AMES, Iowa — The Iowa Learning Farms (ILF) conservation webinar taking place April 27 at noon CDT will feature Aria McLauchlan, co-founder and executive director, and Harley Cross, co-founder and director of strategy at Land Core, a nonprofit organization advancing soil health policies and programs that create value for farmers, businesses and communities. McLauchlan’s expertise in soil health and federal soil health policy aids Land Core in forming strong partnerships and coalitions with agricultural stakeholders, while Cross brings a substantial history of success and unique perspective to developing new financial infrastructure and incentives for soil health in the U.S.
Iowa Learning Farms is an Iowa State University Extension and Outreach conservation and water quality education program.
In the webinar, “Valuing Soil Health to De-risk Adoption and Develop Incentives for Producers through Lending and Insurance,” McLauchlan and Cross will discuss emerging developments in the areas of risk analysis, financing and insurance that take into account the risk reduction value of implementing conservation practices such as cover crops, no-till and crop rotation which typically improve soil health, increase resilience to climatic events and contribute to higher yields and reduced input costs. In particular, they will highlight the statistical model Land Core is developing to quantify that reduced risk, and their work with lenders and insurers in the Midwest to create products for farm operators to benefit financially through new lending and insurance incentives based on soil health.
“We hope that participants will leave with a better understanding of the cutting-edge work underway to quantify the impacts and benefits of soil health practices, and the critical role the private sector—including agricultural lenders, insurers and investors—can play as partners in financing the transition to a soil-health focused ecosystem while providing upfront incentives to producers,” said McLauchlan.
Participants in Iowa Learning Farms Conservation Webinars are encouraged to ask questions of the presenters. People from all backgrounds and areas of interest are encouraged to join.
Webinar Access Instructions
To participate in the live webinar, shortly before noon CDT April 27:
Click this URL, or type this web address into your internet browser: https://iastate.zoom.us/j/364284172
Or, go to https://iastate.zoom.us/join and enter meeting ID: 364 284 172
Or, join from a dial-in phone line:
Dial: +1 312 626 6799 or +1 646 876 9923
Meeting ID: 364 284 172
The webinar will also be recorded and archived on the ILF website, so that it can be watched at any time. Archived webinars are available at: https://www.iowalearningfarms.org/page/webinars.
A Certified Crop Adviser board-approved continuing education unit (CEU) has been applied for. Those who participate in the live webinar are eligible. Information about how to apply to receive the credit will be provided at the end of the live webinar.
Upcoming Webinars in the Series:
5/4: Andrew Diallesandro, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
5/11: William Crumpton, Iowa State University
5/18: Emily Zimmerman, Iowa State University
5/25: Santanu Bakshi and Chumki Banik, Iowa State University
About Iowa Learning Farms
Established in 2004, Iowa Learning Farms is building a Culture of Conservation by encouraging adoption of conservation practices. Farmers, researchers and ILF team members are working together to identify and implement the best management practices that improve water quality and soil health while remaining profitable. Partners of Iowa Learning Farms include the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Iowa Department of Natural Resources, EPA Section 319 Grant Program and GROWMARK, Inc.
— Iowa Learning Farms
