The Back 40

A private-public partnership is working to improve rice productivity, as well as enhance waterbird habitat in California. Montna Farms, owned by Al and Gail Montna enrolled in the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) Waterbird Habitat Enhancement Program (WHEP), which pays incentives to landowners who implement pro-wildlife habitat practices on their land. The rice belt, where Montna Farms [...]

The Farm Bill we had hoped Congress would act on last year is still pending. One of the conservation issues under discussion has been conservation compliance – the requirement that farmers receiving farm program payments maintain a conservation plan to limit damage to highly erodible land and wetlands. Some have argued that, with direct farm [...]

In a recent study, researchers from South Dakota State University have documented a sodbusting trend in the Central Plains states. Due largely to rising commodity prices, the Western Corn Belt has lost  1.3 million acres of grassland over the past 5 years, which is a rate that hasn’t been seen since the 1930′s. The authors found [...]

As the debate rages on over the use of genetically engineered (GE) crops, Greg Jaffe, a writer for “The Atlantic,” addresses some common myths about this phenomenon. His bottom line is that genetically modified foods have the potential to reduce hunger and improve the environment but several factors need to be taken into consideration before [...]

An Australian farm and retailer is using a unique approach to sell its products. Harris Farm Markets has teamed up with a marketing firm to develop an agriculturally-themed game that users can play through Facebook. “The Crop,” launched today, encourages Facebook users to become involved in the “first fan-grown harvest.” Participants have the opportunity to [...]

The reaction to Mark Lynas’ change of tune in terms of the use of genetically modified (GM) crops continues to be vibrant. Genetic modifications have potential implications for conservation and related environmental outcomes.  For example, a modified strain of corn that took up nitrogen more efficiently than those now in commercial use could reduce farmer [...]