of constructed conservation systems for an up-close look at many in-field and edge-of-field practices that protect water quality and build healthy soils.
Tesdell Century Farm, Slater. This fifth-generation farm is home to an installation of prairie strips, which Lee Tesdell and Iowa State University researchers use to study and demonstrate the power of plant diversity in building soils and habitat on the farm.
The tour also ... more. |
... been selected to fill.
"Mike brings skills that reflect not only the legacy of CTIC but also the technical knowledge that will help guide our organization into the future," Tindall said.
"For nearly 40 years, CTIC has kept up with the latest technology to collect and disseminate information about conservation agriculture. Today, with projects like our new Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS), remote sensing and big-data analysis are becoming central to our mission," Tindall added. "Mike brings his experience in those fields—and his program development skills—which will help farmers, consultants, researchers, conservation professionals, policy makers and so many more stakeholders put that information to work promoting farming sy ... more. |
Contact us for interview sources, backgrounders, photos or videos on conservation agriculture systems.
Conservation Technology Information Center
ctic@ctic.org
Phone: (765) 494-9555
3495 Kent Avenue
Suite L 100
West Lafayette, Indiana 47906
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The "Conservation At The Leading Edge" tour will visit farms, New Century FS, and demonstration sites August 20-21
The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) launched online registrations today for its 12th annual Conservation in Action Tour, which will explore conservation systems in central Iowa.
The program will begin the afternoon of August 20, 2019 in Des Moines, Iowa, with a keynote speaker and cocktail reception. August 21 will be spent in the field visiting farms, demonstration plots, research trials and an ag retail site for a comprehensive look at how Iowa farmers are using a wide range of conservation farming systems to achieve the goals of the stat ... more. |
Owls, sugarcane, lettuce, muck soils and more are all part of the "Unique Story of the Everglades Agricultural Area," a tale of farmers working with the ecosystem. Over 150 participants from 20 states heard this unique story. The audience represented numerous roles in the agriculture industry, such as growers, agricultural retailers, members of the media, agricultural and conservation organization representatives, federal and state agency representatives, students and researchers.
Tour high points:
Constructed wetland know ... more. |
CTIC, with support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, hosted a half-day training for Iowa ag consultants at the Iowa Agribusiness Showcase and Conference in Des Moines on February 13, 2019.
The training drew more than 60 attendees, and covered a wide range of conservation systems geared toward Iowa farms.
"This ag consultant training and others like it that we are running around the country are designed to help ag consultants guide their farmers toward practices that can help them achieve economic and environmental goals," says project manager Mike Smith of CTIC. "We don't expect every ag consultant to become an expert in developing biorea ... more. |
At CTIC, we're always eager to share news about conservation with our thousands of contacts across U.S. agriculture. After all, it's part of our mission to Connect, Inform and Champion.
If you've got data or insight about conservation farming systems that should be shared through our clearinghouse of information, please let us know. We can include it in our new, easy-to-search website or weave it into our other communications programs.
Want to cooperate on demonstration plots or programs that put conservation practices to work in real-world situations? Let us know and we will find a way to team up with one of our many programs a ... more. |
For more than 35 years, the Conservation Technology Information Center has brought together people, information, and insight to move agricultural sustainability ahead. We provide the safe space where farmers, regulators, researchers, agribusiness, conservation group staffers and other stakeholders can explore conservation systems that improve soil health, water and air quality, and the producer's bottom line.
In short, we Connect, Inform and Champion.
To do all that, we need your involvement. Please renew your membership in CTIC, or join us today. Encourage your colleagues to join, too.
Several members have upgraded their membership status, including:
Case IH (Corporate Si ... more. |
CTIC's 12th annual Conservation in Action Tour will bring more than 200 conservation-minded participants to Des Moines on August 20-21, 2019 for an up-close look at conservation practices in the field. The tour's theme, Conservation at the Leading Edge, emphasizes both edge-of-field systems as well as cutting-edge practices such as prairie strips.
