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Nature inspired my career in conservation, but farmers and family keep me going
By Suzy FriedmanMy husband and 10-year old twins – keeping me dedicated to a sustainable future. Whether I’m out shopping, preparing a meal for my husband and 10 year-old twins, or visiting a farm with...
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How 2015 set the table for major agricultural and environmental success in 2016
In 2015, U.S. agriculture proved to be a willing and powerful partner in the path to sustainability. We’ve seen farmers, ranchers and food companies make major headway in reducing greenhouse gas...
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From California to Idaho: Protecting rural pit stops on the monarch...
By Eric HolstThe eastern population of monarch butterflies overwinters in the forests of central Mexico, with the most prominent migration path following Interstate 35 from Amarillo Texas to Duluth...
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Carbon markets in agriculture are the next big thing
By Robert ParkhurstI knew I wanted to focus my career on protecting the world’s great places, says Robert Parkhurst, pictured snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef. In 2006 California passed AB 32,...
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How an ag retail program is scaling up sustainable practices
By Katie AndersonSUSTAIN™ is continuing to gain momentum with food companies and government agencies. Just today, the world’s largest pork producer, Smithfield Foods, said it would begin using the...
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Animal feed is at the heart of grain sustainability
By Maggie MonastBuilding my energy-efficient home in North Carolina. My passion for improving the food system for the health of my family, my fellow citizens and our planet is in my genes. My...
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Meet the farmer who helped make no-till the norm in north central Montana
By Suzy FriedmanApproximately 56 percent of all corn, soy, wheat, and cotton farms use strip-tillage or no-till on at least a portion of their land. No-till, as defined by experts at the U.S....
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How California farmers can help salmon survive, and what’s in it for them
By Dan KaiserCalifornia's Chinook salmon are large fish that can grow up to 58 inches in length and weigh up to 129 pounds. But most salmon do not grow this large, especially in drought conditions,...
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New program verifies claims of fertilizer efficiency tools
By Karen ChapmanBig name food companies are starting to source sustainably grown grains to increase transparency and reduce climate and water risks in their supply chains. Precision agriculture tools...
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Butterfly numbers may be up, but they still need our help
By Eric HolstEarlier this week, The Washington Post reported that the monarch butterfly, along with the manatee, is on a “big rebound.” It’s true that the iconic North American butterfly is in better...
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Organic or conventional. Which production system can feed the world sustainably?
By Suzy FriedmanOrganic. Conventional. Locally grown. And the list goes on. The seemingly age-old debate of what system can best feed and sustain the planet is again at the front of my mind on National...
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My two agricultural hats: scientist & advocate
By Eileen McLellan“It’s the hydrology, stupid!” a colleague once joked about the thrust of my career. I couldn’t agree more. I study what’s working and what’s not across agricultural landscapes — the...
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USDA gives big boost to sustainable farming in North Carolina
By Maggie MonastEnvironmental Defense Fund’s efforts to improve sustainable farming practices through the grain supply chain received another boost, thanks to a USDA Regional Conservation Partnership...
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Unlocking the black box of agricultural supply chains
By Maggie MonastJennifer Schmitt, Ph.D, lead scientist of the NorthStar initiative at the University of Minnesota. The corn supply chain is a complex, ever-changing, and often unpredictable system....
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Targeting conservation dollars makes good sense
By Karen ChapmanSummer algae bloom in Lake Erie. Credit: NOAA A University of Michigan study released late last month implies that in order to meet the U.S. and Canadian governments’ 40 percent...
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From my grandfather’s farm to NutrientStar: Why I believe in growers
By Karen ChapmanMy grandfather, John Beall, with his brother, on the family farm in Ohio. I once dreamed of pursuing a career in public radio and becoming the next Cokie Roberts. Not surprisingly, my...
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Public funding for ag research has plummeted. Is that a bad thing?
By Suzy FriedmanCover crop demonstration at the 2013 Soil Health Expo, hosted by NRCS and the Univ. of MO. Credit: Curators of the University of Missouri Public sector funding for agricultural research...
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3 ways NGOs can help sustainable supply chains grow
By Maggie MonastEarlier this week, a former sustainability executive with McDonald’s delivered a wake-up call for environmental groups, listing “5 ways that NGOs stunt sustainability.” In this article,...
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A newly re-energized sustainable ag movement
By Suzy FriedmanLast month I spent some time in Bentonville, Arkansas, at Walmart's semi-annual “Sustainability Showcase,” a celebration of the company’s progress in implementing environmental...
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These reforms can unclog California’s water market and help the environment
By Ann HaydenCalifornia has a long tradition of conflict over water. But after five years of drought and an El Niño that failed to live up to its “Godzilla” hype, the conflict has become a crisis. How...
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