Don't forget to renew your membership

Have you checked your mailbox for CTIC’s annual membership renewal notice? Renewing your membership helps us continue to make a difference in conservation agriculture and helps us continue to grow our organization. CTIC members play a critical role in spreading the message about how conservation practices can help improve soil and water quality, boost profitability and more. We couldn’t do it without you! As a CTIC member, you: Network with leaders in conservation and agriculture Collaborate on projects that encourage and steer conservation efforts Access the latest research and information Gain national recognition for your support ...

Leading the way

      The Mosaic 2009 Sustainability Report focuses on six core principles, one of which is ensuring environmental stewardship for responsible land and natural resource use.   Photo courtesy of CTIC       Leading the way Mosaic Company is a pioneer of progression in agricultural sustainability By Christy Couch Lee Just five years ago, the Mosaic Company launched as the second-largest crop nutrition firm, when Cargill Crop Nutrition and IMC Global Inc, joined forces. Today, this company is a leader in providing phosphate and potash for worldwide agriculture. Mosaic takes pride in its efforts to increase sustainability, and these ...

NEW OpTIS DATA FROM SATELLITE IMAGERY SHOW 2.5x RISE IN CORN BELT COVER CROPS

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Callie North, CTIC (north@ctic.org; (317) 450-9137) or Steve Werblow (steve@stevewerblow.com; (541) 951-4212)     NEW OpTIS DATA FROM SATELLITE IMAGERY SHOW 2.5x RISE IN CORN BELT COVER CROPS Corn Belt cover crop acres climbed from 2.8 million to 7.5 million between 2015 and 2021   WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana (February 2, 2023)—A new tranche of data from the Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS) tracked a 250% climb in cover crop acreage—from 2.8 million acres in 2015 to 7.5 million acres in 2021—led by row crop farmers in the southern portion of the region. The Conservation Technology Information Center (...

What’s happening at CTIC?

Don't forget to register for the 2018 Conservation In Action Tour! We’d love for you to join us on the Eastern Shore of Maryland on July 10 and 11 for our 11th annual Conservation in Action Tour. For more than a decade, we’ve been bringing together people from across the country with different perspectives on conservation agriculture for a front row view of the latest and best management practices. This year’s theme, “Bringing Back the Bay: Partnerships, Profitable Farms, Clean Water, & Innovative Conservation,” will highlight several Maryland farmers who are leading the ...

...and looking forward to 2018!

We’re excited to continue supporting conservation agriculture in 2018 with your help. Here is what we are looking forward to (so far): Launching a brand new website and a modified logo. Our new website will have a sleek, fresh new look and retrieving information about conservation agriculture will be easier than ever. Our 2018 Conservation in Action Tour will be held in the Maryland/Washington D.C. area this summer. Plans are already underway, and we’re thrilled to share more information with you in the coming months. Working with USDA on a project to highlight successful strategies for ...

2012-2013 Cover Crop Survey

Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program and CTIC conducted the first cover crop user survey. More than 750 farmers from across the U.S. completed the survey, representing hundreds of thousands of acres of cover crops and drawing on cover cropping experience that goes back as far as 1948. The 2012 crop year was a challenging one in which to study yield impacts – much of the U.S. was impacted by drought, which pushed national per-acre corn production estimates down by 43.7 bushels, or 26.3%, and reduced soybean production by 8.1%, or 4.0 bushels per acre, based on early-season predictions from the U.S. Department ...

• 2013 Cover Crop Survey

2013-2014 Cover Crop Survey

Sustainable Agriculture Resaerch and Education (SARE) program and CTIC conducted a national survey of farmers to learn more about their use of cover crops. More than 1,900 farmers completed the survey, which was a follow-up to a smaller survey in 2012-2013 (see below). Results show a yield boost from the use of cover crops in corn and soybeans, data on the costs of seed and establishment, the challenges and benefits farmers expect from cover crops and insight into how farmers learn to manage cover crops. See the news release for highlights. Results from the 2013 SARE/CTIC Cover Crop Survey were ...

• 2014 Cover Crop Survey

2014 Tour Agenda

2014-2015 Cover Crop Survey

A survey of more than 1,200 farmers across the country revealed that cover crops boosted corn yields last year by a mean of 3.66 bushels per acre (2.1%) and increased soybeans by an average of 2.19 bushels per acre (4.2%)—the third year in a row a yield increase following cover crops was recorded by the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) Cover Crop Survey.

• 2015 Cover Crop Report

2015-2016 Cover Crop Survey

Insight from 2,020 farmers from across the country found that the planted acreage of cover crops continued its steady rise - reaching an average of 298 acres per farm in 2015 and projected to grow to a mean of 339 acres in 2016. Those figures are more than double the acreage survey participants said they planted in 2011. After cover crops, corn yields rose an average 3.4 bushels per acre, or 1.9 percent, after cover crops, and soybean yields increased 1.5 bushels per acre, or 2.8 percent. Analysis of the survey data revealed that yield increases rose to 8.3 bushels per acre of corn after cover crops had been used for ...

• 2016 CTIC Cover Crop Report

2016-2017 Cover Crop Survey

A big thank you to the USDA's Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program (SARE) and the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA), with help from Penton Media through their Corn and Soybean Digest publication. For results from previous years, please see below. The fifth annual cover crop survey by the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program and the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) draws on the insight of 2,102 farmers—88 percent of whom reported using cover crops and 12 percent who identified themselves as non-users—from across the U.S. Cereal rye remained the top choice of farmers ...

• 2017 CTIC Cover Crop Report

2016-2017 Cover Crop Survey

Click here to view the full report of the fifth annual cover crop survey. A big thank you to the USDA's Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program (SARE) and the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA), with help from Penton Media through their Corn and Soybean Digest publication. For results from previous years, please see below. The fifth annual cover crop survey by the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program and the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) draws on the insight of 2,102 farmers—88 percent of whom reported using cover crops and 12 percent who identified themselves as non-users—...

2018 Membership Drive

Dear friend —  The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) is a unique public-private partnership that brings together farmers, researchers, policy makers, regulators, agribusiness leaders, conservation group organizers and others at the same table to share information on conservation farming systems. In short, we Connect, Inform and Champion to encourage the adoption of practices that protect soil, water and air quality as well as farmers’ economic sustainability. There has never been a better time to join CTIC. We’ve got great programs in the field and a clearinghouse full of information on everything from selecting the right cover ...

2019 Conservation In Action Tour Evaluation

Thank you for attending CTIC's 12th annual Conservation In Action Tour.  If you haven't already, please respond to this quick evaluation.  We really do use your responses to improve future events.  You can reach us with any questions or feedback that don't fit the evaluation form at ctic@ctic.org or 765-494-9555.    2019 Conservation In Action Tour evaluation https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VPK7G5X

2020 Cover Crop Survey Invite

Hi -  Thank you to the nearly 2,000 farmers who have already responded to the 2020 SARE/CTIC/ASTA Cover Crop Survey. The survey will close on Monday, April 13th.  We plan post a report describing results at www.ctic.org by early July.   If you haven't already, please share your insight on cover crops, at bit.ly/CCSurvey2020. Your answers on previous surveys have helped scientists, conservation farming partners, crop consultants, policymakers and others understand how cover crops are used and perceived in the field.    In fact, these survey reports have even been cited ...

2021 CONSERVATION IN ACTION TOUR PLANNING CONTINUES

  With expectations of continued travel restrictions late into 2021, CTIC is currently planning the Conservation in Action tour, which is likely to include recorded, live remote and in-person elements. We are working closely with the Alliance of Crop, Soil and Environmental Science Societies (ACSESS) to continue linking the tour with the Sustainable Agriculture Conference as we did last year. Meanwhile, we are finding ways to include expanded content and insight from farmers, conservation specialists, policy makers and more.   For the past 14 years, the CTIC Conservation in Action Tour has been a highlight of the summer calendar, a way to ...

2021 National Recreational Water Quality Workshop

  Virtual National Recreational Water Quality Workshop April 6-8, 2021 About the Workshop: This virtual format, 3-day workshop will be a forum for recreational water quality managers, stakeholders, researchers and public health officials at all levels to share information and ideas about implementing a successful recreational water program. The focus of this workshop is on two common challenges in ambient recreational waters: fecal contamination and harmful algal blooms.   We are excited to offer a flexible format for this event. Pre-recorded presentations will be available for viewing beginning March 15, 2021 on this CTIC website - after viewing each session’s ...

2024 Conservation in Action Tour

Conservation Technology Information Center's Conservation in Action Tour Join us June 10-11 in Arkansas!   Are you ready to embark on a journey through the lush landscapes of Arkansas, where conservation comes to life? Join us for the Conservation Technology Information Center's (CTIC) Conservation in Action Tour, an immersive experience showcasing cutting-edge practices and innovations in conservation agriculture.   What to Expect:  Look at the draft agenda and see where the 2024 Conservation in Action tour will take you! Pre-Tour Webinars: Prepare for your adventure with our two informative webinars led by our team of partners and ...

40 YEARS OF CONSERVATION IN ACTION

40 YEARS OF CONSERVATION IN ACTION In 2022, the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) is celebrating 40 years of Conservation in Action. That's four decades of bringing a wide range of people to the table to explore conservation farming systems from nearly every angle. Forty years of growth and expansion...from our early projects promoting no-till to our current programs that help farmers, conservationists, agribusiness professionals, academics and policy experts collaborate to protect soil health, water quality and the atmosphere.   Thanks to our members, CTIC has grown over the last four decades, expanded our reach, increased and diversified our partners and ...

About

Facilitated by CTIC, local farmers and interested others lead this project to demonstrate and test best conservation practices on Indian Creek Watershed farms. The project, sponsored by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (with funds provided through Section 319 of the Clean Water Act) will show how conservation practices installed on Indian Creek watershed farms will affect water quality. Goal Determine what water quality improvements result when 50-75% of producers and acres in a small watershed adopt comprehensive agriculture conservation systems over a six-year period.   Activities Outreach activities include field tours, public meetings, email and website updates, news releases and more. &...

Additional Winnipeg Accomodations

Ag Consulting Trainings

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?   “Professional ag consultants will learn what they need to provide one more service to the farmers they advise. Recognizing where a conservation practice would be a good fit, and charting a course for putting it into use, is a real value to their clients. Not every CCA or retail agronomist is interested in writing elaborate conservation plans, but these are the people farmers turn to first for advice. They’re the right group to show farmers how they can benefit from conservation,” Mike Smith, CTIC project director.       Practical Conservation Planning ...

Ag Consulting Trainings

About the Project Through a collaborative agreement with the US EPA, CTIC will provide leadership and technical support to successfully plan, organize, coordinate, evaluate and share information from five workshops held between 2015 and 2020. These workshops will provide attendees the foundation to target, design, and implement conservation practices for their clients. Practices covered will include in-field nutrient management, drainage water management systems, bioreactors, saturated buffers and more. CTIC will host specific practice summaries and other materials that will help this project’s target audience. In addition to the US EPA’s assistance, the following partners ensure that these workshops ...

Agriculture and Water in Florida

Richard Budell

All In On Cover Crop

Corn and Soybean Digest, April 2018

Andy Shireman

Location Chapin, IL Documents No-tilling alfalfa into rye improves erosion control, Prairie Farmer, October 31, 2018 Images $(document).ready(function(){ $('#andy_shireman_img img').on('click', function() { $('.enlargeImageModalSource5').attr('src', $(this).attr('src')); $('#enlargeImageModal5').modal('show'); }); }); × Click the below images to enlarge them    

Anthony Beery

Location Mt. Crawford, VA Documents Beery: Build Soil to Be Able to Build Farm for the Long Term, Delmarva Farmer, May 9, 2017 Videos   Images $(document).ready(function(){ $('#anthony_beery_img img').on('click', function() { $('.enlargeImageModalSource').attr('src', $(this).attr('src')); $('#enlargeImageModal').modal('show'); }); }); × Click the below images to enlarge them    

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

Back on the Bus: Conservation in Action Tour —St. Louis Sept. 12 and 13

Come meet us in St. Louis on September 12 and 13 for our 15th annual CTIC Conservation in Action Tour!   On this year's tour, we will:   Celebrate CTIC's 40th anniversary at a reception on Monday evening, September 12 Get out into the field September 13 at the Henry White Experimental Farm in St. Clair County, Illinois, to see conservation in action, and Gather on the afternoon of the 13th Donald Danforth Plant Science Center to explore the growing role of ag technology in the future of conservation agriculture.   Registration is open online, and the Hilton St. Louis Frontenac is ...

BAMERT SEED

MY CONSERVATION STORY... BAMERT SEED BOOSTING BIODIVERSITY AND WATER AVAILABILITY ON RANGELAND     Most conversations about the Ogallala Aquifer in the southern High Plains revolve around water scarcity. But ask Chris Grotegut about his 11,000-acre farming and ranching operation outside of Hereford, Texas, and you'll find out he pulled out 75% of his pivots and shifted to a largely dryland system.   Grotegut's secret weapon: biodiversity. At the heart of his system is a broad mix of native grasses, forbs and legumes from Bamert Seed that protect his fields from erosion and heat, improve the capture and infiltration ...

BEE FORAGING FACT SHEET RELEASED

A fact sheet written by U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) research ecologist Clint Otto used data from the Bee Integrated program, led by the Honey Bee Health Coalition and implemented by CTIC, to help detail which flower species are preferred by bees in the Prairie Pothole region. According to data from 244 sites in Minnesota and the Dakotas studied over five years, the top draws for both honey bees and native bee species include lacy phacelia, blue giant hyssop, stiff goldenrod, purple prairie clover, and wild bergamot. "It's great to see so many of the species included in the ...

Bee Integrated Demonstration Project: Pragmatic Beekeeping, Forage, & Farming Practices - BEE Integrated

CTIC has partnered with the Honey Bee Health Coalition on its Bee Integrated Demonstration Project.  This project brings together beekeepers and producers to show how a suite of best practices can be implemented together in agricultural landscapes to support honey bee health. This innovative strategy provides a blueprint for supporting pollinator health across North America.