"CTIC's Conservation in Action Tours are always a great way to not only see conservation practices in real-world settings and talk to the people who are implementing them, but also provide a unique opportunity to spend the day with people you wouldn't ordinarily get to walk around a farm with," says Tim Palm ... more. |
... NARS (National Aquatic Resource Surveys) meeting for 125 water quality professionals. Participants from federal, state and tribal agencies, as well as contract partners, will attend.
The NARS meeting, held in Denver March 25-29 in conjunction with the National Water Quality Monitoring Conference, will explore the direction of EPA's NARS protocols and data analysis systems. Dialogues among partners and EPA will help guide the development and refinement of sample frames.
CTIC has helped facilitate planning, handle logistics, and manage a scholarship program through a cooperative agreement with EPA.
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The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) is seeking applicants interested in serving as its new Executive Director in order to carry out its mission, which is to “connect, champion, and provide information on sustainable agricultural systems and technologies that are productive, profitable and preserve natural resources.”
The Executive Director is responsible for oversight and direction of programs, including quality control, financial and budget management, fund raising, fostering member involvement and commitment, facilitating public/private partnerships, and maintaining productive internal and external relation ... more. |
Over the course of six years, the Indian Creek Watershed Project proved to be a significant model for voluntary water quality improvement efforts—not just in Livingston County, Illinois, but across the country.
Project organizers talked to every single producer in the watershed about conservation practices and water quality, and by the end of the project, conservation systems and best management practices (BMPs) were in place on at least 57% of the agricultural acreage in the Indian Creek drainage.
Goals and Recipes
Key concepts at the heart of the Indian Creek Watershed Project included:
The importance of locally led conservation efforts
The power of including stakeholders in the watershed from off and on the farm
Cooperation among conservation entit ... more. |
... the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (with funds provided through Section 319 of the Clean Water Act) will show how conservation practices installed on Indian Creek watershed farms will affect water quality.
Goal
Determine what water quality improvements result when 50-75% of producers and acres in a small watershed adopt comprehensive agriculture conservation systems over a six-year period.
Activities
Outreach activities include field tours, public meetings, email and website updates, news releases and more.
On-farm demonstrations showcase the latest products, techniques, equipment and tools for resource conservation.With funding from USDA, CTIC will employ tile outlet monitoring to measure water quality.
... more. |
Ag Consultant Training in Systems that Protect Water Quality National Aquatic Resources Workshop National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI)Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS) Cover Crop Surveys
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The National Aquatic Resource Surveys (NARS) are collaborative programs between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), states and tribes that assess the quality of the nation's inland and coastal waters, providing vital data that can help guide conservation efforts on the landscape.
CTIC works with EPA and its partners on technical training to carry out NARS assessments, and to promote conservation systems that help protect and improve water quality.
Through articles, videos and other media, we hope to inform farmers and landowners about water quality issues, inspire them to adopt practices that help address those challenges, and show their neighbors the steps that these dedicated stewards are taking to protect and improve our nation's water resources.
... more. |
Dear friend —
The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) is a unique public-private partnership that brings together farmers, researchers, policy makers, regulators, agribusiness leaders, conservation group organizers and others at the same table to share information on conservation farming systems. In short, we Connect, Inform and Champion to encourage the adoption of practices that protect soil, water and air quality as well as farmers’ economic sustainability.
There has never been a better time to join CTIC. We’ve got great programs in the field and a clearinghouse full of information on everything from selecting the right cover crops to organizing watershed-wide conserva ... more. |
By becoming a member of CTIC, you'll be connected to a world of people from government, academia, agribusiness, the supply chain, and the farm who are committed to practical, productive conservation farming systems.
Contact Crystal Hatfield, hatfield@ctic.org, for more information on becoming a member.
