NATIONWIDE NEWS Climate-smart farming starts with data collection
The following information is providedby Nationwide®, the#1 farmandranch insurer in the U.S.* A growing list of food companies and agribusinesses are offering payments to farmers for climate-smart farming prac- tices if these practices can be adequately documented. Providing the right data to thosecompa- nies is fundamental toopeningandmain- taining this new carbon-farming revenue stream for farmers. Carbon farming involves implementing practices that are known to improve the rate at which CO2 is removed from the at- mosphereandconverted toplantmaterial and/or soil organicmatter. “Carbon farmingcanpotentiallybenefit farmers inacoupleofways.First, itcanpro- videanadditional revenue streamfor your farm,” saidNationwide RiskManagement Consultant Derek Hommer. “Second, it can improve crop production in the long run. Today’s conservation-driven farming practices, including no-till, living cover crops and perennial crop rotations, can help buildmore resilient, healthy soils.” Datacollection isnothingnewformany progressive crop farmers. Today’s preci- sionag technology enables farmers tocol-
lect and leverage data to make informed crop input andmanagement decisions. Now, the “ag carbon economy” is call- ingon farmers tocollect additional data to helpdocument that their farmingpractices arecontributing to theoverall effort to low- er agriculture’s carbon footprint. “Themoredatayouhave, thebetter you can tell your story,” Hommer said. “A lot of farmers have already implemented the practicesbeing requested—likeno-till and cover crops—in some cases for decades. They just aren’t keeping records. As you begin taking steps to become part of the ag carbon economy, it’s crucial to figure outwhat data youneed tocollect andhow you’re going to collect it.” Thesearecommondatacollection tools available to farmers: • Yield monitors and mapping. The amount of carbon you can sequester in your fields is often determined by crop yield, making a yield monitor a valuable tool. Yield maps also help you make in- formed decisions on crop mixes to max- imize crop revenue in systems including cash crops, cover crops and perennials. • Plantingmaps. Also common for cash crops, plantingmaps can be used to show precisely when cover crops were planted
and terminated, creatingabaseline for the datanecessary to showhowmuchcarbon those crops have sequestered. • Tillage maps. Though many farmers are exclusively no-till, most production systems use a combination of no-till and other conservation tillage practices de- pending on field conditions. Having these practicespreciselymappedwill enableyou to showhowmuchcarbonyou’ve seques- tered in each field.
“The ultimate goal is to collect every- thing, analyze your data andput it towork for the betterment of your farm,” he said. “Becautiouswithwhoyoushareyourdata with and howmuch you share. Make sure you’re working with the right partners to ensureyou’redoingwhat youneedtodoto create new revenue for your farm.”
The data required to verify your car- bon-smart farming practices is a valuable commodity and represents your path to a totally new revenue streamon your farm. As such, Hommer recommends working withplatformsandsoftware that canverify the security of your data. VisitAgInsightCenter.comforexpert tips and information fromNationwide to help you navigate the changing agricultural landscape, run a successful business and maintainthesafetyof your farmoperation. *A.M. Best Market Share Report 2020. Nationwide, the Nationwide N and Eagle, and Nationwide is on your side are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.©2021Nationwide Vacancy opens on task force
California’s Cattle Health Advisory Task Force has a board vacancy and is looking for applicants for the two- year position. The panel evaluates cattle health pro- grams and advises the state agriculture secretary on control and management
of cattle diseases. Board members re- ceive reimbursement for expenses but no compensation. Applicantswith experience in cattle re- search, the livestock industryor veterinary science are encouraged to send resumes by Aug. 31 to anita.varga@cdfa.ca.gov.
Submit up to four photos and a brief essay about why your dog is an integral part of your farm or ranch operation. The contest is open only to Farm Bureau members. Applicants who are not Farm Bureau members can go to cfbf.com/join to learn about becoming a member. Enter online at cfbf.com/farmdogcontest by Sep. 17th. Participate in our 2021 California Farm Bureau Farm Dog contest. With support from Nationwide, the winner will earn $1,000 in cash . Runners-up receive cash prizes, too. Every dog has its day!
August 25, 2021 Ag Alert 15
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