Bioenergy Productions

Argonne National Laboratory found a home for its biomass test site on the Ray Popejoy farm in the Indian Creek watershed. Argonne is exploring the potential for farmers to employ underused or marginal land to produce crops for biomass energy. Factors studied include economic potential and water quality benefits. As this project moves forward, funding from the Department of Energy is expected to support the scientific investigation and field study. Agribusiness will assist with identifying potential supply chain participants. The project will address:   the disconnection between producers and users (potential new conversion facilities are constrained by the lack of ...

Bronze

Buff Showalter

Location Dayton, VA Documents Conservation Buff: Conservation Practices Positively Impact Bottom Line, Delmarva Farmer, May 16, 2017 Videos   Images $(document).ready(function(){ $('#Buff_Showalter_img img').on('click', function() { $('.enlargeImageModalSource').attr('src', $(this).attr('src')); $('#enlargeImageModal3').modal('show'); }); }); × Click the below images to enlarge them        

CALLING ALL FARMERS: SHARE YOUR VIEWS ON COVER CROPS IN NATIONAL SURVEY BY SARE, CTIC AND ASTA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   Contact: Callie North, CTIC (north@ctic.org); (317) 450-9137 or Steve Werblow, (steve@stevewerblow.com); (541) 951-4212 or Rob Myers, University of Missouri (myersrob@missouri.edu); 573-882-1547 or Bethany Shively, ASTA (bshively@betterseed.org); (703) 837-8140 x332  CALLING ALL FARMERS: SHARE YOUR VIEWS ON COVER CROPS IN NATIONAL SURVEY BY SARE, CTIC AND ASTA   A national survey launched today to gather insight from farmers who plant cover crops, as well as farmers who don't. Farmers are encouraged to access the National Cover Crop Survey online at bit.ly/CoverCrop23. The anonymous survey typically takes 10 to 15 ...

CIA Tours 2019 - Save the Date

Connecting People

Developing effective climate smart technologies and conservation agriculture systems starts with people, each bringing perspective on what's needed and how to address the economic and environmental challenges in the field. For 4 decades, CTIC has provided the forum for people to connect across boundaries, bringing together people from government, academia, agribusiness, the non-profit community and the farm to find ways to put conservation into action. Connector CTIC, in partnership with The Nature Conservancy and Houston Engineering, will lead development of a new online tool, the Connector, as a key element of a new project selected in September 2022 for funding ...

Connector

Connector The Conservation Technology Information Center, in partnership with The Nature Conservancy and Houston Engineering, is leading the development of a new online tool, the Connector, as a key element of a new project selected in September 2022 for funding by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Partnerships for Climate Smart Commodities program.   The overall project (ACTION) is being led by the Wolfe’s Neck Center for Agriculture and the Environment, which was awarded up to $35 million by USDA to conduct this new partnership pilot. Through their global collaborative, Open Technology Ecosystem for ...

Conservation in Action NEWS April 2020 - 2

April 2020 Welcome to Conservation in Action NEWS, CTIC's e-newsletter. We'll share news about the Conservation Technology Information Center as well as stories on how our members and partners are helping farmers put conservation systems into practice. If you've got a story you'd like to share, contact us! In the meantime, we hope you enjoy the newsletter. NOTE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Hello Everyone, The start to a new decade has been a rocky one across the globe. With so much uncertainty, I took the opportunity to reflect on what we do know at this time in ...

Conservation in Action NEWS August 2020

Welcome   Hello everyone, The last few months I’ve been able to spend some substantial time on the Great Lakes— Michigan and Superior. On Lake Michigan, I’ve been spending time chasing salmon and trout and on Superior I was doing some camping, hiking, and scouting for the upcoming fall runs. The freshwater resources that stretch across the USA are truly remarkable. Over the past months, CTIC has been working with partners to develop a phosphorus trading program within two watersheds on another Great Lake, Lake Erie. As we’ve started to work with farmers ...

Conservation in Action NEWS August 2022

AUGUST 2022   Message From the Interim Executive Director   At the outset, I want to thank the Board for this opportunity to reprise this interim role. I’d also like to recognize Mike Komp for the successful term he had as our Executive Director over these past three years, during which CTIC experienced considerable growth in our reach and impact on our important mission.   I also need to say how much I am looking forward to seeing everyone at the upcoming combo 40th anniversaryand 15th Conservation in Action tour, this year in-person and in my adopted hometown of ...

Conservation in Action News February 2021

February 2021   Welcome   Hello everyone,   The takeaway from 2020 for me has been that we are stronger together than apart. Agriculture, by its necessity, impacts everyone, every day. That means we need everyone around the table to set a course to a future where everyone benefits from conservation. CTIC has been and will continue to be a community where all are welcome, but 2020 demonstrated that it takes work to ensure that everyone is invited.   I’m proud of how our team has persevered through 2020. They have engaged with new technologies, trained in critical areas, and maintained and ...

Conservation in Action NEWS March 2020

March 2020 Welcome to Conservation in Action NEWS, CTIC's e-newsletter. We'll share news about the Conservation Technology Information Center as well as stories on how our members and partners are helping farmers put conservation systems into practice. If you've got a story you'd like to share, contact us! In the meantime, we hope you enjoy the newsletter. NOTE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Hello Everyone, The start to a new decade has been a rocky one across the globe. With so much uncertainty, I took the opportunity to reflect on what we do know at this time in ...

Conservation in Action NEWS October 2019

October 2019   Welcome to Conservation in Action, CTIC's new e-newsletter. We'll share news about the Conservation Technology Information Center as well as stories on how our members and partners are helping farmers put conservation systems into practice.   If you've got a story you'd like to share, contact us! In the meantime, we hope you enjoy the newsletter.     A NOTE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR   Hello everyone, this year has been exciting for CTIC. Over the past six months, I’ve had the opportunity to learn about the history of our organization through ...

Conservation in Action Tour

  Don’t miss your chance to register for the 2023 Conservation in Action Tour!   Registration for the Conservation in Action Tour in Frankenmuth, Michigan is still open. Join us next week, July 10-11th.    This year’s tour theme, Experiencing Conservation in Supply Chains, will help connect the circle from farmer to consumer. Attendees can look forward to seeing the supply chain up close and personal, including cutting edge dairy practices, specialty crops like sugar beets and dry beans, milling and processing, and more!   Check out the agenda for the tour at HERE. &...

CONSERVATION IN ACTION TOUR BACK ON THE BUS!

CONSERVATION IN ACTION TOUR BACK ON THE BUS! In 2020 and 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic pushed our plans back for an in-person Conservation in Action Tour. But we rallied with virtual tours that blended pre-recorded and live content in conjunction with the American Society of Agronomy's Sustainable Agriculture Conference.   Check out our digital library for interviews, panel discussions and videos that bring you across the country, from multi-generational commitment to conservation farming in Ohio,  to in-depth explorations of carbon farming, phosphorus management, pollinator habitat and—CTIC's specialty—connecting for conservation.       In 2022, we hope ...

Conservation in Action Tour: August 20-21 in Des Moines

CTIC's 12th annual Conservation in Action Tour will bring more than 200 conservation-minded participants to Des Moines on August 20-21, 2019 for an up-close look at conservation practices in the field. The tour's theme, Conservation at the Leading Edge, emphasizes both edge-of-field systems as well as cutting-edge practices such as prairie strips.   "CTIC's Conservation in Action Tours are always a great way to not only see conservation practices in real-world settings and talk to the people who are implementing them, but also provide a unique opportunity to spend the day with people you wouldn't ordinarily get ...

Conservation Reserve Program - Exit Strategies

    A group of agriculture and conservation stakeholders in the Pacific Northwest is working to devise strategies that will ease the transition of land protected under the Conservation Reserve Program to no-till production system.   Photo courtesy of CTIC   Conservation Reserve Program – Exit Strategies By Russ Evans In the rain-fed region of the inland Pacific Northwest (PNW) – especially the dryer, low rainfall regions that rely on summer fallow – the regular calls for Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) signup were met with enthusiasm by local landowners who had land that qualified as highly erodible, endangered species habitat, ...

CONSERVATION TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION CENTER (CTIC) SEEKS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

CONSERVATION TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION CENTER (CTIC) SEEKS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR   WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana (June 30, 2022)—The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) islaunching a search for a new executive director as Mike Komp, who led the organization for the past three years, moves on to a new opportunity. ​"CTIC has strengthened its capabilities under Mike's leadership, and we wish him great success in his new endeavors as we take on the next stage of the organization's growth," says Mark White of Syngenta, CTIC's board chair.  ​CTIC is celebrating its 40...

Conservation Technology Information Center Announces Creation of Cover Crop Coaches Program and Hires Dan Coffman as Minnesota Soil Health Specialist

Conservation Technology Information Center Announces Creation of Cover Crop Coaches Program and Hires Dan Coffman as Minnesota Soil Health Specialist     WEST LAFAYETTE, NOVEMBER 16, 2023- Thanks to a generous grant from General Mills, a global food company deeply committed to regenerative agriculture, the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) is excited to announce the creation of their farmer-led Cover Crop Coaches program.   This new program aims to further support farmers across Minnesota, Wisconsin and South Dakota with the knowledge and resources needed to successfully adopt cover crops. Cover crops enhance soil health, sequester carbon and reduce soil erosion and ...

Conservation: Proof is in the pond

Prairie Farmer, October 31, 2018

Contact

  We're always on the lookout for a great conservation story to share with our members, partners and friends. Got a success story? A lesson to share? Contact executive director Mike Komp at komp@ctic.org and let's find ways to shine a spotlight on conservation.

Contact Us

Conservation Technology Information Center ctic@conservationinformation.org Address: 3495 Kent Avenue, Suite L100, West Lafayette, IN 47906 USA Phone: Tel: 765-494-9555 Fax: 765-463-4106 Staff: Executive Director: Karen A. Scanlon Operations Director: Tammy Taylor Project Director: Chad Watts, Mike Smith Accounting Specialist: Crystal Hatfield Consultants: Computer Systems Consultant: Scott J. Brunton Technical Consultant: Dan Towery

COPY

Ryan Heiniger Joins CTIC as New Executive Director   CTIC welcomes Ryan Heiniger as its new Executive Director. Heiniger is a fourth-generation Iowa farmer, wildlife biologist, and non-profit leader. CTIC board president Mark White of Syngenta says Heiniger's combination of on-the-ground conservation experience and history of leadership in conservation-oriented organizations made him the perfect choice for the role. "Ryan has put his farm background and deep love for nature to work in a career in conservation," White notes. "He is a skilled organizer, mobilizer, coalition builder and fundraiser. He knows many of our partners. He has ...

Corey Leis

Location Cashton, WI Documents No-tilling alfalfa into rye improves erosion control, Wisconsin Agriculturist, November 2, 2018 Images $(document).ready(function(){ $('#Corey_Leis_img img').on('click', function() { $('.enlargeImageModalSource').attr('src', $(this).attr('src')); $('#enlargeImageModal4').modal('show'); }); }); × Click the below images to enlarge them    

Countdown Underway to the Launch of OpTIS Data

April marks the launch of the first data set from the Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS), which combines satellite sensing technology with sophisticated modeling to map the adoption of conservation practices on the landscape.   The 21st century heir to CTIC's long-time Crop Residue Management (CRM) Survey, OpTIS will provide comprehensive maps of crop residue management practices and cover crops down to the HUC8 scale. Annual maps and data—with the capability of tracking practices longitudinally over time—will be invaluable to researchers analyzing carbon sequestration, soil erosion, water quality and soil health. Policy makers can use ...

Cover Crop Survey

2022-2023 Cover Crop Survey Click here to open the report on insights from 795 farmers representing 49 states, including commodity crop, horticulture and livestock producers. The 2022-2023 survey introduced new questions on integrating livestock into cover crop systems, as well as growing cover crops for seed and participating in soil carbon programs.   Findings in the seventh National Cover Crop Survey from CTIC, USDA-NIFA's Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program and the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) yielded new perspectives on planting green and challenged commonly held notions linking land ownership to cover crop adoption. In fact, slightly more ...

Cover Crop Survey

Cover crop Survey Click here to read the insight from nearly 1,200 commodity and horticultural crop farmers from across the country on why they do—or don't—use cover crops. Among the highlights of this year's survey results include data on the performance of cover crops during the extremely wet 2019 planting season, including effects on planting date and prevent plant claims, as well as data on the crop insurance programs favored by cover crop users.   The sixth survey from CTIC, USDA's Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program and the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA), ...

Cover Crops - An Essential Tool for Sustainable Cropping Systems

The use of cover crops is steadily increasing throughout the United States. Many no-till farmers consider cover crops to be the next step in conservation agriculture. Leaving the soil undisturbed and keeping something growing as many days as possible restores the natural cycles of the soils. Residues and roots create more organic matter in the soils. Increased organic matter serves as a food source to various soil organisms and increases the biological activity. Higher biological activity increases nutrient cycling and availability and also reduces nutrient loss due to run off. With all this activity, soil structure and tilth are improved, ...

• 2010 HGBF Cropping Decisions Survey Summary

Cover Crops Research and Demonstration

Cover crops are among the most exciting and most complex conservation systems on today's agricultural landscape. CTIC and its partners have been at the forefront of exploring, demonstrating, and promoting cover crops to help make them as effective as possible. Bee Integrated Demonstration Project CTIC is supporting this Honey Bee Health Coalition led effort to bring together beekeepers and farmers to demonstrate how a suite of best practices can be implemented on agricultural landscapes to support honey bee health. This innovative strategy provides a blueprint for supporting pollinator health across North America. Let's Do the Math On Cover ...

Cropland - Adoption of Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices

Adoption of Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices Data are available for the adoption of cover crops and conservation tillage. Remote-sensing derived, CONUS-wide cropland data for the adoption of two important conservation practices (cover crops and reduced tillage). Data are currently available for the years 2015-2021. All data are available at the watershed (HUC8) and Crop Reporting District (CRD) geographic scales.   Explore the Climate-Smart Data Applications Cover Crop The extent of cover crop adoption on row crops across CONUS (the lower 48 states). Remote-sensing derived, CONUS-wide cropland data for the adoption of cover crops. Data are currently available for the years 2015-2021. All ...