Join Today
Members support CTIC's important work. Help make it happen. We:
deliver balanced informationaboutemerging agriculture conservation issues
keep members up to speed on our projects
support environmentally responsible and economically viable decision m ... more. |
... a PhD in chemical engineering and three decades of experience as an environmental scientist in the crop protection industry - including tenure at Monsanto, which he represented on CTIC's board - Dave has also served on variousgovernmental and civil society efforts focused on conservation and sustainability issues. His current independent research focuses on using modeling to help food systems meet human nutrition needs in more sustainable ways.
Dave Gustafson, former CTIC board member, is serving as interim executive director.
Dave is leading the CTIC Board in a search for a full-time executive director.Contact himwith leads or ideas.
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... EPA, CTIC will provide leadership and technical support to successfully plan, organize, coordinate, evaluate and share information from five workshops held between 2015 and 2020.
These workshops will provide attendees the foundation to target, design, and implement conservation practices for their clients. Practices covered will include in-field nutrient management, drainage water management systems, bioreactors, saturated buffers and more. CTIC will host specific practice summaries and other materials that will help this project’s target audience.
In addition to the US EPA’s assistance, the following partners ensure that these workshops provide value to and are well attended by their membership:
Agri Drain Corp.
Agricultural Drainage Management Coalition (ADMC)
Agr ... more. |
CTIC recently began a new phase of a project funded by Iowa’s Department of Ag and Land Stewardship. In collaboration with Practical Farmers of Iowa and The Nature Conservancy, CTIC is leading development of a program that will train and incentivize retail agronomists to become advocates for conservation systems build around cover cropping. Rollout of the program is anticipated in the winter of 2019 and the project’s target area has been selected to leverage ongoing privately-funded supply chain sustainability initiatives.
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Ag Consultant Training in Systems that Protect Water Quality National Aquatic Resources Workshop National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI)Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS) Cover Crop Surveys
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Ag Consultant Training in Systems that Protect Water Quality National Aquatic Resources Workshop National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI) Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS) Cover Crop Surveys
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INFORM
CTIC is the top clearinghouse for information on cover crops, conservation tillage, soil health, water quality, and more.
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CONNECT
We build coalitions that connect farmers, agribusinesses, researchers and policymakers to share information, take a closer look at issues and demonstrate systems.
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The use of cover crops is steadily increasing throughout the United States. Many no-till farmers consider cover crops to be the next step in conservation agriculture.
Leaving the soil undisturbed and keeping something growing as many days as possible restores the natural cycles of the soils. Residues and roots create more organic matter in the soils. Increased organic matter serves as a food source to various soil organisms an ... more. |
Who We Are
CTIC connects people from across agriculture and the conservation community to encourage greater adoption of farming systems that are economically and environmentally sustainable. We link farms, universities, government and business in projects that explore and champion conservation agriculture.
LEARN MORE
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... Quality Monitoring Council’s (NWQMC) Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio, April 28-May 2.
The R training was a one day, interactive session held on May 1 or May 2, 2014 and focused on the analysis of NARS data using the R computing language.
Topics included:
Data preparation: building a state-level dataset.
How to compute population estimates of the ecological condition of aquatic systems at the state or regional scale.
Extent estimate and estimating relative and attributable risks.
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... support to America’s agricultural and conservation communities. We were formed in 1982 by a group of representatives from agribusiness, government and associations. We thrive today with guidance and support from partners and members from the public, private and academic sectors.
America’s producers today face complex decisions about how to integrate and maintain conservation systems within their farming operations. We trust that, given the best information, producers will make good decisions for their land. And, we believe that producers deserve to get trustworthy information, in a timely manner, from a dependable source.
CTIC works with the people and groups across the country that provide advice and guidance for producers’ production and conservation decisions. T ... more. |
CTIC champions, promotes and provides information on technologies and sustainable agricultural systems that conserve and enhance soil, water, air and wildlife resources and are productive and profitable.
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CTIC and its partners lead initiatives at the local, regional and national level to address agriculture’s pressing conservation needs. Each initiative includes public and private sector partners, shares information about new technology and tools and promotes agricultural systems that are both economically viable and environmentally beneficial.
