The National Corn Growers Association wanted to make sure the new decade started with a bright spotlight shining on the sustainability renaissance underway in the U.S., and the launch of the Success in Stewardship Network did that in a big way.
NCGA and the Environmental Defense Fund formalized their relationship with a memorandum of understanding in 2020 on joint sustainability goals and have beat the drum loudly all year to recognize and accelerate the use of agricultural conservation practices on U.S. corn farms.
Farmers frequently bemoan the lack of public understanding regarding the positive change that has already occurred, and the accelerating move to sustainability still underway. The Network celebrates and connects the farmers and their programs that are already driving change with proven conservation practices and encourage the trend to continuous improvement.
The Success in Stewardship Network uses public recognition to foster and strengthen the ongoing culture of stewardship, including showcasing and increasing the conservation actions farmers and state and regional programs take in the name of continuous improvement and catalyze further growth. This year, efforts recognized the stellar programs of the Illinois Corn Growers Association and the Minnesota Corn Growers Association.
A big part of the Network is encouraging individual farmers to step-up and tell their story of growing sustainability. The initiative has resulted in significant positive exposure to these stories with mixed audiences throughout the year.
For more information about the Network’s benefits and selection criteria, please contact stewardshipnetwork@ncga.com. For the latest on NCGA and EDF’s partnership, listen to this podcast.
COVID-19 Resources
NCGA is taking a series of actions to do our part to help contain the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and the economic fallout it is creating for corn farmers and our customers. Short term, this means instituting policies to protect the health and safety of our stakeholders and the broader communities we serve. Long term, we’re focused on creating solutions to help corn farmers and our customers recover from the financial impacts of this crisis.
CommonGround
CommonGround is a group of farmers connecting with consumers through conversations about science and research and personal stories about food and misinformation surrounding farming. Supported by the NCGA and state corn organizations.
SHP
The Soil Health Partnership (SHP) is a farmer-led initiative that fosters transformation in agriculture through improved soil health. Administered by NCGA the partnership has more than 220 working farms enrolled in 16 states. SHP’s mission is to utilize science and data to partner with farmers who are adopting conservation agricultural practices that improve the economic and environmental sustainability of the farm.