Cropland - Modeled DNDC Soil and GHG Outcomes

Modeled DNDC Soil and GHG Outcomes Data are available for soil carbon changes and GHG emissions. The soil and GHG outcomes (methane, as well as indirect and direct nitrous oxide) are based on the use of the practice-adoption data as input to the DNDC model. Data are currently available for the years 2015-2021. The Denitrification-Decomposition (DNDC) model was used to simulate carbon and nitrogen soil dynamics as a function of the soil health management practices monitored by OpTIS (crop diversity, conservation tillage, and cover crops). As with previous releases, all data are undergoing various forms of peer review and may ...

CTIC Celebrates 40th Anniversary

CTIC will be celebrating its 40th Anniversary this year, looking back at the evolution of the organization—and of conservation agriculture in America—and looking forward to the next 40 years of the organization's mission.   Over the years, CTIC has progressed from a strong focus on no-till and reduced tillage to a broader approach to economic and environmental sustainability that grew to include water and air quality, soil health, and climate-smart agriculture. Through it all, CTIC has been a clearinghouse for information and a hub for bringing a wide range of people together to share insights and ...

CTIC Conservation in Action Tour Draws 130+ to Chesapeake Bay

About 130 farmers, agency staffers, soil and water conservation district personnel, environmental and agribusiness leaders, and others gathered on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay for CTIC’s “Bringing Back the Bay” Conservation in Action Tour July 10 and 11.   The Chesapeake Bay has become the proving ground for a wide range of best management practices (BMPs) designed to protect the fragile system from excess nutrients and sediments flowing in from a 64,000-square-mile watershed that reaches all the way into New York State. Area farmers have become experts in managing nutrients at every level, from applying manure and commercial ...

CTIC Helps EPA Organize Water Quality Workshop

CTIC has worked closely with U.S. EPA's Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds (OWOW) to organize a national, invitation-only NARS (National Aquatic Resource Surveys) meeting for 125 water quality professionals. Participants from federal, state and tribal agencies, as well as contract partners, will attend.   The NARS meeting, held in Denver March 25-29 in conjunction with the National Water Quality Monitoring Conference, will explore the direction of EPA's NARS protocols and data analysis systems. Dialogues among partners and EPA will help guide the development and refinement of sample frames.   CTIC has helped facilitate planning, handle logistics, and ...

CTIC Hires Catie Geib as New Soil Health Specialist in Wisconsin and Announces Cover Crop Webinar Series

CTIC Hires Catie Geib as New Soil Health Specialist in Wisconsin and Announces Cover Crop Webinar Series WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana, September 6, 2023 –Soil health specialist Catie Geib has joined the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), a 41-year-old conservation agriculture non-profit, to provide technical support to Wisconsin farmers under the Farmers for Soil Health (FSH) program. The Farmers for Soil Health program provides payments for new and existing cover crop users. CTIC will provide technical assistance to farmers participating in FSH in Wisconsin, Minnesota and South Dakota, and is partnering with the state soybean associations in all three states to promote ...

CTIC Hosts Ag Consultants Training at Iowa Agribusiness Showcase

CTIC, with support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, hosted a half-day training for Iowa ag consultants at the Iowa Agribusiness Showcase and Conference in Des Moines on February 13, 2019. The training drew more than 60 attendees, and covered a wide range of conservation systems geared toward Iowa farms.   "This ag consultant training and others like it that we are running around the country are designed to help ag consultants guide their farmers toward practices that can help them achieve economic and environmental goals," says project manager Mike Smith of CTIC. "We don't expect every ag ...

CTIC Launches New Conservation Information Website

  CONSERVATION TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION CENTER (CTIC) LAUNCHES NEW CONSERVATION INFORMATION WEBSITE   WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana (December 12, 2018)—The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), a clearinghouse of information on conservation farming practices, has launched its brand-new website at www.ctic.org. The easy-to-search, simple-to-navigate site contains thousands of documents and links to information on conservation farming systems. Among the highlights are:   A searchable database from the Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS), which uses satellite imagery to provide detailed data on tillage practices and cover crops at the county or watershed (HUC-8) scale; Cover crop insight, including details of the economic ...

CTIC Member Mail June 2019

  Registration Is Open for Aug 20-21 CTIC Conservation in Action Tour in Iowa   Online registration is open for CTIC's 12th annual Conservation In Action Tour, which will include a packed program of farm visits, facility tours, informative presentations and an up-close look at real-world conservation practices in central Iowa on August 20-21. The Conservation at the Leading Edge tour will begin the afternoon of Tuesday, August 20, with a keynote speaker and social reception at the beautiful World Food Prize Hall of Laureates in downtown Des Moines.            &...

CTIC Project Updates

Cover Crop Math: The research and field work for our Cover Crop Math project was completed this September.    CTIC has produced a set of fourteen feature-style articles describing project outcomes and are currently working with Penton Media to determine whether any are a fit to run in Corn & Soybean Digest. Those decisions should be made within the next couple weeks, after which CTIC will share the remaining features with this project's partners and publish them on our website.    Farmer-beekeeper pairs involved in the project collected their last samples of pollen bees collected from project ...

CTIC project updates

Cover Crop Math: The research and field work for our Cover Crop Math project was completed this September.   CTIC has produced a set of fourteen feature-style articles describing project outcomes and are currently working with Penton Media to determine whether any are a fit to run in Corn & Soybean Digest.  Those decisions should be made within the next couple weeks, after which CTIC will share the remaining features with this project’s partners and publish them on our website.   Farmer-beekeeper pairs involved in the project collected their last samples of pollen bees collected from ...

CTIC project updates

Supply Chain Sustainability in Iowa Last fall, CTIC finished the first phase of a project funded by the Iowa Department of Ag and Land Stewardship.  For the last three years, this project enhanced an ongoing supply chain sustainability initiative with technical and financial support that helped participating farmers plant nearly 40,000 acres of cover crops.   For our next step, CTIC is joining partners including The Nature Conservancy, Practical Farmers of Iowa, and Unilever to encourage greater adoption of conservation systems among farmers already enrolled in supply chain sustainability initiatives. This project will focus outreach and education on farmers in ...

CTIC project updates

Cover Crop Math The outcomes of our Cover Crop Math project, which was completed in September, are still being shared widely. Corn & Soybean Digest used one of the fourteen feature stories produced by CTIC as the publication’s cover story in April. The story features Illinois farmers John and Dean Werries. Several more of those feature stories are scheduled to run in Corn & Soybean Digest in the coming months, which includes their website. CTIC will also publish those stories on our website in the near future.   Supply Chain Sustainability in Iowa Last ...

CTIC project updates

Cover Crop Math The outcomes of our Cover Crop Math project, which was completed in September, are still being shared widely. Corn & Soybean Digest used one of the fourteen feature stories produced by CTIC as the publication’s cover story in April. The story features Illinois farmers John and Dean Werries. Several more of those feature stories are scheduled to run in Corn & Soybean Digest in the coming months, which includes their website. CTIC will also publish those stories on our website in the near future. For more information, contact Mike Smith at ...

CTIC Seeks New Executive Director

The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) is launching a search for a new executive director as Mike Komp, who led the organization for the past three years, moves on to a new opportunity.   "CTIC has strengthened its capabilities under Mike's leadership, and we wish him great success in his new endeavors as we take on the next stage of the organization's growth," says Mark White of Syngenta, CTIC's board chair.   An ideal candidate will combine leadership skills, technical acumen and a passion for helping farmers succeed with practices that help them become more ...

CTIC To Lead Development of the CSA Connector for a New USDA Climate Smart Partnership Program

  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   For more information, contact: Dave Gustafson, (314) 409-7123; gustafson@ctic.org Steve Werblow, (541) 488-8610; steve@stevewerblow.com   CTIC to Lead Development of the CSA Connector for a New USDA Climate Smart Partnership Program   WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana (September 22, 2022) — The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), in partnership with The Nature Conservancy and Houston Engineering, will lead development of a new online tool, the Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) Connector, as a key element of a new project selected last week for funding by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Partnerships for Climate Smart ...

CTIC To Lead Development of the CSA Connector for a New USDA Climate Smart Partnership Program

WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana (September 22, 2022)  — The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), in partnership with The Nature Conservancy and Houston Engineering, will lead development of a new online tool, the Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) Connector, as a key element of a new project selected last week for funding by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Partnerships for Climate Smart Commodities program.   The overall project is being led by the Wolfe’s Neck Center for Agriculture and the Environment, which was awarded up to $35 million by USDA to conduct this new partnership pilot. Through their global ...

CTIC's "Let's Do The Math On Cover Crops" Makes Headlines

CTIC's far-reaching Economic, Agronomic and Environmental Benefits of Cover Crops project - commonly called "Let's Do The Math on Cover Crops" - is in the final stage of pulling together data on the impact of cover crops on honey bee habitat. With data from The Ohio State University, CTIC will soon provide insight into cost-effective opportunities to provide pollinator forage on agricultural landscapes.    In the meantime, the project's outreach effort got a huge boost this season from long-time CTIC partners at Penton/Farm Progress. Kurt Lawson, editor in chief of Corn and Soybean ...

CTIC/EPA Ag Consultant Training

  Stuttgart, AR  August 2017 CTIC brought together farmers; researchers from USDA-Agricultural Research Service, University of Arkansas and Arkansas State University; and conservationists from USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission for a deep dive into how crop consultants can help their clients benefit from conservation practices. Discussions ranged from the agronomic and water-management benefits of conservation systems—including precision irrigation, tailwater management, reduced tillage and cover crops, among others—to cost-share programs that can have direct benefits to farmers' bottom lines. We also visited the Dabbs Farm outside of Stuttgart for a close-up ...

Data on Conservation Practices

Since its inception, CTIC has been the go-to source for data on the adoption of conservation practices across the U.S. Though federal support of the popular crop residue management transect survey ended in 2004, scientists, policy makers and marketers have continued to tap CTIC's databases. Now, we're at the forefront of using remote sensing to bring back state, regional and national data on crop residue and cover crop management. Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS) The Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS) has been developed by Regrow, TNC, and CTIC as a method for the automated use of remote sensing (...

Dates to Remember

February 20 - CTIC Board Meeting; all day; TFI Office in Washington, DC July 11 - Tour Social 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.; Annapolis, MD July 12 - Conservation in Action Tour - all day; Maryland area July 13 - CTIC Board Meeting - 8 a.m. - noon; Westin

Dates to remember:

July 10 – Tour Social 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.; Annapolis, MD July 11 – Conservation in Action Tour – all day; Maryland area July 12 – CTIC Board Meeting – 8 a.m. – noon; Westin

Dave Gustafson Steps In As Interim Executive Director

With the departure of chad Watts, former CTIC board member Dave Gustafson has spent the past few months supporting the organization as interim executive director. Helping guide the day-to-day operations of the office as well as the strategic direction of the organization, Dave and the board have provided steady leadership as CTIC positions itself for even greater impact.    With a PhD in chemical engineering and three decades of experience as an environmental scientist in the crop protection industry - including tenure at Monsanto, which he represented on CTIC's board - Dave has also served on various ...

Deadline Extended One More Week to Register for Conservation in Action Tour

  DEADLINE EXTENDED: ONE MORE WEEK TO REGISTER FOR CTIC'S CONSERVATION IN ACTION TOUR!     The Conservation Technology Information Center has extended the registration deadline for its August 20-21 Conservation in Action Tour—which will showcase conservation agriculture systems in central Iowa—to Friday, August 2. The special tour room block rate at the Embassy Suites Downtown in Des Moines has also been extended until 4:00 pm CST on Monday, July 29.             "We are still seeing strong interest in the tour and can open another bus to ...

Delta Center Field Day 2009

Demonstrations

Our demonstrations illustrate the 4 Rs of nutrient management:   Right Source Right Rate Right Place Right Time We demonstrate management systems---not individual practices. We measure practice success through agronomic yield, economic sustainability, nutrient use efficiency and water quality impacts. Agrium's ESN v. Urea Agrium designed ESN®, a polymer coated urea, to slow the release of nitrogen into the environment. This is allows the plant to access nitrogen when it needs it the most... Read more. Application Timing We designed this study to demonstrate the differences in nitrogen rates and yields with different urea application times. Spring timing gave ...

Dig Deep into Conservation Systems

DIG DEEP INTO CONSERVATION PRACTICES ON CTIC'S CONSERVATION IN ACTION TOUR, AUG 20-21   The Conservation in Action Tour on August 20 and 21, organized by the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), will give participants a chance to dig deep into a wide range of conservation farming practices, including constructed systems such as wood chip bioreactors, saturated buffers, sediment control basins and others.             The tour begins and ends in Des Moines. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig will welcome the group at an opening social on the evening of August 20 ...

Dig Deep into Conservation Systems on CTIC Tour Aug 20-21

DIG DEEP INTO CONSERVATION PRACTICES ON CTIC'S CONSERVATION IN ACTION TOUR, AUG 20-21   The Conservation in Action Tour on August 20 and 21, organized by the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), will give participants a chance to dig deep into a wide range of conservation farming practices, including constructed systems such as wood chip bioreactors, saturated buffers, sediment control basins and others.             The tour begins and ends in Des Moines. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig will welcome the group at an opening social on the evening of August 20 ...

Diverse Corn Belt

Diverse Corn Belt The Diverse Corn Belt (DCB) is a multidisciplinary project exploring alternative crops, longer rotations, and integrating livestock and perennials that could help increase resilience in Midwest agriculture - is seeking farmer input through focus groups and in-field research. The project's 30 partners are exploring diversification at the farm, market, and landscape level that can broaden new opportunities for Midwest farmers and rural communities, says Dr. Linda S. Prokopy of Purdue University, who leads the five-year, $10 million project   The study focuses on Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa. The team will conduct research, extension, and modeling in all ...

Diverse Corn Belt Project Seeks Farmers for Focus Groups and In-Field Testing

The Diverse Corn Belt project—a multidisciplinary project exploring alternative crops, longer rotations, integrating livestock and perennials that could help increase resilience in Midwest agriculture—is seeking farmer input through focus groups and in-field research. The project's 30 partners are exploring diversification at the farm, market and landscape level that can broaden new opportunities for Midwest farmers and rural communities, says Dr. Linda S. Prokopy of Purdue University, who leads the five-year, $10 million project.             The study focuses on Indiana, Illinois and Iowa. The team will conduct research, ...