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... provide leadership and technical support to successfully plan, organize, coordinate, evaluate and share information from five workshops held between 2015 and 2020.
These workshops will provide attendees the foundation to target, design, and implement conservation practices for their clients. Practices covered will include in-field nutrient management, drainage water management systems, bioreactors, saturated buffers and more. CTIC will host specific practice summaries and other materials that will help this project’s target audience.
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The Indian Creek Watershed Project demonstrated the power of voluntary conservation practices to impact local water quality. Hear local farmers explain how their community banded together to put conservation systems into action.
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... Technology Information Center
ctic@conservationinformation.org
Address:
3495 Kent Avenue, Suite L100, West Lafayette, IN 47906 USA
Phone:
Tel: 765-494-9555
Fax: 765-463-4106
Staff:
Executive Director: Karen A. Scanlon
Operations Director: Tammy Taylor
Project Director: Chad Watts, Mike Smith
Accounting Specialist: Crystal Hatfield
Consultants:
Computer Systems Consultant: Scott J. Brunton
Technical Consultant: Dan Towery
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The benefits of using cover crops are well established, but adoption in agronomic farming systems is unknown. The objectives of this study were to quantify cover crop use and identify factors associated with their adoption.
Are cover crops being used in the US corn belt?
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Cropping systems that improve soil conservation are needed for mixed grain and forage enterprises in the upper Midwest.
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;Calibri" ,"sans-serif";times="" new="" roman";times="" roman";"="">Corn Production with Kura Clover as a Living Mulch.
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Maintaining environmental quality implies sustainable agricultural production systems that preserve and prated soil resources.
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;Calibri" ,"sans-serif";times="" new="" roman";times="" roman";"="">Cover crop and soil quality interactions in agroecosystems.
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Agri Drain is a leader in agricultural drainage management systems. Our industry provides practice and product based solutions across our great nation. We can help offset the impact of weather, improve water quality and availability, reduce flooding, create wildlife habitat, and keep our farmers productive and profitable. |
At Case IH, we recognize that ag sustainability is a balance between agronomics, economics and the environment. We're committed to helping farmers create more value from sustainable farming systems. |
Monsanto works with farmers from around the world to make agriculture more productive and sustainable. We've strengthened our goal of doubling crop yields by committing to doing it with one-third fewer resources such as land, water and energy per unit produced. We're working with our partners to develop conservation systems that are better for the plant. |
Attend the 6th World Congress on Conservation Agriculture (WCCA) to learn, discuss and network about Soil Health and Wallet Wealth. Agricultural production systems are not sustainable unless they are profitable, and Conservation Agriculture (CA) holds the key to building and maintaining healthy soils and profitable farming systems.
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CTIC celebrated 30 years of championing, promoting and providing information on technologies and sustainable agricultural systems at Commodity Classic, March 1-3.
The CTIC booth featured a presentation chronicling the 30-year journey of conservation, CTIC and our members. Many attendees stopped by our booth, learned about our commitment to conservation and took home a piece of CTIC history.
"We were very excited to attend Commodity Classic to spread CTIC's message of conservation and ... more. |
Our demonstrations illustrate the 4 Rs of nutrient management:
Right Source
Right Rate
Right Place
Right Time
We demonstrate management systems-- not individual practices.
We measure practice success through agronomic yield, economic sustainability, nutrient use efficiency and water quality impacts.
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No-Till Farming Systems
The highly anticipated World Association of Soil and Water Conservation - Special Publication No. 3 - No-Till Farming Systems book has been released in the United States. As co-publisher, CTIC is honored to be the designated U.S. distributor.
"No-till farming systems have been developed and applied around the world over several decades. The technology is dynamic: it develops and ch ... more. |
... will leave First Baptist Church in Fairbury, Ill., at 9:30 AM central time. The evening tour will leave the church at 3:00 PM central time. The church is located at 701 North 7th Street, Fairbury, IL 61739-1595. Participants will meet at the church then board a bus to visit the tour sites.
