When it comes to agriculture , the USDA like to think it knows what ’s up . Earlier this month , more than 40 non-profit-making organization and for - earnings company challenged this idea when theysigned a letterto our land ’s farming superintendent that asked for more atomic number 47 policy and practices emphasise grunge wellness for the health of the American landscape painting .
It ’s not only sustainable - agriculture groups back this petition . Among the cosignatory are theNational Sustainable Agriculture Coalition , theNational Association of Conservation Districts , theAmerican Soybean Association , Case IH , Dupont - Pioneerand theEnvironmental Defense Fund . ( See all organization that contract on at the goal of theletter . ) Titled “ A Common Vision Statement on Cover Crops and Soil Health , ” this missive is only one page long , but for this many cross - industry radical to amount together on one vernacular field says a lot about the distressfulness of soil health and their commitment to assure it through .
darling USDAThe letter opens with a treatment of farmers ’ stress on territory health and of cover crops ’ many benefit — render pollinator habitat and forage , retaining soil nutrients , and slim down erosion . It goes on to recognize some valuable soil - wellness programs around the country — some of which I was n’t mindful of — include theNational Conference on Cover Crops and Soil Healthheld earlier this year , the Natural Resources Conservation Service’sUnlock the Secrets in the Soilnational stain - wellness campaign , theSoil Renascence , theSoil Health Partnership , soil - wellness and natural covering - crop research projects , andUSDA ag - census conservation statistics .
In every in force sales letter , there ’s the “ ask . ” This letter ’s ask come as a request for support from USDA to develop a soil - wellness strategic plan that includes inquiry , pedagogy , university extension , data appeal , fiscal and technical assistance , acknowledgment , and risk of infection direction . It ’s a clientele plan for the integrality of America ’s farmland , if you will . As of this authorship ( 11 twenty-four hours after the letter ’s delivery ) , USDA has n’t publicly responded to these groups ’ request . I think a simple “ We ’ll get back to you on this ” will do . Some dates / deadlines for answerableness would be squeamish to see , too .
Better Your SoilWith the USDA being take to task for their role in supporting soil - health initiatives , this is a unspoiled time to assign some study to yourself , too . The obligation of stain health belong to everyone necessitate in agribusiness , whether a person is produce 1,200 acre in rural Iowa or 1,200 straight ft in suburban L.A. If you do n’t regularly operate to amend your farm ’s or garden ’s grunge wellness already , make 2015 the yr of soil wellness for your prop .
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