DNDC WEBINAR ON CTIC's WEBSITE

A recorded one-hour webinar on using CTIC data to analyze trends in conservation farming practices across the Corn Belt is available on CTIC's website. The video, recorded as a live webinar last October, includes a discussion of the use of Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS) data through the De-Nitrification/De-Composition (DNDC) model, as well as presentations by three users of the data: Ward Smith, Senior Physical Scientist, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Steven Rosenzweig, Senior Soil Scientist, General Mills Debbie Reed, Executive Director, Ecosystem Services Market Consortium   Bill Salas of Regrow (formerly Dagan, Inc.), a primary developer of DNDC, ...

Don't forget to renew your membership

Have you checked your mailbox for CTIC’s annual membership renewal notice? Renewing your membership helps us continue to make a difference in conservation agriculture and helps us continue to grow our organization. CTIC members play a critical role in spreading the message about how conservation practices can help improve soil and water quality, boost profitability and more. We couldn’t do it without you!   As a CTIC member, you:   Network with leaders in conservation and agriculture Collaborate on projects that encourage and steer conservation efforts Access the latest research and information Gain national recognition for ...

Drainage Water Management Online Training: July 7

CTIC, in conjunction with U.S. EPA and the Agricultural Drainage Management Coalition (ADMC), will be hosting a Drainage Water Management Certification webinar on July 7, 2022. The webinar will be a 6-hour interactive online training and certification course on planning drainage water management systems.   A total of 5 CEUs will be available for CCAs and PEs. Partial CEUs will be available for completion of session 1, 2, or 3. Upon successful completion of the quiz modules, an ADMC course certificate will be awarded.   The course sessions will be led by Dr. Gary Sands, professor and extension engineer at the University of Minnesota. A ...

Early reg ending soon

  Early registration for the 2023 Conservation in Action Tour is ending soon!   Don't miss your chance to get the early registration rate for the 16th annual Conservation in Action Tour in Frankenmuth, Michigan, July 10-11, 2023!   This year’s tour theme, Experiencing Conservation in Supply Chains, will help connect the circle from farmer to consumer. At this year’s event, farmers, input suppliers, conservation advocates and processors will dig deep and share their perspectives on sustainable, climate-smart food production. Attendees can look forward to seeing the supply chain up close and personal, including cutting edge ...

Earn 4 Free Nutrient Management CEUs!

Register today to earn 4 nutrient management CEUs free!     Visit ctic.org for the full agenda.    

Easy Online Registration

Online registration for the tour is quick and easy at https://www.ctic.org/cia_tour/registration. The $175 registration fee includes transportation, stops and all meals. A limited number of rooms are available at the Embassy Suites Downtown in Des Moines at the special rate of $129 per night for August 20 and 21.   For more information on the Conservation in Action Tour, visit CTIC's website or call CTIC at (765) 494-9555.

ED Announcement Copy

  The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) is seeking applicants interested in serving as its new Executive Director in order to carry out its mission, which is to “connect, champion, and provide information on sustainable agricultural systems and technologies that are productive, profitable and preserve natural resources.”   The Executive Director is responsible for oversight and direction of programs, including quality control, financial and budget management, fund raising, fostering member involvement and commitment, facilitating public/private partnerships, and maintaining productive internal and external relations. This role reports to the CTIC Board of Directors and informs the board to ...

Featured Article

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FEBRUARY 2021

Welcome to Conservation in Action NEWS, CTIC's e-newsletter. We'll share news about the Conservation Technology Information Center as well as stories on how our members and partners are helping farmers put conservation systems into practice.   Learn more about CTIC at our website...and if you've got a story to share, please contact us!

FREE WEBINAR ON USING SATELLITE DATA TO MODEL WATER QUALITY, APRIL 26 NOON EDT

  FREE WEBINAR ON USING SATELLITE DATA TO MODEL WATER QUALITY, APRIL 26 NOON EDT   A free webinar on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 at 12:00 pm EDT will feature key insights from researchers using data from the Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS) to help model water quality. Register here for the webinar and question-and-answer session with the panel.   Speakers during the live, hour-long "OpTIS 3.0: Unlocking Water Quality Insights" program will include: Dr. Asmita Murumkar, The Ohio State University, using OpTIS data on tillage and cover crops in their modeling work in Ohio's Upper Scioto River watershed and Maumee basin. ...

From the Project Director

  Welcome to the first newsletter of the PLUS-UP program, our pilot project for credit-funded dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) reduction in the Western Lake Erie Basin. PLUS-UP stands for Phosphorous Load-Reduction Stimulus Program, and the name sums up our approach: to raise and disburse stimulus funds that help farmers cover the cost and management of practices that reduce phosphorus loads that feed harmful algae blooms in Lake Erie.   Our goal with the PLUS-UP pilot project has been to develop an efficient, effective program. That's why we focused on DRP, which is completely available to algae (and to crops, ...

From the Project Director - Komp

  Welcome to the first newsletter of the PLUS-UP program, our pilot project for credit-funded dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) reduction in the Western Lake Erie Basin. PLUS-UP stands for Phosphorous Load-Reduction Stimulus Program, and the name sums up our approach: to raise and disburse stimulus funds that help farmers cover the cost and management of practices that reduce phosphorus loads that feed harmful algae blooms in Lake Erie.   Our goal with the PLUS-UP pilot project has been to develop an efficient, effective program. That's why we focused on DRP, which is completely available to algae (and to crops, ...

Got Conservation News? Share It Through CTIC!

At CTIC, we're always eager to share news about conservation with our thousands of contacts across U.S. agriculture. After all, it's part of our mission to Connect, Inform and Champion.   If you've got data or insight about conservation farming systems that should be shared through our clearinghouse of information, please let us know. We can include it in our new, easy-to-search website or weave it into our other communications programs.   Want to cooperate on demonstration plots or programs that put conservation practices to work in real-world situations? Let us know and we will find ...

GRAPHIC

  Download flyer

Grassland - Modeled DNDC Soil and GHG Outcomes for Grasslands

Modeled DNDC Soil and GHG Outcomes for Grasslands The Denitrification-Decomposition (DNDC) model was used to simulate carbon and nitrogen soil dynamics in grassland soils.   Explore the Grassland DNDC Modeling Results DNDC Summary Data are available for soil carbon changes and GHG emissions. The soil and GHG outcomes (methane, as well as indirect and direct nitrous oxide) are based on the use of the vegetation type and herbaceous productivity data as input to the DNDC model. Data are currently available for the years 2015-2021. The grasslands DNDC modeling results are available at the US EPA Level 3 Ecoregion scale. View Data ...

Grassland - Vegetation Types and Productivity

Vegetation Types and Productivity Data are available for vegetation type, herbaceous net primary productivity (NPP), herbaceous NPP trends, and herbaceous NPP deviation from what would be expected based on weather alone. Remote-sensing derived, CONUS-wide grassland data for various vegetation type and health metrics. Data are currently available for the years 2015-2021. The vegetation health data are available at the watershed (HUC8) and Crop Reporting District (CRD) geographic scales.   Explore the Vegetation Types and Productivity Vegetation Types Annual average plant functional type (PFT) by HUC8 and CRD for years spanning 2015 to 2021. PFTs include: Annual Forbs & Grasses, Perennial Forbs & ...

Great Networking

Terry Tindall of J.R. Simplot and CTIC board chair says CTIC's tours have built a nationwide reputation over the years for providing an up-close look at conservation systems in the field, and also for creating opportunities for outstanding networking.   “I am very pleased with how the plans have come together for the CTIC 2019 Conservation in Action Tour," Tindall says.  "These tours balance local conservation practices with a national message of doing better. Those attending will realize that these tours are the best in North America.”

Greg Searle and Jim Amrhein, WDNR

Happy New Year from your friends at CTIC!

Here are some updates and reminders as the new year gets underway.

Happy New Year from your friends at CTIC!

Here are some updates and reminders as the new year gets underway.

Hotel Block

              Our friends at the Hilton Frontenac, St. Louis have extended the room block offer for the 2022 Conservation in Action tour! Book today to get the special $138/night CTIC Conservation in Action Tour room rate!   Our room block now closes on Tuesday, so don’t miss this chance to take advantage of the great discount.   Book your room now! Learn more and register today!

Illinois State University

Indian Creek Watershed Project

Over the course of six years, the Indian Creek Watershed Project proved to be a significant model for voluntary water quality improvement efforts—not just in Livingston County, Illinois, but across the country. Project organizers talked to every single producer in the watershed about conservation practices and water quality, and by the end of the project, conservation systems and best management practices (BMPs) were in place on at least 57% of the agricultural acreage in the Indian Creek drainage. Goals and Recipes Key concepts at the heart of the Indian Creek Watershed Project included: The importance of locally led conservation ...

Indiana Soybean Alliance

CTIC Institutional Bronze Member, the Indiana Soybean Alliance, works to improve the viability of Indiana Soybean farmers and industry partners.  To learn more about the Indiana Soybean Alliance, visit www.indianasoybean.com

Information for Committee Members

INVITE

  Hello!   Don't forget to register for CTIC's one-day discussion about innovative approaches to reducing phosphorus in the Western Lake Erie Basin.   The Conservation Technology Information Center, Heidelberg University and Bayer Carbon Program just concluded a one-year pilot of the PLUS-UP phosphorus credit program. On November 15, we will be reviewing the program—the credits, the modeling, reporting and results—and exploring how we could best scale up the concept.    We are inviting you because we think your insight would help us shape the future of programs like this in the Western ...

IOWA AG SECRETARY MIKE NAIG HEADS GREAT SPEAKER LINEUP AT CTIC CONSERVATION IN ACTION TOUR

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig will kick off the 2019 Conservation in Action Tour at the event's opening social, hosted by John Deere at the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates in Des Moines. Naig is just one of many great speakers who will provide insight into Iowa agriculture's conservation efforts. Others include: Kurt Simon, Iowa State Conservationist, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Katie Flahive, US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Bill and Tim Couser, Couser Cattle Company Tim Recker, Iowa farmer and former chair of Iowa Land Improvement Contractors Association (LICA) Omar de Kok-Delgado and Tim Youngquist, ...

Iowa Manure Management Action Group (IMMAG)

The goal of IMMAG is to identify and share manure management information and educational programs, which can be used by producers, technical agencies, educational institutions, researchers, and the general public.

IPCC Land Report Highlights Importance of Implementing and Tracking Conservation Practices

By adopting conservation practices like cover crops and reduced tillage or no-till, farmers can help reduce the effects of climate change, including soil erosion, declining land productivity and desertification, according to Climate Change and Land, a report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released today. More than 100 experts from 52 countries contributed to the report.   Mike Komp, executive director of the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) in West Lafayette, Indiana, points out that the IPCC report puts farmers at the center of the worldwide strategy to keep global temperatures from rising another 2 degrees Centigrade (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit). Scientists say ...

• IPCC Report Release

ISDA/PLUS UP

CTIC WRAPS UP ISDA BLUE CREEK PROJECT WITH INTERACTIVE TRAINING Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) staff learned how to enroll farmers into Field to Market's FieldPrint Calculator and help growers in the Blue Creek Watershed Project put the tool to use in measuring the environmental impacts of commodity crop production and identify opportunities for continuous improvement. CTIC staff—including Sue Tull, Hans Kok and Callie Cleveland—organized and hosted a virtual, two-hour training session on September 29 on the grower sustainability tools used in the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) Blue Creek project. Though the group ...

JOIN CTIC OR RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP TODAY!

For four decades, CTIC has brought a remarkable range of people to the table to talk about conservation agriculture. Nowhere else is there such a great opportunity to meet policy makers, agribusiness leaders, farmers, researchers, conservation specialists, crop consultants and others...all drawn together by a mutual interest in conservation technologies that are better for farmers and better for the environment. CTIC is a membership organization, which means your membership—your participation and your dues—keep the doors open. You also give us our momentum, driving us forward on our mission to Connect, Inform and Champion. Your membership ...

Join SARE, CTIC and ASTA for a Discussion of the 2020 National Cover Crop Survey Data

PLEASE NOTE CORRECT TIME: Online Press Conference Wednesday, August 19, 10:00 am Eastern/9:00 am Central   Insight from 1,172 farmers across the U.S. shines a light on cover cropping trends, including deep dives into "planting green" into living cover crops, using cover crops for weed control, and the impact of cover crops on cash crop planting dates during the wet spring of 2019. This year's survey included strings of questions for both commodity/row crop growers and producers of horticulture crops. On Wednesday, August 19 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern/9:00 a.m. Central, the data and 2020 National Cover Crop Survey report will ...

Join the conservation community!

CTIC members play a critical role when it comes to spreading and championing the message of conservation agriculture. Keep growing and learning with us by renewing your CTIC membership! To renew, please email Crystal Hatfield at hatfield@ctic.org or call 765-494-9555.

Join Us May 29 at 12:00 Eastern for a Free OpTIS Webinar!

  Join us for a Zoom webinar to learn about a new, free, online data tool that uses satellite imagery to study trends in the adoption of conservation agriculture practices. The Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS) offers a range of applications for government agencies, researchers, carbon market administrators, conservationists and businesses.   During the webinar, you'll hear from the OpTIS developers and others who use science-based data to improve the sustainability of U.S. agriculture. Experts will walk you through the online OpTIS visualization tool to summarize results for the U.S. Corn Belt and demonstrate how you can ...

Just One More Week to Register

JUST ONE WEEK LEFT TO REGISTER FOR CTIC CONSERVATION IN ACTION TOUR!   Time is running out and seats are filling up quickly for the Conservation in Action Tour hosted by the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), which will be held in central Iowa August 20 and 21. Registration for the event closes in just one week, at midnight on July 26.   The tour includes farm visits, a tour of a cutting-edge ag retail operation, a close-up look at the Iowa Land Improvement Contractors Association (LICA) demonstration farm, and talks by leading policy makers, researchers, conservation agriculture specialists and ag retailers from ...

Komp Intro

December 2021 Conservation in Action News   A LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 2022 marks CTIC’s 40th anniversary. That’s right, 40 years. Looking back on our previous 40 years through conversations with members and long-time supporters, CTIC has long been at the center of prominent discussions around the most important conservation topics. Over the years, we have worked on many important conservation issues – tillage, soil health, water quality, nutrient loads, cover crops, carbon sequestration, and much, much more. Looking forward to the future, there is one overarching theme that unites where we’ve been with where we are ...

