Explore the inspiring journey of third-generation rancher Leon LaSalle and the Chippewa Cree Tribe as they advocate for equitable access to Farm Bill Programs. From confronting the challenges of drought to negotiating groundbreaking agreements with USDA, learn how their project enhances conservation practices, addresses policy changes, and catalyzes innovation for a sustainable agricultural future. Discover the impact on tribal producers, the significance of tribal sovereignty, and the opportunities presented by the upcoming Farm Bill.
Our family has always shared a mutual love of the outdoors. When we purchased an old 187-acre farm on a wooded property in 2020, little did I know that it would ignite a journey of forest stewardship. My dad wanted to plant and sell Christmas trees and start a vineyard, and my mom wanted to …
“Eventually, climate change will affect all of us, because climate change doesn’t discriminate. We need to prepare ecosystems. A call to action that is not only driven by our personal gain, but more so for providing a sustainable future for generations to come.” Gabriel Van Praag, Civilian Climate Corp Fellow, MANO Project The Latino community …
From filtering the air we breathe to offering shade and serving as habitat for wildlife, trees provide countless benefits to people and nature alike. Scientists have also identified ways trees help address climate change as a part of natural climate solutions through reducing greenhouse gases and sequestering carbon. “We’ve got to act now if we’re …
When you mention biological soil crusts (also known as biocrusts) to Dr. Sasha Reed, her eyes light up and a smile widens across her face. For the last 15 years, this U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) biogeochemist has been on the ground and in the lab studying these soil communities that, while small, have big potential …
The seeds of a new agricultural system are sprouting in Minnesota, one that can fight climate change using profitable new crops that keep agricultural lands covered with green, living plants year-round. Crops ranging from perennial Intermediate Wheatgrass (producing Kernza® perennial grain) to new winter annual “cash cover crops” such as winter camelina, pennycress, and winter …
Cheese, yogurt, butter… dairy is a long-time diet staple and integral to a vast number of food cultures worldwide. In the United States, dairy consumption has been on the rise for decades, while the number of U.S. dairy farms has steadily declined. Today, there are fewer than 30,000 U.S. dairy farms, and each has an …
It’s a crisp fall day in northern Minnesota, and our team suits up in mud boots, jackets, and backpacks with greenhouse gas monitoring equipment. We squelch through sphagnum mosses, careful to avoid stepping on rare (and carnivorous) pitcher plants and pausing to taste wild bog cranberries. Sax-Zim bog, a watery landscape that covers more than …
The Nature Conservancy
The agriculture community is on the front lines of one of the greatest environmental challenges of our time: climate change. Yet farmers are drawing on their rich heritage and passion for stewardship to navigate a changing climate while leaving a legacy to the next generation, as illustrated in The Nature Conservancy’s three-part video series featuring two Midwest farming families.
© Dan Videtich/Courtesy TNC
Keith Bennett is a seed harvest and restoration technician for The Nature Conservancy’s Dunn Ranch Pawnee Prairie in Hatfield, Missouri. He is helping restore Missouri’s native tallgrass prairie by collecting as much as 800 pounds of native seeds by hand in a season. In this interview, read about the importance of protecting tall grass prairie, how cemeteries are great places for collecting the native plant seeds, and how prescribed fires can be beneficial for prairie plants.