“The early bird gets the worm!”
We’ve all heard it before. But for those of us in the world of agriculture, we know it’s really the best soil that gets the worm.
As farmers, we know better than most the immense role our soil’s health plays within our nation’s food supply chain. But many of us may not know the impact of a simple sustainable practice: cover cropping.
When I started farming in 2006, I was committed to protecting the ground we relied on from erosion. I implemented the use of no-till farming on our land. Although these practices worked well, there was still a key piece missing – it couldn’t create the biological activity in the soil needed to provide life for the next round of crops.
In places like North Dakota and Brazil, farmers had begun experimenting with multi-species cover crops, or seeds planted to protect and enhance the soil, rather than for the purpose of being harvested. I followed suit and saw just how transformative this farming method was.
Since that time, the soil health movement has grown, and so has the popularity of cover crops. The technology has gotten better and cheaper, and the role of soil has become clearer. While many used to talk about sustainable farming, many more are now talking about regenerative farming. With a combination of erosion prevention, reduction of synthetic inputs and increases in biodiversity, particularly through cover crops, we can rebuild our agriculture for the future.
A key aspect of this process: education. Outside of our tight-knit community, so many people fail to understand where the food on their plate comes from, and the role soil plays in its’ wellbeing. Thankfully, policymakers on both sides of the aisle are beginning to listen and learn.
The Conservation Opportunity and Voluntary Environment Resilience (COVER) Act, championed by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and its allies, holds immense promise for farmers nationwide. This legislation offers a $5 per-acre premium subsidy for those who voluntarily participate in a covered insurance program and incorporate cover crops into their conservation efforts.
Furthermore, the COVER Act emphasizes the voluntary nature of its incentives. It does not compel farmers to plant cover crops to be eligible for crop insurance. Instead, it recognizes the diverse conditions in which farmers operate and respects their autonomy in choosing the best practices for their land. This legislation is not a move toward larger conservation mandates, but rather an approach to encourage voluntary action.
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For those of us who understand the importance of cover crops, this initiative is a step in the right direction. Cover crops play a vital role in reducing erosion, enhancing soil health and mitigating crop losses. These crops provide year-round protection for our soil, making them a cornerstone of regenerative agriculture. With cover crops costing as much as $37 an acre to plant, this modest incentive will help nudge growers toward doing the right thing for soil, the planet and ultimately the health of millions of people (and earthworms).
Farmers across the country, and especially here in Nebraska, are already using regenerative agriculture practices like cover crops to yield high-quality products. According to the 2017 Center for Regenerative Agriculture report, ours is one of the top states in the country for cover crop acreage on U.S. farmland. Nebraskans know that support for regenerative agriculture brings people together across political lines. Call us “early birds” if you will, but for years, the state has led the charge on the use of cover crops, and it is time for the rest of the country to do the same.
I support the COVER Act, and anyone who cares about American agriculture should, too. The soil we depend on for the food we eat depends on us– and the earthworms we can give it. So let’s be the bird that catches the worm, before it’s too late.
Keith Berns is the co-founder of GreenCover, a leading national source for those seeking to improve soil health and biodiversity through cover cropping. Along with his brother, Brian, Keith supplies seed to cover over 5.5 million acres of land, helping to manage soil erosion, retain moisture, enhance biodiversity and improve overall soil health on those lands.
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