Landowners Support Cover Crops

Corn and Soybean Digest, August 2018

Make it your New Year's resolution to get involved at CTIC

Whether it's collaborating on a project, joining a committee or just starting a conversation about your own conservation goals, we want to hear from you.   Contact our Executive Director Chad Watts at watts@ctic.org or by calling 765-494-9555. Make sure you check us out on Facebook and Twitter! We look forward to working with you this year.

Make it your New Year's resolution to get involved at CTIC

Whether it's collaborating on a project, joining a committee or just starting a conversation about your own conservation goals, we want to hear from you. Contact our Executive Director Chad Watts at watts@ctic.org or by calling 765-494-9555.   Make sure you check us out on Facebook and Twitter! We look forward to working with you this year.

Map to the Office

Maumee and Sandusky Basins Water Quality Project Receives EPA Great Lakes Grant

  For more information: Steve Werblow (steve@stevewerblow.com)   WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana (February 24, 2020)—The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), in partnership with Ecosystem Services Marketplace Consortium (ESMC), Heidelberg University in Ohio, and others, has been awarded a Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) grant by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. EPA Region 5 Administrator Kurt Thiede announced today in a Chicago press event that the agency will fund the groups' three-year project—which uses satellite data, sophisticated models, farmer training programs, and direct incentives to create a market-driven reduction in phosphorus (P) runoff in the Ohio watersheds—...

Membership

Membership Drive: Reach new horizons with CTIC In 2022, the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) celebrated 40 years of Conservation in Action. That's four decades of bringing a wide range of people to the table to advance conservation agriculture...from our early projects promoting no-till to our current programs that help farmers, conservationists, agribusiness professionals, academics and policymakers protect soil health, water quality and the atmosphere.In 2023, CTIC will continue that legacy as the trusted source for data on conservation farming practices, the coordinator of demonstration projects, a builder of local capacity, and a partner in developing high-impact education on conservation ...

Message from the Executive Director

Hello all,   A few weeks ago, Mark Schmidt, past chair with CTIC and a close friend, mentioned that CTIC has always been a consistent and steady voice through the years for conservation promotion and information. We went on to discuss how the packaging for conservation may change—with new phrases, buzzwords, and entities coming to the forefront—but the essence and importance only continue to grow.   As CTIC celebrates its 40th anniversary, I’ve reflected on all the people the organization has engaged with over the years to accomplish our mission. The impact an ...

Mission

  CONNECT   CTIC brings people together. We build coalitions. We connect farmers, researchers, policymakers, agribusiness, and lead discussions that move conversations ahead.   INFORM   CTIC is a clearinghouse for convservation information, from Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS) regional trend data to how to implement practices on your farm.   CHAMPION   CTIC helps farmers, advisers, and ag retailers tap conservation resources. We promote conservation practices and advocate for policies that make them economically sustainable.

Monsanto

CTIC Corporate Member, Monsanto, is an agricultural company. Monsanto applies innovation and technology to help farmers around the world be successful, produce healthier foods, better animal feeds and more fiber, while also reducing agriculture's impact on our environment.  To learn more about Monsanto, visit www.monsanto.com  

NARS Resources Online

In April, CTIC hosted the 2022 National Aquatic Resources Survey (NARS) National Workshop, a three-day event featuring speakers from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, state environmental agencies, and partners from tribes and other entities. Dozens of presentations and breakout sessions are available free on CTIC's website.   NARS is a collaborative program between EPA, states and tribes designed to assess the quality of the nation's coastal waters, lakes and reservoirs, rivers and streams, and wetlands using a statistical survey design. The workshop covered topics relevant to all four waterbody types. The program included an address and ...

National Aquatic Resource Surveys

The National Aquatic Resource Surveys (NARS) are collaborative programs between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), states and tribes that assess the quality of the nation's inland and coastal waters, providing vital data that can help guide conservation efforts on the landscape. CTIC works with EPA and its partners on technical training to carry out NARS assessments, and to promote conservation systems that help protect and improve water quality. Through articles, videos and other media, we hope to inform farmers and landowners about water quality issues, inspire them to adopt practices that help address those challenges, and show ...

National Aquatic Resource Surveys (NARS)

The History of NARS The National Aquatic Resource Surveys (NARS) program is an EPA and State/Tribal effort to survey the condition of the nation’s waters. Initiated in 2005, these statistically-based surveys have begun to provide EPA, States, Tribes and others partners with information to provide nationally consistent reports on the condition of the nation’s waters, to identify national and regional water quality priorities and to evaluate the effectiveness of the nation’s investment in water quality protection and restoration. These assessments report on core indicators of aquatic life and public health using standardized field and ...

• PNWCA Webinar 1 Overview and Statistical Sampling
• PNWCA Webinar 3 Vegetation Analysis

NATIONAL FARMER SURVEY DOCUMENTS A WIDE RANGE OF COVER CROP BENEFITS AS ACREAGE CONTINUES TO EXPAND

  Despite the crippling rainfall that significantly delayed planting across much of the country in 2019, more than 90% of farmers participating in a national cover crop survey reported that cover crops allowed them to plant earlier or at the same time as non-cover-cropped fields. Among those who had "planted green," seeding cash crops into growing cover crops, 54% said the practice helped them plant earlier than on other fields.   Those findings were among several new insights from the 2019-2020 National Cover Crop Survey, conducted by the non-profit Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), with financial support from the Sustainable Agriculture ...

NATIONAL RECREATIONAL WATER QUALITY WORKSHOP, APRIL 6-8

Working closely with US EPA, CTIC is taking the agency's three-day National Recreational Water Quality Workshop virtual this year. Click here for the agenda.   The workshop provides a nationwide forum for recreational water quality managers, stakeholders, researchers and public health officials at all levels to share information and ideas about implementing successful recreational water quality programs. The program will focus on fecal contamination and harmful algal blooms (HABs). Pre-recorded presentations will be available for viewing beginning March 15, 2021 on the CTIC website, and viewers can submit questions through a comment box after each presentation. Live panel discussions April 6 through 8 ...

National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI)

CTIC has completed their work with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) on a project in support of NWQI. This project identified successful watershed management activities that engaged landowners, farmers, and the broader public to protect water quality. Insights developed through this project will inform future NRCS efforts to support local watershed initiatives with technical and financial resources. As a first step, CTIC convened watershed leaders from across the country at five forums to learn from their experience—successful or otherwise—with diverse watershed management and communication strategies. Their first forum took place ...

National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI)

CTIC is working with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to improve the effective engagement by NRCS in delivering watershed projects and to enhance the agency's ability to communicate the issues and success of watershed projects. This project is identifying successful watershed management activities that engage landowners, farmers, and the broader public to protect water quality. Insights developed through this project will inform future NRCS efforts to support local watershed initiatives with technical and financial resources.

NED Portrait

• NEDPortrait

NEW COVER CROP SURVEY DATA CHALLENGES ASSUMPTIONS

For More Information Contact: Callie North, CTIC (north@ctic.org); (317) 450-9137 Rob Myers, University of Missouri (myersrob@missouri.edu); 573-882-1547 or Bethany Shively, ASTA (bshively@betterseed.org); (703) 837-8140 x332     NEW COVER CROP SURVEY DATA CHALLENGES ASSUMPTIONS National survey finds incentive payments boost cover crops, while 9 in 10 farmers intend to stick with cover crops after payments end               (August 8, 2023)—A new national cover crop survey report released today challenges assumptions on the role of incentive payments in cover crop adoption. Incentives play a key role in ...

New CTIC Executive Director Mike Komp Takes the Helm

WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana (April 24, 2019)—The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) welcomes its new Executive Director, Mike Komp. The role will call upon Komp's skills to build collaborative networks that help promote and champion conservation farming systems, secure funding for new programs, and—increasingly—help analyze and disseminate digital data on conservation practices.   As interest in sustainable farming practices grows among farmers, consumers, and policymakers, CTIC's role is expanding, noted Terry Tindall of J.R. Simplot, Chair of CTIC's Board of Directors. So is the role Komp has been selected to fill.   "...

New CTIC Executive Director Mike Komp Takes the Helm

WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana (April 24, 2019)—The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) welcomes its new Executive Director, Mike Komp. The role will call upon Komp's skills to build collaborative networks that help promote and champion conservation farming systems, secure funding for new programs, and—increasingly—help analyze and disseminate digital data on conservation practices.   As interest in sustainable farming practices grows among farmers, consumers, and policymakers, CTIC's role is expanding, noted Terry Tindall of J.R. Simplot, Chair of CTIC's Board of Directors. So is the role Komp has been selected to fill.   "...

NEW ED

Ryan Heiniger Joins CTIC As New Executive Director CTIC welcomes Ryan Heiniger as its new Executive Director. Heiniger is a fourth-generation Iowa farmer, wildlife biologist, and non-profit leader. CTIC board president Mark White of Syngenta says Heiniger's combination of on-the-ground conservation experience and history of leadership in conservation-oriented organizations made him the perfect choice for the role. "Ryan has put his farm background and deep love for nature to work in a career in conservation," White notes. "He is a skilled organizer, mobilizer, coalition builder and fundraiser. He knows many of our partners. He has implemented ...

New PED Talks Series Digs Deep Into Soil Health

  New PED Talks Video Series Digs into Soil Health   West Lafayette, Ind., Oct. 29, 2019 -- A series of 10-to-15-minute, science-centered “PED Talks” on soil health has been posted on YouTube. Soil peds are aggregated particles of sand, silt, clay and organic matter. Like their namesake, PED Talks combine soil-related topics including explanations of soil health, how we can improve it, and the progress that’s being made to ensure we have the healthy soils necessary to feed, clothe and fuel the world in the future. The PED Talks series was created by the Conservation Technology ...

New PED Talks Video Series Digs into Soil Health

New PED Talks Video Series Digs into Soil Health   West Lafayette, Ind., Oct. 29, 2019 -- A series of 10-to-15-minute, science-centered “PED Talks” on soil health has been posted on YouTube. Soil peds are aggregated particles of sand, silt, clay and organic matter. Like their namesake, PED Talks combine soil-related topics including explanations of soil health, how we can improve it, and the progress that’s being made to ensure we have the healthy soils necessary to feed, clothe and fuel the world in the future.   The PED Talks series was created by the Conservation Technology ...

Next CTIC Board Meeting: November 7

Next CTIC Board Meeting: November 7 CTIC's board of directors will meet in Baltimore on November 7, 2018; members are welcome to attend. Watch www.ctic.org for details. 

Nitrogen Cycling and Cover Crops

Corn and Soybean Digest, June 2018

No-tilling alfalfa into rye improves erosion control

Wisconsin Agriculturist, November 2, 2018

November Newsletter - Combine Wheat Image

Food companies want to source sustainably produced crops. CTIC is helping create those supply lines.  

Now's The Time To Renew Your CTIC Membership

For more than 35 years, the Conservation Technology Information Center has brought together people, information, and insight to move agricultural sustainability ahead. We provide the safe space where farmers, regulators, researchers, agribusiness, conservation group staffers and other stakeholders can explore conservation systems that improve soil health, water and air quality, and the producer's bottom line.   In short, we Connect, Inform and Champion.   To do all that, we need your involvement. Please renew your membership in CTIC, or join us today. Encourage your colleagues to join, too.   Several members have upgraded their membership status, including: Case IH (Corporate ...

Nutrient Management

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service US Environmental Protection Agency National Association of State Departments of Agriculture Livestock Waste Management Information for the Midwest - CTIC International Plant Nutrition Institute—Plant Nutrition Today

NWCA 1 of 2

Segments 1-9 Welcome to this collection of training videos on NWCA soil sampling techniques. These brief segments walk through the procedures for sample collection and handling—a great refresher before hoing back into the field, or just to learn more about NWCA sampling. For more detailed training videos on NWCA sampling, click here.   Identifying the Plot Location Description Learn how to pick an appropriate spot to sample. Video Length - 2:23 Fill Out Your Labels Description Filling out labels properly is simple, but it matters. Hot tip: fill out your labels in advance where it's clean and dry&...

NWCA 2 of 2

Segments 10-17 More insights from Dr. Lenore Vasilas of USDA-NRCS and Gregg Serenbetz of US EPA.   Soil Matrix Color Description “Tips on using Munsell Soil Color Charts to accurately identify soil color. Where do you start? Do you move through chroma or hue? It's all here. Video Length - 3:02 Redoxomorphic Features Description Differentiating among redoxomorphic features and their origins. Video Length - 1:52 Additional Field Indicators Description Masked sand grains, organic bodies and other features, mottles, splotches and more. Video Length - 3:31 Soil Horizon Sampling Description Sampling soil from individual horizons takes some finesse. Freshen up on technique ...

Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS)

  Automated Use of Remote Sensing Data to Monitor Conservation Practices The Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS), a Regrow technology (https://www.regrow.ag), uses remote sensing (satellite-based) data to monitor conservation practices in agricultural systems, including various forms of reduced tillage and the planting of winter cover crops. While the OpTIS calculations are performed and validated at the farm-field scale, the privacy of individual producers is fully protected by distributing only spatially-aggregated results – at the county and watershed (8-digit HUC) scale. CTIC has been the primary source of this type of conservation practice monitoring data for nearly 30 years. ...

OpTIS

    This is your chance to get a (virtual) front row seat for the latest OpTIS research updates! Since you last joined us for an OpTIS webinar, we’ve added data for 2019-2020 and even more states.   We’ll be joined by Prof. Roderick Rejesus of NC State as he’ll describe how he used remote sensing data from OpTIS to study the impact of crop insurance programs on cover crop use. The Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS), a Regrow technology (https://www.regrow.ag), uses satellite data and a sophisticated algorithm to monitor conservation ...

OPTIS CVN

OpTIS 2.1—FEATURING 2020 DATA—WILL BE ONLINE FREE BY YEAR-END A new year's worth of remote sensing data on tillage and winter cover crops from the Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS) will be available by the end of December, expanding the dataset that extends back to 2005 across the Corn Belt. A powerful, intuitive visualization tool on the CTIC website allows visitors to explore trends in tillage and cover crop adoption through maps and charts while manipulating geography, date range and crop rotation. OpTIS data will be visibe on our interactive portal at the HUC 8 or USDA crop reporting ...

