A practice that offers clear benefits to farmers, wildlife, and climate is cover cropping. Cover crops are non-commodity crops planted in between rows or during fallow periods to prevent chemical leaching, soil erosion, or provide nutrients to feed commodity crops. The National Wildlife Federation recently worked with a diverse group of stakeholders to develop a road map to increase cover crop adoption in the United States.
Currently there is no measure of national cover crop adoption. The National Wildlife Federation has been encouraging federal agencies to collect data on cover crop use. By surveying cover crop seed dealers, the National Wildlife Federation discovered that less than 2 percent of cropland in the Mississippi River Basin is planted to cover crops. If more acres are planted to cover crops, there will be less water pollution from agricultural runoff. The National Wildlife Federation also spoke with water utilities, watershed conservation groups, and other individuals working hard to get more cover crops on the ground in Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa, and Maryland. Read their stories in Clean Water Grows: Six Successful Cover Crop Outreach Efforts.
In 2013 the National Wildlife Federation began supporting Cover Crop Champions—cover crop leaders who can provide region-specific information and farming knowledge to farmers and crop advisors. These champions receive small grants to pay the cost of their travel, time, and various expenses to share their expertise and passion for cover crops with farmers in their region.
Calling future Cover Crop Champions! Applications are now being accepted.
Deadline: November 22, 2019
Parker is a shining role model for all she has accomplished and her ongoing positivity, energy, and belief in changing the world for the better.
Read the StoryHear from champions for greater and safer access to the outdoors as they discuss the potential solutions to address the intersectional issues faced by Black communities.
Listen NowBy taking the Mayors' Monarch Pledge, your local leaders can commit to uniting your community around saving the imperiled monarch. Send a message today urging your mayor or head of local or Tribal government to pledge before April 30!
Act NowGet quotes now or call (855) 786-0941
Get Quotes NowMore than one-third of U.S. fish and wildlife species are at risk of extinction in the coming decades. We're on the ground in seven regions across the country, collaborating with 53 state and territory affiliates to reverse the crisis and ensure wildlife thrive.