NCGA has a strong conservation ethic and we believe that as good stewards of the land our members must maintain its productivity by retaining nutrients in the soil, reducing soil erosion and managing crop inputs. NCGA members are concerned with the health and well-being of American citizens and are mindful of the need to balance environmental stewardship with the need for a long-term, dependable food supply and the necessity for long-term profitability in farming.
NCGA members take responsibility for their farming activities and do so with a keen eye towards conservation, productivity and marketing. It is for these reasons that NCGA supports voluntary, locally led, incentive-based programs which recognize the unique abilities and limitations of farmers.
NCGA runs the National Corn Yield Contest (NCYC) to educate farmers on improving their methods of production to increase profitability while addressing environmental concerns. The majority of the NCYC classes are conservation tillage, utilizing no-till/strip-till and ridge-till. NCGA has recently improved the program by adding a request for additional information regarding overall corn production compared to the NCYC entry plot to assist in determining if practices are uniform throughout the farm.
NCGA will continue its efforts in promoting conservation practices through the development of legislation in Washington, D.C., involvement in local watershed efforts and educational programs like the NCYC, leading the way to better soil, cleaner water, greater profits and a brighter future for agriculture and rural America.