OpTIS Data Available for Iowa, Illinois and Indiana

Remote Sensing Technology Drives Conservation Solutions New Data Show Soil Health Practices on IA, IL and IN Farmland Is Moving in the Right Direction Today marks the first release of regional-scale data from the Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS), a new tool that has the potential to unlock conservation solutions for a variety of food and agricultural supply chain stakeholders. These data document the level of adoption of soil health practices for Illinois, Indiana  and Iowa from 2005 to 2018. By the end of July, the same data will be available for the entire Corn Belt—an area extending from ...

OpTIS Data for Indiana Available; More States' Data Coming Soon

  A massive new data set chronicling residue management and winter cover crop use in Iowa, Illinois and Indiana from 2005 through 2018 is now in the final stages of preparation for release on CTIC's website. The resource—the Operational Tillage Information System, or OpTIS—uses publicly available remote sensing data to monitor the adoption of no-till, conservation tillage, and winter cover crops. Data covering the rest of the Corn Belt, extending from eastern Ohio to eastern Kansas and Nebraska and from the Missouri Bootheel to the Red River Valley of North Dakota, will be available in the next ...

OpTIS Land Use Data Pilot Nears Release

For decades, CTIC distributed the CRM Survey, data on conservation practices that had been gathered by hundreds of conservationists in painstaking transect surveys. Today, CTIC, Applied GeoSolutions (AGS) and The Nature Conservancy are collaborating on a new effort to take crop residue and cover crop surveys into the space age, using data gathered by multiple satellites and processed through AGS's validated calculations.    The Operational Tillage Informational System (OpTIS) produces accurate, timely maps of crop emergence, crop residue and winter cover crops using publicly available satellite data. Data are aggregated to county or watershed resolution to protect the ...

OpTIS Projects header - 2024

OpTIS Operational Tillage Information System Using Remote Sensing Data to Map Conservation Ag Practices

OpTIS Webinar On-Demand: Do Crop Insurance Programs Discourage Growers from Planting Cover Crops?

In a 1-hour webinar available on-demand through CTIC's website, Dr. Roderick Rejesus of North Carolina State University described how he used OpTIS data to explore whether crop insurance programs discourage growers from planting cover crops.   The webinar, recorded live on April 29, is part of a six-webinar series coordinated by CTIC over the next two years. The April program also features Soren Rundquist of Regrow Ag and CTIC's Dave Gustafson describing updates in the algorithm and coverage area of OpTIS.   The Operational Tillage Information System (OpTIS) uses a proprietary algorithm to analyze satellite imagery to identify winter ...

OpTIS: Plot Study and Next Step

Indiana Pilot Study Ten years of tillage-transect data collected by the State of Indiana were used to verify the ability of OpTIS algorithms to automatically process publicly-available remote sensing data, in order to accurately characterize tillage practices and the presence of winter cover crops.   View Resource Next Step Building on the success of the Indiana Pilot, CTIC is now again partnering with AGS to apply OpTIS across the entire US Corn Belt (Phase 1). Phase 2 will involve application of OpTIS to all US agricultural regions. View Resource

OpTIS: Where Technology Drives Conservation Results

The global population is estimated to exceed 9 billion people by 2050, placing unprecedented pressure on American farmers to grow even more of the crops that clothe, fuel and feed the world. One way to help alleviate this pressure is to significantly improve soil health on cropland.   By adopting practices like planting winter cover crops and reducing—or better yet eliminating—tillage practices, farmers can significantly improve productivity of their fields, reduce soil erosion, improve water quality and increase carbon storage. In fact, agricultural soils are among the planet's largest reservoirs (or sinks) of carbon. ...

Parting Thoughts On The Future of Conservation Agriculture

By David Gustafson, departing interim executive director, CTIC   With the welcome arrival of CTIC’s new Executive Director Mike Komp, I bid a fond farewell to this interim role. There are many to thank for this wonderful opportunity, and I begin with Chair Terry Tindall, a true gentleman and also a genuine champion for conservation agriculture. I also offer sincere thanks to Vice Chair Mark Schmidt, Treasurer Mark White, and the entire CTIC Board of Directors. The CTIC staff have also been a true joy to get to know, and I look forward to continuing to work alongside ...

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Conservation Technology Information Center 3495 Kent Avenue Suite L100 West Lafayette, IN 47906 765.494.9555 ctic@ctic.org www.ctic.org  

Past Tours

Conservation in Action Tour 2023 On July 10-11, 2023, CTIC hosted participants in Frankenmuth, Michigan to meet and learn from individuals who are apart of the conservation supply chain. To start off the tour, CTIC featured producers and farmers that had a strong focus on conservation practices. The afternoon was spent highlighting a fertilizer plant and an organic bean company which really showed the supply chain from all angles. Producers, agribusiness partners, government officials and media professionals from across the U.S. came to see what makes Michigan agriculture so special!   Conservation in Action Tour 2022 St. Louis, ...

Photo Gallery

"Scaling Up Conservation Agriculture: An Exploration of Challenges and Opportunities in Michigan" 2019 Tour View album 2018 Tour View album 2017 Tour View album 2016 Tour View album 2015 Tour View album 2014 Tour View album 2013 Tour View album

PLUS-UP

Phosphorus Load-Reduction Stimulus Program: PLUS-UP   Background The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) is leading a new effort to pilot a phosphorus load reduction market in the Western Lake Erie Basin (Maumee, Sandusky, and Cedar-Portage watersheds, see map). Growers within the indicated watersheds are now being sought to participate in this pilot market. The “Phosphorus Load-Reduction Stimulation Program” (PLUS-UP) payments now being offered to growers are intended to help offset their costs for the use of in-field practices—cover crops and no-till—which yield quantifiable reductions in the amount of dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) delivered to ...

Plus-UP News 4Rs Training Newsletter

  From the Project Director   In our first year, the 10 farmers in the PLUS-UP program prevented almost 400 pounds of dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) from entering the Lake Erie watershed. For a little pilot project with 10 farmers and 5,000 acres, that's a big number.   DRP fuels algal blooms like gasoline feeds a fire. For PLUS-UP, we estimated the value of a pound of DRP at $100, a measure of the environmental damage it can cause and the cost of trying to remove it from water supplies to prevent it from enlarging the harmful algal blooms (HABs) that plague Lake Erie. &...

PLUS-UP News | Nov 15 Stakeholder Meeting, Online Training and More

  From the Project Director   All the data are in and all the checks have been sent—the 2022 PLUS-UP Pilot Project was a big success.   That success is thanks to the support of U.S. EPA, the generous purchase of dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) credits by the Bayer Carbon Program, three years of dedicated work by Dr. Laura Johnson and Judy Smith of the National Water Quality Research Center at Heidelberg University, and invaluable guidance from Dr. Cintia Ribeiro of the Bayer Carbon Program.   Through the PLUS-UP Pilot Project, we developed a pay-for-performance phosphorus credit program ...

PLUS-UP Program Pays; Ohio Meetings Aug. 22 and 23

The Phosphorus Load-Reduction Stimulus (PLUS-UP) Program is paying 10 growers this summer for reducing dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) loads in the Western Lake Erie Basin on 104 fields covering more than 5,300 acres. Payments average $9.12 per acre.   The program, which emphasizes the role of no-till and cover crops in reducing the off-farm movement of DRP into surface waters, is detailed in this interactive story map.   CTIC and The Andersons will host a 4Rs Nutrient Stewardship meeting in Maumee, Ohio, on August 23. A PLUS-UP stakeholder workshop will be held the following day in Toledo, Ohio. Watch this link for details.   With ...

PLUS-UP Progress

  Developing a new ecosystem services market is a complex challenge, one that took well over a year to achieve through a seemingly endless series of Zoom calls. So far, Covid has prevented us from holding a kick-off meeting or workshop, but we have been able to launch our first market for dissolved reactive phosphorus in the Western Lake Erie Basin.   Here are the highlights, by the numbers: 10 growers in the Maumee, Sandusky, and Cedar-Portage watersheds  signed up 5,000 acres enrolled in PLUS-UP Bayer Carbon Program underwrites DRP credits   Participating farmers are sharing field data from the 2021 cropping ...

PLUS-UP Stakeholder Meeting Graphic

  You're invited to join us tomorrow, December 6, 2022, at 9:30 EDT for a virtual 4R Training hosted by CTIC. This webinar has been approved for 2.5 nutrient management CEUs. You can register HERE.   Agenda: Welcome, housekeeping, agenda (Callie North, CTIC) 9:30- Background to phosphorus issues in WLEB (Laura Johnson, Heidelberg) 10:00- PLUS-UP program (Hans Kok, CTIC) 10:30- NTT modeling and payment for farmer DRP savings (Judy Smith, Heidelberg) 11:00- H2Ohio update, nutrient management, ties to 4-R (Kip Studer, ODA) 11:30- Matching field conditions to 4R and structural practices to reduce field P losses (Greg LaBarge, OSU Extension) 12:00- ...

Program Partners

  CTIC National Water Quality Research Center, Heidelberg University Geospatial Services, St. Mary's University of Minnesota Bayer Carbon Program  

Promoting Conservation

CTIC promotes conservation practices by raising awareness of the benefits of conservation, providing detailed information on successful implementation of practices, and sharing perspective on the needs and real-world challenges facing farmers trying to protect soil, water and air quality as well as their economic sustainability. Watershed Success Forums Working with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) through the National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI), CTIC is identifying successful watershed management activities that engage landowners, farmers, and the broader public to protect water quality. Five forums in five states are yielding a guide for NRCS, partners and stakeholders on organizing local ...

Reflecting on 2017

What a year! Reflecting back on 2017 makes us grateful for members like you because you helped make it possible. Here are some of the highlights: Our 2017 Conservation Action Tour drew nearly 200 people from across the country. The tour took place right here in West Lafayette, Indiana and we visited four different farms who are championing conservation agriculture. Thank you to everyone who attended from near and far and who helped support the tour. We continued to provide technical and educational support across the country through workshops and meetings that brought together farmers, researchers, regulators and policymakers. We continued to curate ...

Reflecting on 2017...

What a year! Reflecting back on 2017 makes us grateful for members like you because you helped make it possible. Here are some of the highlights: Our 2017 Conservation Action Tour drew nearly 200 people from across the country. The tour took place right here in West Lafayette, Indiana and we visited four different farms who are championing conservation agriculture. Thank you to everyone who attended from near and far and who helped support the tour. We continued to provide technical and educational support across the country through workshops and meetings that brought together farmers, researchers, regulators and policymakers. We continued to curate ...

Register for the NARS session hosted by CTIC

National Aquatic Resource Surveys Partnership Sessions Co-located with the National Water Quality Monitoring Conference Denver, Colorado – March 25 – 29, 2019   March 25 - Monday Afternoon (2 PM - 6 PM) Objective – follow-up to December 2017 national meeting; share progress and discuss additional next steps related to NARS improvements and NARS 2.0 proposal Welcome Updates from NARS Workgroups on Data, Communications and Methods/Indicators Training Improvements NARS 2.0 Design Implementation Discussions   March 27 - Wednesday Evening (5 PM - 7 PM) Objective – generate discussion and insight into how we can expand data analysis using NARS and other data to address additional water program questions and needs. &...

Register Online Today

Online registration takes just moments at www.ctic.org/cia_tour/registration. The $175 registration fee includes transportation, stops and all meals. A limited number of rooms are available at the Embassy Suites Downtown in Des Moines at a special Conservation in Action Tour rate of $129 per night for August 20 and 21. For more information on the Conservation in Action Tour, visit CTIC's website or call CTIC at (765) 494-9555.

Register Online Today

Komp adds that there is just over a week to reserve a place on the tour, and spaces are filling up quickly.   Online registration takes just moments at https://www.ctic.org/cia_tour/registration. The $175 registration fee includes transportation, stops and all meals.   For more information on the Conservation in Action Tour, visit CTIC's website or call CTIC at (765) 494-9555.   The CTIC Conservation in Action Tour is sponsored in part by our Diamond-level sponsors—Bayer CropScience, The Mosaic Company, Syngenta and The Conservation Infrastructure Initiative co-led by the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance (IAWA) and ...

Register Today

  Register Online Today   "Now is the time to register—we've got only two more weeks until our cut-off date for seats on the bus and our special Conservation in Action Tour price for hotel rooms at the Embassy Suites Downtown in Des Moines," says Komp.   Online registration takes just moments at https://www.ctic.org/cia_tour/registration. The $175 registration fee includes transportation, stops and all meals.   For more information on the Conservation in Action Tour, visit CTIC's website or call CTIC at (765) 494-9555.   The CTIC Conservation in Action Tour ...

Registration Deadline

Registration ends TODAY, September 6th at 1:00pm EDT for the CTIC Conservation in Action Tour. This is your last chance to register for the nation's best conservation agriculture tour.    Don't miss your chance to see what St. Louis has to offer and explore the past and future of ag with us!   What to expect at this year's Conservation in Action Tour: Monday, September 12th: 6:30-9:30pm CTIC 40th Anniversary Celebration Trolley Room, St. Louis, Forest Park Speakers include: -Rod Snyder, Agriculture Advisor, EPA - Scott Herndon, President of Field to Market - ...

Registration Is Open for CTIC Conservation in Action Tour!

    The "Conservation At The Leading Edge" tour will visit farms, New Century FS, and demonstration sites August 20-21   The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) launched online registrations today for its 12th annual Conservation in Action Tour, which will explore conservation systems in central Iowa.   The program will begin the afternoon of August 20, 2019 in Des Moines, Iowa, with a keynote speaker and cocktail reception. August 21 will be spent in the field visiting farms, demonstration plots, research trials and an ag retail site for a comprehensive look at how Iowa farmers are using a wide range ...

Registration open for August 20-21 Conservation In Action Tour in Iowa!

Register Online Online registration is open for CTIC's 12th annual Conservation In Action Tour, which will include a packed program of farm visits, facility tours, informative presentations and an up-close look at real-world conservation practices in central Iowa on August 20-21. The Conservation at the Leading Edge tour will begin the afternoon of Tuesday, August 20, with a keynote speaker and social reception at the beautiful World Food Prize Hall of Laureates in downtown Des Moines. Watch the CIA Tour Invitation video   Wednesday, August 21, will be a full day of touring, including stops at:   Couser Cattle Company in ...