Farmers and corporate sponsors at the sites will focus on effective agricultural systems while they showcase products, practices and technology that can boost profitable farming and improve water quality.
Tour demonstrations will include nitrogen fertilizer split-application, slow release products, strip-till N application systems, and fertilizer use efficiency studies. These practices can improve both the farmer’s bottom line and water quality. ... more. |
ADMC received a Conservation Innovation Grant in 2006 to promote and characterize the unique technology of drainage water management (DWM) – the practice of managing water table depths to reduce nutrient transport from tiles during the fallow season or to reduce water deficit stress during the growing season. Considering that no such guidance currently exists, this innovative multi-state project is developing a set of region ... more. |
CTIC seeks an enthusiastic communicator to join our team for the summer (and maybe longer) and help to champion, promote and provide information about conservation systems in agriculture.
The CTIC Communications Intern will develop, deliver and monitor programs, messages and materials to promote conservation agriculture. He/she will assist CTIC staff in creating communications and information material that supports CTIC projects, promotes CTIC and provides value to our membership. Audiences include, among others, federal, state and local governm ... more. |
CTIC champions, promotes and provides information on technologies and sustainable agricultural systems that conserve and enhance soil, water, air and wildlife resources and are productive and profitable.
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The No-Till 2011 Conference is a program of innovative speakers providing for maximum interaction between agriculture professionals ranging from producers to industry experts. No-Till 2011 is a conference designed to bring the latest developments in no-till cropping systems to interested farmers and ranchers from Oklahoma and surrounding states.
For more details, view the conference brochure.
Below is an outline of topics to be covered at this year's No-Till Conference:
Soil Fertility
Cover Crops
No-Till Cotton Production
Intensifying the Rotation with Double-Crops
On-Farm Research Session
Weed ... more. |
... of Nitrogen and Phosphorous Nutrient Management
- Brian Williams, Minnesota Department of Ag
Where the City Meets the Farm: a Case Study of Drainage and Water Quality
- Dr. John F. Moncrief, University of Minnesota
Nitrogen Management to Minimize Nitrate Losses to Water Resources
- Jeff Vetsch, University of Minnesota
"New" Technologies for Drainage Systems
- Dr. Gary Sands, University of Minnesota
Corn Belt N Guidelines
- Dr. John Lamb, University of Minnesota
What is Manure Really Worth? Maximizing the Economic Benefits of Manure
- Dr. Jose A. Hernandez, University of Minnesota
University of Wisconsin - Discovery Farms
- Dr. Dennis Frame, University of Wisconsin
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We deliver balanced information about comprehensive, sustainable agricultural systems. With our members, we support environmentally responsible and economically viable decision making in agriculture.
Our members:
learn about emerging tools and technology
access our extensive network of experts
show their commitment to the success of conservation agriculture
Our members are CTIC's strength. With our solid, active and dedicate ... more. |
Upcoming Events
July
Soil and Water Conservation Society Annual Conference
July 18-21,2010, St. Louis, Mo.
Fellows Forum, Sunday, July 18th, 2010:“Gulf Hypoxia – A Midwest Perspective”
The 32nd Southern Conservation Agriculture Systems Conference: Conservation Agriculture Impacts--Local and Global
July 20-22, 2010,Jackson and Milan, Tenn.
August
Conservation In Action Tour
August 3, 2010, Richmond and Williamsburg, Va.
CTIC Board of Directors Meeting
August 4, 2010, Williamsburg, Va.
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... fulfills its mission with the generous
support of our members.
CTIC Medal Members
In 2009, CTIC launched a new membership structure that allows members to receive additional value and recognition for their support of comprehensive conservation and sustainable agricultural systems. With additional membership dues above the basic level in each membership category, members achieve medal status of Gold, Silver or Bronze. The additional support provided by our Medal Members enables CTIC to enhance our regional and national projects, to explore new partnership opportunities and to bring national recognition to public and private efforts to advance conservation agriculture.
