What we are doing
We work with ag retailers to improve management of our key soil, nutrient and crop-protection resources by keeping them on our cropland and out of our streams, rivers and lakes.
Why we are doing it
Ag retailers are key players in addressing nutrient runoff by ensuring their customers’ dollars stay on the field for crop nutrition, rather than running off into nearby waterways.
Webinars
Our webinars present the latest nutrient management research and economic returns for ag retailer products and services that improve water quality.
Watch HereAg retailer tools and resources
Learn more about the benefits of products and services your facility offers by downloading our free materials and accessing PARM’s interactive tools.
Read MoreLatest News
USDA ERS Releases Ag Resources and Environmental Indicators Report
MAY 13, 2019 11:58 PM
the USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) released its latest Agricultural Resources and Environmental Indicators report. Here are some notable highlights:
- By 2013, over 20% of planted corn, soybeans and rice acreage were farmed using VRT.
- Conservation tillage is used on 70% of soybean acres, 40% of cotton, 65% of corn, and 67% of wheat.
- US organic retail sales reached an estimated $49 billion in 2017. The number of certified organic operations in the US more than doubled between 2006 and 2016.
- As of 2017, across the Nation, 55% of assessed rivers and streams; 71% of lakes; and 84% of bays and estuaries nationally have impaired water quality. Agriculture is the largest source of impairments in rivers and streams and the second-largest source in lakes and ponds.
- In 2012, 35% of all cropland acres were in no-till and 3% were planted with a cover crop.
Unilever and PepsiCo Offer Cover Crop Incentives
MAY 10, 2019 2:09PM
Unilever and PepsiCo are offering Iowa farmers cash incentives for cover crops, a program managed by Sarah Carlson from Practical Farmers of Iowa. Unilever is offering $40/ac for up to 40 acres to those new to covers and $10/ac for up to 160 acres or 10% of acres farmed (whichever is larger) to existing users. With margins tight, farmers should take advantage of incentives for conservation, states Mike Jackson, member of Mahaska County Farm Bureau. Read more here.
PARM’s Newly Released 2018 Ag Retailer Survey Report
May 7, 2019 1:54 PM
Who Participated?
Ninety ag retailer locations representing over 5.3 million acres in the Great Lakes and Upper Mississippi River Basins participated. The PARM project has been surveying retailers in Ohio since 2012, in the entire Great Lakes Basin since 2015 and recently expanded to the Upper Mississippi in 2018.
The Highlights
Within Great Lakes states, serviced acres with cover crops increased from 11% to 20% from 2015 to 2018; rotational soil sampling from 56% to 66%; and weather consideration before fertilizer application from 39% to 86%.
Upper Mississippi states reported higher percentages of the following compared to the Great Lakes: rotational soil sampling, VRT phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) application, broadcast fertilizer incorporation, custom strip-till P and N, topdress P and N application, and GPS-guided application.
Based on averages from peer-reviewed publications, product and service sales reported by participating ag retailers reduced over six million pounds of total P, one million pounds of dissolved reactive P and 59 million pounds of total N from entering waterways!
See us mentioned in the Ohio AgriBusiness Association’s member newsletter.
Purdue Offers Online Agronomy Classes for Professionals
May 3, 2019 5:35 PM
Purdue University’s Agronomy e-Learning Academy classes start June 12th! Three courses are available: agronomy essentials, precision agriculture and nutrient management. Courses are designed to meet the educational needs of professionals in all areas of agriculture. Find out more!