Reminder 1

  The CTIC Conservation in Action Tour is getting back on the bus! Join us in St. Louis, Mo., September 12 and 13 for a celebration of CTIC's 40th Anniversary and our 15th Conservation in Action Tour.   Two action-packed days will include an up-close look at conservation systems in action, the latest in ag tech, and an exploration of the past, present and future of conservation agriculture.   On Monday evening, September 12th, we will be celebrating CTIC's 40th Anniversary. We will be celebrating in the heart of St. Louis—Forest Park in the elegant ...

Reminder message

Hello Conservation in Action Tour registrant, The attached letter covers all the details you'll need to have a great time at CTIC's upcoming tour.  If you have any questions, contact us at ctic@ctic.org or 765-494-9555.  See you next week in Des Moines!

Renew Your CTIC Membership ...Or Join!

CTIC brings people together to share insight and data on agricultural conservation.   Renew Your CTIC Membership ...Or Join!   With the conservation title of the next farm bill in the works, farmers finding ways to use conservation practices to cut costs, and consumer pressure on for growers to farm sustainable, CTIC is at the leading edge of a wide range of hot topics. This is a perfect time for you and your company/organization to get involved.    CTIC members receive:  Access to research and information on conservation agriculture National recognition for supporting agricultural conservation Networking ...

Ryan Heiniger Joins Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) as Executive Director

Ryan Heiniger Joins Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) as Executive Director   For Immediate Release For more information, contact... Callie North | north@ctic.org | (317) 450-9137 Steve Werblow | steve@stevewerblow.com | (541) 488-8610     WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana (November 8, 2022)—The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) welcomes Ryan Heiniger as its new executive director. Heiniger is a fourth-generation Iowa farmer, wildlife biologist, and has been a non-profit leader for more than two decades. CTIC board chair Mark White of Syngenta says Heiniger's combination of on-the-ground conservation experience and history of leadership in conservation-oriented organizations made him ...

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SARE/CTIC Cover Crop Surveys

Cover crops offer a wide range of benefits to farmers, from erosion control to soil building to capturing nutrients and holding them in the root zone over the winter. As interest in cover crops continues to grow, it’s important to understand the trends, opportunities and challenges surrounding these important tools. Insight from farmers who use cover crops—or from those who haven’t yet made the move—is vital for fellow farmers, as well as for crop advisors, conservation specialists and policymakers.

Scaling Up Water Quality Efforts in Iowa

Wallaces Farmer, August 2018

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Session 1

Risks to Recreation   Integrating Children’s Exposure in Risk Assessment Helena Solo-Gabriele No Bio Available No Bio Delivered Video Length - 9:10 Outbreaks Associated with Untreated Recreational Water — United States, 2009-2017 Michele Hlavsa Speaker Bio Michele Hlavsa is chief of the U.S. CDC's Healthy Swimming Program and the agency’s lead on the Model Aquatic Health Code. She collaborates with U.S. and non-U.S. public health authorities and the aquatics sector to develop evidence-based measures to prevent recreational water–associated illness and pool chemical injuries and has >90 scientific publications. She has a ...

Session 2

Advances in Monitoring, Approaches and Technology   Five Years of Enterococci qPCR in Chicago: Research to Practice Kendall Anderson Speaker Bio Kendall Anderson is an environmental epidemiologist who specializes in micro/molecular biology for recreational water and drinking water in sub-Saharan Africa. He has worked in this field since 2014 at Georgia Southern University and most recently in Chicago Illinois from 2016 onward at the University of Illinois at Chicago and the Chicago Park District. Currently Kendall is employed by the Chicago Park District as the project manager for beach water quality in which he oversees the administration of the beach water ...

Session 3

Notification and Risk Communication   Beach Report Card and NowCast: Successes and Challenges of Public Water Quality Notifications Luke Ginger Speaker Bio Luke Ginger is a Water Quality Scientist at the Southern California nonprofit Heal the Bay. He spends his time looking out for the people who go to the beaches, rivers, and streams by managing the organization’s recreational water quality programs. He has a B.S. in Biology from The University of St. Thomas and a M.S. in Biology from Miami University. Although Luke does not consider what he does at Heal the Bay “work,&...

Session 4

Restoring Waters to Recreational Use   Tracking Land-based Sources of Nutrients and Microbial Contamination in a Pacific Northwest Estuarine Watershed Amy Zimmer-Faust No Bio Available No Bio Delivered Video Length - 12:58 Ambient Water Quality Thresholds for Human-associated HF183: Effect of Water Temperature, Aging, and Co-contamination with Gull Feces Jeff Soller Speaker Bio Mr. Jeffrey Soller is the Principal Scientist at Soller Environmental, LLC. He conducts microbial risk assessments, evaluates, interprets, and communicates water quality issues, and specializes in working at the interface of risk-based science and environmental policy. Mr. Soller has been a visiting scientist with the National Institute of ...

Session 5

Building Partnerships in Rec. Water Monitoring and Remedation   Citizen Science at the EPA: Streamlining Water Quality Testing and Future Visions Jay Benforado Speaker Bio Jay Benforado is the Chief Innovation Officer in EPA’s Office of Research and Development. Jay is a founding co-chair of the Federal Community of Practice for Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science, helping to guide it from a small informal group to an influential network of over 400 members representing 60 agencies.  Jay’s efforts to establish citizen science, innovation project competitions, and voluntary partnerships help EPA, State, Tribal and local environmental agencies prepare for ...

Session 6

What's Next? Emerging Concerns   How well do Coliphages Predict the Presence and Concentrations of Human Enteric Viruses in Water and Wastewater? Mark Sobsey Speaker Bio Dr. Mark Sobsey specializes in environmental health microbiology and water, sanitation and hygiene. His research, teaching and service encompass the detection, characterization, occurrence, environmental survival/transport/fate, treatment, human health effects characterization and risk assessment of viruses, bacteria and parasites of public health concern in water, wastewater, biosolids, soil, air and food for the prevention and control of water-, food- and excreta-borne disease. His research interests address pathogens, fecal indicators and antimicrobially resistant ...

Share Your Insight in SARE/CTIC/ASTA Cover Crop Survey

SHARE YOUR INSIGHT IN SARE/CTIC/ASTA COVER CROP SURVEY   Farmer insights are now being sought for the sixth nationwide cover crop survey by USDA's SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education) program, the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) and the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA). The online questionnaire is now open at https://bit.ly/CCSurvey2020. The survey takes about 10 to 15 minutes to complete. Participants who complete the survey can enter a drawing for Visa gift cards worth up to $200. "Since 2012, the SARE/CTIC/ASTA Cover Crop Survey has provided very important perspective into why and how ...

Sorry!

SORRY! I pushed the wrong button on our new website software and sent you some old news about last year's Conservation in Action Tour. (I'm still learning our way around the powerful new tools.)   Please disregard our last email and watch for some exciting CTIC news in the days and weeks to come!   Steve @ CTIC

South Carolina's Confined Animal Manure Manager website

The Confined Animal Manure Manager (CAMM) program team consists of agents and specialists with Clemson University, the Clemson Extension Service, the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control, and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. The team was assembled in 1998 to comply with State Regulation R.61-43, which states: 100.190.A An operator of a new or existing swine facility, lagoon, manure storage pond, or manure utilization area shall complete a training program on the operation of swine manure management created by Clemson University. 200.190.A An operator of an animal facility or manure utilization area shall attend a training program on ...

Study Links Best Management Practices To Cleaner Watershed

Environmental Change Initiative, June 2016

Supply Chain Sustainability Project Trains Crop Advisors and Ag Retailers

CTIC's ongoing sustainable supply chain project in Iowa has shifted to engage local retail agronomists, certified crop advisors (CCAs) and individual farmers to advise and advocate for the adoption of critical conservation systems identified in the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy.    The first four years of the project, which included agronomic consultation and cost-share funding for farmers, helped producers in six critical watersheds plant nearly 40,000 acres of cover crops. A three-year extension funded by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) allows the effort to now shift to building capacity among trusted crop advisors in the ...

Supporting Supply Chain Sustainability in Iowa - IDALS

CTIC recently began a new phase of a project funded by Iowa’s Department of Ag and Land Stewardship.  In collaboration with Practical Farmers of Iowa and The Nature Conservancy, CTIC is leading development of a program that will train and incentivize retail agronomists to become advocates for conservation systems build around cover cropping.  Rollout of the program is anticipated in the winter of 2019 and the project’s target area has been selected to leverage ongoing privately-funded supply chain sustainability initiatives.

Survey Release 2020

FOR RELEASE AUGUST 19, 11:00 am EDT   For more information:   Rob Myers, SARE                    myersrob@missouri.edu        (573) 882-1547 Mike Smith, CTIC                    smith@ctic.org                       (812) 661-2407 Kaitlin Crawford, ASTA      &...

Sustainable Supply Chains

As food companies and consumers demand more detailed accounting of the environmental footprint of their raw materials, stakeholders throughout the agri-food supply chain are working diligently to quantify and benchmark sustainability. CTIC is a partner in several initiatives to bring together participants from various points in the supply chain to develop metrics and processes that provide useful insight and fit into real-world, on-farm management systems. Phosphorus Water Quality Trading Program in Western Lake Erie CTIC, in partnership with Ecosystem Services Marketplace Consortium (ESMC), Heidelberg University in Ohio, and others, has been awarded a Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) grant by ...

SWAN SONG

A Note From The Interim Executive Director… With this week’s arrival of CTIC’s new Executive Director Ryan Heiniger, I just want to say a huge “THANK YOU!” to the CTIC Board for this second opportunity to serve as Interim ED. I also thank the dedicated staff of CTIC for their help as we’ve successfully navigated these past few months, especially for their help in hosting yet another #BestTourEver in St. Louis, this time combined with the 40th anniversary celebration. With Ryan’s arrival, we’re very excited about the ...

Template Body Test

Template Body Title Test Template body text test Bayer CropScience, The Mosaic Company, Syngenta and the Conservation Infrastructure Initiative co-led by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) and the Iowa Association of Water Agencies (IAWA) have signed on as a Diamond-level sponsors of the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) Conservation in Action Tour. The tour, which will be held August 20 and 21 in Des Moines, Iowa, is CTIC's 12th annual program of its type.             The tour will include a wide range of practices, from prairie strips ...

Terry Lenssen

Location Lyden, WA Documents Whatcom County Dairy Farmers Tackle Water Quality Challenges, Capital Press, February 3, 2017 Images $(document).ready(function(){ $('#terry_lenssen_img img').on('click', function() { $('.enlargeImageModalSource').attr('src', $(this).attr('src')); $('#enlargeImageModal2').modal('show'); }); }); × Click the below images to enlarge them      

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Bayer CropScience, The Mosaic Company, Syngenta and the Conservation Infrastructure Initiative co-led by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) and the Iowa Association of Water Agencies (IAWA) have signed on as a Diamond-level sponsors of the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) Conservation in Action Tour. The tour, which will be held August 20 and 21 in Des Moines, Iowa, is CTIC's 12th annual program of its type.

Thank you CTIC Medal Members

      CTIC thanks our Medal Members for supporting the promotion of comprehensive conservation and sustainable agricultural systems.       CTIC Medal Members   In 2009, CTIC launched a new membership structure that allows members to receive additional value and recognition for their support of comprehensive conservation and sustainable agricultural systems. With additional membership dues above the basic level in each membership category, members achieve medal status of Gold, Silver or Bronze. The additional support provided by our Medal Members enables CTIC to enhance our regional and national projects, to explore new partnership opportunities and to bring national recognition ...

Thank you sponsors

Thank You Sponsors! The 2017 Conservation in Action Tour is hosted by CTIC with the support of our Tour Sponsors: Evening Social John Deere   Diamond Bayer CropScience Monsanto   Platinum Dow AgroSciences Syngenta The Fertilizer Institute   Click here to see a complete list of 2017 Tour sponsors.    Why attend the Tour? This is one of the most well-organized multi-stop tours I've ever been on - I'm hoping to take some of your great ideas and implement them. ~Anonymous, 2016 Tour Participant I loved every second of the tour. Networking and meeting new people, experiencing the Everglades ...

Thank you sponsors

Thank You Sponsors! The 2017 Conservation in Action Tour is hosted by CTIC with the support of our Tour Sponsors: Evening Social John Deere   Diamond Bayer CropScience Monsanto   Platinum Dow AgroSciences Syngenta The Fertilizer Institute   Click here to see a complete list of 2017 Tour sponsors.    Why attend the Tour? This is one of the most well-organized multi-stop tours I've ever been on - I'm hoping to take some of your great ideas and implement them. ~Anonymous, 2016 Tour Participant I loved every second of the tour. Networking and meeting new people, experiencing the Everglades ...

THE CONSERVATION INFRASTRUCTURE INITIATIVE, BAYER, THE MOSAIC COMPANY AND SYNGENTA SIGN ON AS DIAMOND SPONSORS OF CTIC CONSERVATION IN ACTION TOUR

  Bayer CropScience, The Mosaic Company, Syngenta and the Conservation Infrastructure Initiative co-led by the Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance (IAWA) and Iowa’s Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) have signed on as a Diamond-level sponsors of the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) Conservation in Action Tour. The tour, which will be held August 20 and 21 in Des Moines, Iowa, is CTIC's 12th annual program of its type.   The tour will include a wide range of practices, from prairie strips to bioreactors, interseeded cover crops, stover harvesting, drainage water management techniques, and precision application of fertilizer. The ...

The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) Inducts Frank Lessiter Into Its Hall of Fame

For more information, contact: Callie North, north@ctic.org/ (317) 450-9137 Ryan Heiniger, heiniger@ctic.org/ (319) 768-8348   The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) Inducts Frank Lessiter Into Its Hall of Fame The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) inducted editor, publisher and conservation agriculture advocate Frank Lessiter into its CTIC Hall of Fame during the 16th Annual CTIC Conservation in Action Tour on Tuesday night, July 11, 2023 in Frankenmuth, Michigan. CTIC is a hub for information and ideas that advance and promote conservation agriculture systems that help people along the agricultural supply chain achieve their economic and environmental sustainability goals. Hall of ...

