Izaak Walton League of America

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has partially restored incentive payments for landowners who enroll in Continuous Conservation Reserve Program contracts, after having slashed those incentives earlier this year. Full story

South Dakota farmers Steve and Elaine Reimer focused on rebuilding the army of microbes that make their soil healthy. The result has been reduced erosion, increased yields and more carbon stored in their soil. Full story

Enrollment in the Conservation Reserve Program has fallen for the 13th straight year, leaving the program’s benefits for soil, water and wildlife at risk. Full story

By restoring the health of the soil on their Indiana farm, Mike Starkey and his family have been sequestering carbon and saving money on equipment, fertilizer and pesticides – all while reducing polluted runoff into nearby streams. Full story

Seth Watkins says his Iowa farm “did not become profitable until we shifted our focus from production to stewardship. Once we did that, other things just fell into place.” Learn how Watkins’ soil health strategy eliminated soil erosion, put carbon into the soil and provided habitat for abundant wildlife, all while boosting his farm’s profitability. Full story

Gardens won't grow without healthy soil – and testing your soil doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. Here are five easy ways to find out whether your plants are getting what they need. Full story

Representative Chellie Pingree, one of the few actual farmers in Congress, has a plan for reducing farms' emissions and increasing their productivity. Full story

For 35 years, the Conservation Reserve Program has rewarded farmers for taking millions of acres of highly erodible, environmentally sensitive cropland out of production – but now, decreasing incentive payments are leaving landowners wondering why they should sign up. Full story

Funding for natural resources and the environment now represents less than 1% of the federal budget, and that share has been falling for more than 40 years. The 2020 budget isn't likely to reverse the decline. Full story

Water, air, and yard waste are all you need to create a rich source of nutrients for your plants. Full story