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Growing up on my family's fifth generation farm in Garretson, South Dakota, I have seen these challenges evolve over the years.
Our family produces corn, soybeans, alfalfa and small grains. Many of the crops that support our food supply and maintain our economy strongly. However, farms like us are being hit hard by increasingly extreme weather from all sides.
Over the past few years, my family's farm has struggled in the face of long-term droughts, but producers in other parts of the country have dealt with flooding and freezing. In fact, major disasters have resulted in over $21 billion in crop losses on American farms in 2023 alone.
Major disasters resulted in over $21 billion in crop losses on American farms in 2023. (istock)
These types of events not only threaten the livelihoods of farmers today, but also puts the future of our farms and families at risk. Higher costs for American consumers.
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Good news? We have the freedom to use real tools to maintain our land and protect our businesses. Conservation practices on our land can be used to adapt to the challenges posed by extreme weather events and improve the resilience and sustainability of our business over the next decades.
Bad news? Well, it seems that some people in Congress want to break programs that allow them to practice those tools. And the current chaos in Washington caused many farmers to be confused and made them confident about what the future holds.
If you're like me and run a family farm, starting conservation practices is usually out of reach. However, federal protection programs such as the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) can help fill the gaps and provide the necessary technical and financial support.
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However, these programs are currently at risk. With a freeze on federal spending left at Limbo by the court, it is unclear whether even they will receive funds already promised to support farms around the country. Worse, some councils want to reduce the amount available to farmers through these conservation programs. About food imported from other countries.
Don't get me wrong: I'm conservative. So I understand why lawmakers are looking at all possible options for managing their spending. But this mess that comes out of Washington puts my business at risk.
It is unclear whether the freeze in federal spending will reach even them with funds already promised to support farms around the country. (istock)
When farmers are upset from the painful one-two costs and one-to-two punches of historic disasters brought about by extreme weather, we maintain their promises, and many of us are many of us We need our leaders to protect this fund that we already rely on to protect the land.
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Building resilience to extreme weather
If you need to be confident in the value of these conservation programs, take a look at my farm.
My family has always been dedicated to land management. For generations, we have worked hard to care for our soil, water and ecosystems. But as agriculture continues to evolve, so too will the way we use it to protect our land.
By adopting cover crops, nutritional management and no-till practices, farmers face extreme weather threats to enrich our soil, reduce erosion and increase crop resilience. It has a proven path.
Healthier soil means healthier crops, which translates to better yields and high quality food, fiber and fuel. Many farms also managed to reduce fertilizer costs while reducing environmental footprints.
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Last year, our farm was approved for CSP funding. This was used to innovate on farms and helped to maintain soil health and increase revenue. Due to this program, we were able to plant cover crops and significantly reduce cultivation.
Preparing to navigate the challenges of these changes making our farms and many others more resilient and volatile markets and extreme weather continuing our path in the coming years It's definitely useful for.
Conservation practices can improve our soil, strengthen our business and build resilience at moments when farmers need it more than ever. (Hawk Buckman/Design Pics Editorial/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Future model of agriculture
After all, being a good steward is just a good business for a farmer like me. If you take care of the land, the land will take care of you – and my family's farm, conservation practices will improve our soil, strengthen our business, and we have never seen before That's all we can prove we can build our resilience at the moment when we need it. This success simply could not have happened without a USDA conservation program that allowed farmers to make these changes.
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As extreme weather already makes farming more difficult, reducing these programs will make foods that depend on our community more vulnerable and unable to produce them. Continuous support is needed to advance this progress. And so are my fellow farmers all over the country.
Congressional leaders gather to stop the current chaos, make sure farmers receive the promised funds, protect ongoing investments in conservation, and ensure the surety that farmers need during these difficult times. Gives sex. Our farms, our families, and our food future depends on it.
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