Forging a new path for accelerating and scaling agricultural conservation is at the heart of a new public/private partnership announced by the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Truterra LLC, the sustainability business of Land O’Lakes Inc., one of America’s largest farmer-owned cooperatives. This new partnership will support conservation specialists deployed alongside agricultural retailers, who serve as farmers’ trusted advisors, to build knowledge and capacity in order to support conservation practices around the country. 

NFWF and Truterra leaders said this new systems-based approach to advance private-sector delivery of on-farm stewardship would benefit both farmers and agricultural retailers while also complementing NRCS conservation programs and field offices. Truterra and NFWF will be expanding this network of conservation specialists and agricultural retailers in 2020, with the goal to build a national network of these experts to improve customer service for farmers.

“When they need advice, resources or support, farmers turn to their most trusted advisor: their local agricultural retailer,” Truterra vice president Jason Weller said. “Ag retailers have deep expertise to advise farmers on their crop production success, and integrating these conservation experts into their agronomy services is an exciting way to connect farmers with stewardship opportunities to improve soil health and nutrient management.”

“Farmers are incredible stewards of their lands, and enhanced private-sector involvement is a critical piece of the partnership-based approach we must take to support farmers’ land stewardship,” NFWF executive director and chief executive officer Jeff Trandahl said. “This collaboration is a new model that will provide a real boost for farmers’ conservation efforts by bringing together public/private involvement to enhance the capacity of retail advisors.”

Truterra and NFWF identified two initial states – Iowa and Ohio – to “field test” the concept in a range of geographies. Initial investment from agricultural retailers Heartland Cooperative in Iowa and Heritage Cooperative in Ohio, matched through NFWF fundraising, is funding the three pilot positions. Conservation specialists funded in the pilot will:

“We see every day how our farmers strive to be good stewards, and when they turn to us for support, we want to provide the world-class service and expertise they’ve come to know us for,” Greg Spears, chief operating officer of Heritage Cooperative, said. “Our local business and ag retailers across America are interested in bolstering their conservation expertise because it’s another way to add value at the farm gate. The private sector can engage in new ways when it comes to on-farm conservation, and we’re excited to be part of this opportunity.”

Heartland Cooperative vice president of sales and marketing Dave Coppess said, “Heartland Co-op is proud to be a partner in this endeavor to bring additional conservation resources to the farm. As an ag retailer in the Midwest and a longtime participant in water quality improvement and conservation practices, we can attest to the positive influence and results our agronomists bring to our farmers. Truterra LLC has established tools for gathering, analyzing and providing environmental solutions. Launching conservation agronomists with the knowledge and expertise our farmers expect will allow us to position the right sustainability practices into place for the specific needs and circumstances of that individual producer. We are excited to be part of a pilot that provides a unique opportunity to test new strategies.”