The Back 40

More than 60 years ago, Aldo Leopold identified “a land ethic” as a powerful motivator and guide to conserve and restore natural resources.  The underlying components of this idea, articulated in the conservation classic A Sand County Almanac, focused on integration of ‘ethics, science, and incentives.’ These traits have been at the heart of Sand [...]

People across America and around the globe are experiencing stress due to fluctuations in freshwater supplies.  The problem is not new; past civilizations have exceeded Earth’s bounty and crumbled or fled in search of water.  People need affordable, reliable, clean water. Here in America, a deep fear of water scarcity is beginning to worry us.  [...]

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) published an article in its Agricultural Research magazine on the issues involved in the management of drainage waters from agricultural land, as well as practices that are utilized to address these issues. The effect of bioreactors on the denitrification of water is highlighted. The success of this practice, documented [...]

Outstanding in the Field’s mission is to re-connect diners to the land and the origins of their food, and to honor the local farmers and food artisans who cultivate it. Outstanding in the Field is a roving culinary adventure – literally a restaurant without walls. Since 1999 they have set the long table at farms [...]

Why is water so priceless in use, yet so worthless in exchange? By James Workman Peter Brabeck-Letmathe chairs Nestlé, the world’s 44th largest company, which last year earned US$ 9.6 billion profits on US$ 100 billion in revenues. He is the consummate international businessman, bargaining hard, overseeing 280,000 employees, outflanking competitors, and at ease with [...]

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced a new conservation initiative to protect up to 750,000 acres of the nation’s most highly erodible croplands. Vilsack made the announcement via video to attendees of the National Pheasant Fest and Quail Classic, held Feb. 17-19 in Kansas City, Mo. The new initiative will assist producers with targeting their most [...]