... more. |
CTIC Medal Members
CTIC proudly recognizes The Mosaic Company, CTIC Gold Corporate Member.
CTIC’s Medal Membership allows members to receive added value and recognition for their support of comprehensive conservation and sustainable agricultural systems. With additional membership dues above the basic level in each membership category, members achieve medal status of Gold, Silver or Bronze. The support provided by Medal Members enables CTIC to enhance regional and national projects, to explore new partnership opportunities and to gain national recognition.
CTIC recognizes Medal Members through Partners magazine, at CTIC regional and na ... more. |
CTIC thanks our Medal Members for supporting the promotion of comprehensive conservation and sustainable agricultural systems.
CTIC Medal Members
In 2009, CTIC launched a new membership structure that allows members to receive additional value and recognition for their support of comprehensive conservation and sustainable agricultural systems. With additional membership dues above the basic level in each membership category, m ... more. |
... online form and we'll send you an invoice. Then, take a minute to look at all the events CTIC has planned for 2009 and plan to get involved. With membership support and engagement, CTIC will continue to fulfill its mission.
On July 29, 2009, CTIC will host our third Conservation In Action Tour. On this one-day tour in western Illinois, we will visit farms where conservation agriculture systems are put in to action — to help protect resources and to build a profitable operation. Through conservation practices, including nutrient management plans developed by producers and their advisors, these farmers are minimizing agriculture's impact on the Mississippi River watershed. CTIC staff will be sending additional details about the tour over the next few months. So please save the ... more. |
... of perennial vegetation are established at the outside edges of a field where excessive sheet and rill erosion is occurring. The grass or legume strips replace crop end rows, which would be planted up and down hill and be highly erosive. Field borders are sometimes referred to as picture frames of grass, and are used with contour farming, terrace, buffer strip and contour stripcropping systems. The grass or legume in the strip protects steep field edges from soil erosion, and provides turning and travel lanes around the field.
How it helps
Vegetative cover reduces sheet and rill erosion by slowing water flow.
Vegetation filters runoff to improve water quality.
Grass and legume strips may be harvested in some cases and are easier to turn on than end rows.
Vegetation provi ... more. |
Various planner resources and research, educational programs and materials focus on economically feasible and environmentally-sound manure handling systems that also meet Federal, state, and local air and water quality protection regulations.
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Innovative Cropping Systems Incentive Program (ICS)
Established 1996
ICS is a cooperative program that strives to furnish incentives that advance cropping management systems that offer efficiencies in crop production and enhance pollution reduction performance. ICS adoption incentives include outreach, technical transfer, education, demonstration, research, cooperation, development, partnerships and financial assist ... more. |
... reliable source for information and technology for agricultural conservation. We are dedicated to delivering balanced information to our members about the emerging issues facing our industry, and to keeping our network of members connected, all while maintaining our commitment to conservation.
CTIC champions, prmotoes and provides information about comprehensive conservation agricultural systems.
Our members are CTIC's strength. With our solid, active and dedicated membership, we've demonstrated the value of public/private partnerships, and have proven that more can be done together than alone.
But without an active membership, we would fail in our mission to improve the relationship between agriculture and the environment.
Join the CTIC membership today. Together ... more. |
... across the Corn Belt are also working with pre-sidedress N testing and on-the-go plant sensing to fine-tune fertilizer recommendations.
As results like those are collected, producers and advisors can formulate apples-to-apples comparisons between manure and commercial fertilizers—and learn to build the value of manure by making sure they can utilize it when their storage systems and crops benefit most.
Still, the value of manure fluctuates more than that of commercial fertilizer because of the challenges and variables that surround its use—from the cost to haul a comparatively low-octane fertilizer to the energy of soil microbes to the rules preventing its application where P rates are already high. At Purdue, Joern reminds producers and their adviso ... more. |