The NTT Model

  The team at the National Center for Water Quality Research at Heidelberg University is using the Nutrient Tracking Tool, or NTT, to model the effects of conservation practices on dissolved reactive phosphorus on each field enrolled in PLUS-UP. Developed by the Texas Institute for Applied Environmental Research at Tarleton State University, NTT is a powerful tool for estimating the nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment losses from cropland and pasture.   NTT is available online and draws on a comprehensive soil database, making it extremely accurate on a field scale. The model includes a wide range of crops, rotations, nutrient and ...

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THIS IS THE PERFECT YEAR TO BE PART OF CTIC

THIS IS THE PERFECT YEAR TO BE PART OF CTIC 2022 is the perfect time to join CTIC- join CTIC as a member as we celebrate our 40th anniversary and host our annual tour. https://ctic.org/Membership/Membership_Info   YOUR MEMBERSHIP IN CTIC SUPPORTS: • Innovations in tracking the adoption of conservation on the ground...from field-level validation to online surveys to remote sensing • Demonstrations of conservation systems • Education on everything from cover crop establishment to cutting-edge tools and models • Training for farmers, CCAs and retail agronomists, conservation agency staff, federal staffers and more • ...

Time Is Money

Corn and Soybean Digest, July 2018

TOUR NOW

  Registration for the 16th Annual Conservation in Action Tour is now open!   Experiencing Conservation in Supply Chains   Join us in Frankenmuth, Michigan, July 10-11, for the 16th annual Conservation in Action Tour! This year’s tour theme, Experiencing Conservation in Supply Chains, will help connect the circle from farmer to consumer. Attendees can look forward to seeing the supply chain up close and personal, including cutting edge dairy practices, specialty crops like sugar beets and dry beans, milling and processing, and more!   Check out an outline of the agenda HERE to see where we'll ...

Tour2022announcement

  Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) Opens Registration for Tour and 40th Anniversary Celebration in St. Louis Sept. 12-13 The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) will be celebrating its 40th anniversary and hosting its 15th annual Conservation in Action Tour in St. Louis, Missouri, September 12 & 13, 2022.   "Drawing on talent from across the U.S. and around the world, St. Louis is a vibrant hub for agriculture and technology—the perfect place to celebrate 40 years of advances in conservation  farming and the diverse people and perspectives driving its future," says Mike Komp, CTIC's executive director. &...

Training

Drawing on deep technical expertise as well as organizational experience, CTIC has planned and facilitated meetings, workshops and trainings around the world. CTIC works closely with federal and state agencies, conservation districts, and non-profits to ensure effective two-way communication. Current training programs include technical workshops for EPA staff and partners as well as sessions for crop consultants and other farm advisors. NARS Technical Training Workshops Working with US EPA on its National Aquatic Resource Survey (NARS) program, CTIC provides leadership and technical support for State and Tribal Aquatic Resource Monitoring Technical Training Workshops, including 2 national programs and up to 10 aquatic-resource-specific ...

Training Videos

Click on any of the links below for full video coverage of each of the presentations in the two-day program. There's More Where That Came From: The Need for Conservation Mike Taylor, Farmer, Helena, Arkansas Selecting the Right Practices John Lee, USDA NRCS National Water Management Center, Little Rock, Arkansas   Resources for Technical Support Keith Scoggins, USDA NRCS District Conservationist, Wynne, Arkansas   Selecting A Contractor Keith Scoggins, USDA NRCS District Conservationist, Wynne, Arkansas   Arkansas’ Nutrient Reduction Strategy Ken Brazil, Arkansas Natural Resources Commission, Little Rock, Arkansas   Water Quality and Groundwater Recharge Michele Reba, USDA-ARS ...

Two Weeks Left

JUST TWO WEEKS LEFT TO REGISTER FOR CTIC CONSERVATION IN ACTION TOUR!   Seats are filling up fast for the 12th annual Conservation in Action Tour hosted by the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), which will explore conservation farming systems on farms and an innovative ag retail location in central Iowa August 20 and 21. Registration will close July 26.   "The CTIC Conservation in Action Tour provides a detailed look at conservation practices along with great opportunities to discuss those systems with the farmers, ag retailers and conservation professionals who work with them every day," notes Mike Komp, executive director ...

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CONSERVATION TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION CENTER (CTIC) SEEKS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR   WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana (June 30, 2022)—The Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) islaunching a search for a new executive director as Mike Komp, who led the organization for the past three years, moves on to a new opportunity. ​"CTIC has strengthened its capabilities under Mike's leadership, and we wish him great success in his new endeavors as we take on the next stage of the organization's growth," says Mark White of Syngenta, CTIC's board chair.  ​ CTIC celebrates its 40...

Videos

Water Quality Monitoring Program

Weekly handgrab samples were taken for nitrates from March 2011 through June 2011. Monthly handgrab samples were taken for total suspended solids and phosphorus. A Hydrolab probe was also used to gather dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, and conductivity data during each visit. Since July 2011, all parameters were sampled monthly through March 2012, when weekly sampling will began again.  This sampling occurs at four sites located along Indian Creek and on one tributary.    Water quality sampling station locations. US Geological Survey, with financial support from IEPA, installed a stream gage to monitor flow. In September 2011, the nitrate probe was installed. Flow ...

WEBINAR: OpTIS and DNDC Environmental Dynamics, Oct 16 11am EDT

  Modeling Environmental Dynamics with DNDC and OpTIS Data, Oct 16, 11am EDT The Nature Conservancy, CTIC and Dagan would like to invite you to the second webinar in our OpTIS series—this one on how a variety of users are employing the DeNitrification-DeComposition (DNDC) model and OpTIS to estimate the influence of soil health practices on soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics. The one-hour webinar will be held Friday, October 16, at 11:00 am EDT. When the OpTIS data set—a ground-validated analysis of conservation adoption that spans 2006 to 2018 across most of the Corn Belt—is run through the DNDC ...

Weed and Pest Management

Weed & Pest Management (IPM) Facts What is it? It's a comprehensive approach to fine tuning on-farm management of harmful weeds and pests. Today we have improved methods for control of weeds, insects and diseases. Management strategies that allow for better control, with minimum risk to the environment. Resistant plants, cultural controls, soil amendments, beneficial insects, natural enemies, barriers, physical treatments, behavioral disruptants, biological and conventional pesticides are some of these management strategies. Increases Profits Inputs such as mechanical cultivation, pesticides, fertilizers and tillage trips cost money. By using best management practices to apply these inputs when they are ...

WELCOME

Hello everyone,   The takeaway from 2020 for me has been that we are stronger together than apart. Agriculture, by its necessity, impacts everyone, every day. That means we need everyone around the table to set a course to a future where everyone benefits from conservation. CTIC has been and will continue to be a community where all are welcome, but 2020 demonstrated that it takes work to ensure that everyone is invited.   I’m proud of how our team has persevered through 2020. They have engaged with new technologies, trained in critical areas, and maintained and developed new relationships through ...

What are Conservation Buffers?

Conservation Buffers Conservation buffers are small areas or strips of land in permanent vegetation, designed to slow water runoff, provide shelter and stabilize riparian areas. Strategically placed buffer strips in the agricultural landscape can effectively mitigate the movement of sediment, nutrients, and pesticides within farm fields and from farm fields. Buffers include: contour buffer strips, field borders, filter strips, grassed waterways, living snow fences, riparian buffers, shelterbelts/windbreaks, (grass, shrubs and trees), and wetlands. The small amount of land taken out of production helps producers meet environmental and economic goals. Key Messages Conservation buffers protect soil, improve air and water ...

What are CTIC Members up to?

TFI 4-R Summit June 11-12 in Des Moines, IA   Tri-Societies Meetings (ASA, SSS, CSSA) Enhancing Productivity in a Changing Climate 2018 ASA-CSSA Annual Meeting November 4-7 | Baltimore, MD | www.acsmeetings.org   Soils Across Latitudes  SSSA International Soils Meeting January 6-9, 2019 | San Diego, CA | www.sacmeetings.org   SWCS Meeting International Annual Meeting July 29 - August 1, 2018 - Albuquerque, NM   NACD Meeting NACD Annual Meeting, January 27-31, 2018 - Nashville, TN   If you have an event coming up, please contact Abbey Nickel and we'll get it on the CTIC Calendar and in future Member Mails.  &...

What are CTIC members up to?

·TFI 4-R Summit June 11-12 in Des Moines, IA   ·Tri-Societies Meetings (ASA, SSS, CSSA) Enhancing Productivity in a Changing Climate 2018 ASA-CSSA Annual Meeting November 4-7 | Baltimore, MD | www.acsmeetings.org   Soils Across Latitudes SSSA International Soils Meeting January 6-9, 2019 | San Diego, CA | www.sacmeetings.org   ·SWCS Meeting International Annual Meeting July 29 – August 1, 2018 – Albuquerque, NM   ·NACD Meeting NACD Annual Meeting, January 27-31, 2018 – Nashville, TN   If you have an event coming up, please contact Abbey Nickel and we’ll get it on the CTIC Calendar and in ...

What are CTIC members up to?

·TFI 4-R Summit June 11-12 in Des Moines, IA   ·Tri-Societies Meetings (ASA, SSS, CSSA) Enhancing Productivity in a Changing Climate 2018 ASA-CSSA Annual Meeting November 4-7 | Baltimore, MD | https://acsmeetings.org/   Soils Across Latitudes SSSA International Soils Meeting January 6-9, 2019 | San Diego, CA | https://sacmeetings.org/   ·SWCS Meeting International Annual Meeting July 29 – August 1, 2018 – Albuquerque, NM   If you have an event coming up, please contact Abbey Nickel and we’ll get it on the CTIC Calendar and in future Member Mails. 

What are CTIC members up to?

·TFI 4-R Summit June 11-12 in Des Moines, IA   ·Tri-Societies Meetings (ASA, SSS, CSSA) Enhancing Productivity in a Changing Climate 2018 ASA-CSSA Annual Meeting November 4-7 | Baltimore, MD | https://acsmeetings.org/   Soils Across Latitudes SSSA International Soils Meeting January 6-9, 2019 | San Diego, CA | https://sacmeetings.org/   ·SWCS Meeting International Annual Meeting July 29 – August 1, 2018 – Albuquerque, NM   If you have an event coming up, please contact Abbey Nickel and we’ll get it on the CTIC Calendar and in future Member Mails. 

WHAT WE DO

CTIC champions, promotes and provides information on technologies and sustainable agricultural systems that conserve and enhance soil, water, air and wildlife resources and are productive and profitable.

What's Happening at CTIC?

2018 Conservation in Action Tour dates and location Mark your calendars! We are thrilled to announce that our 11th annual Conservation in Action Tour will take place on July 11 and 12 near the beautiful Chesapeake Bay in the Maryland and Washington D.C. area. More information will be announced as it is finalized in the coming months. We're excited to continue bringing together people from across the country with different perspectives on conservation agriculture - and of course, a front row view of the latest and best management practices.    CTIC audit results We're proud to report another successful ...

What's happening at CTIC?

Don't forget to register AND book your hotel room for the 2018 Conservation In Action Tour! Join us on the Eastern Shore of Maryland on July 10 and 11 for our 11th annual Conservation in Action Tour. For more than a decade, we’ve been bringing together people from across the country with different perspectives on conservation agriculture for a front row view of the latest and best management practices. This year’s theme, “Bringing Back the Bay: Partnerships, Profitable Farms, Clean Water, & Innovative Conservation,” will highlight several Maryland farmers who are leading the way in ...

What’s happening at CTIC?

2018 Conservation in Action Tour dates and location Mark your calendars! We are thrilled to announce that our 11th annual Conservation in Action Tour will take place on July 11 and 12 near the beautiful Chesapeake Bay in the Maryland and Washington D.C. area. More information will be announced as it is finalized in the coming months.  We’re excited to continue bringing together people from across the country with different perspectives on conservation agriculture – and of course, a front row view of the latest and best management practices.   CTIC audit results We’re proud to ...

What’s happening at CTIC?

2018 Conservation In Action Tour – July 10-11, Eastern Shore of Maryland For 11 years, we've been bringing together people from across the country with different perspectives on conservation agriculture for a front row view of the latest and best management practices. Registration is OPEN! Click here to register. The designated tour hotel is the Westin of Annapolis. Book your room by June 8 to secure the block rate. The Westin is honoring the block rate three days before the tour and three days post-tour. Click here for more information and to lock in your room rate.&...

Winter Board of Directors Meeting and Ballot

The 2018 Winter Board of Directors meeting will be held on February 20 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Fertilizer Institute in Washington, D. C. Ballots are now available to vote for board directors, who will serve a 3-year term beginning on March 1. CTIC members must be present at the board meeting to vote. Meetings are open to all members. If you plan on attending, please contact the CTIC office at 765-494-9555 by February 9.

Winter Board of Directors meeting and ballot

The 2018 Winter Board of Directors meeting will be held on February 20 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Fertilizer Institute in Washington, D.C. Ballots are now available to vote for board directors, who will serve a 3-year term beginning on March 1.  CTIC members must be present at the board meeting to vote. Meetings are open to all members. If you plan on attending, please contact the CTIC office at 765-494-9555 by February 9.

‘Farmers in the Western Lake Erie Basin Can Earn Money in New CTIC Phosphorus Reduction Pilot Program’

Farmers in the Western Lake Erie Basin Can Earn Money in New CTIC Phosphorus Reduction Pilot Program Farmers in the Western Lake Erie Basin—including parts of Ohio, Michigan and Indiana—can earn money through a phosphorus load reduction pilot program. The “Phosphorus Load-Reduction Stimulation Program” (PLUS-UP) program, coordinated by the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC), will pay farmers in the project area $5 to $10 per acre in 2022 to reduce P loads using practices such as no-till or cover crops. "The PLUS-UP program will provide a financial incentive for conservation practices that help farmers reduce phosphorus ...

…and looking forward to 2018!

We’re excited to continue supporting conservation agriculture in 2018 with your help. Here is what we are looking forward to (so far): Launching a brand new website and a modified logo. Our new website will have a sleek, fresh new look and retrieving information about conservation agriculture will be easier than ever. Our 2018 Conservation in Action Tour will be held in the Maryland/Washington D.C. area this summer. Plans are already underway, and we’re thrilled to share more information with you in the coming months. Working with USDA on a project to highlight successful strategies for ...