Sustainable Ag Intensification & CRP Extended

Sustainable Ag Intensification & CRP Extended. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Northwest Report.

What is sustainable agricultural intensification and how do you achieve it. John Reganold, Washington State University soil science professor says there’s a futuristic ag system in the works that will be available in about 15 to 20 years.

REGANOLD: It’s called perennial grains where our annual grains like wheat, corn, rice instead of being annuals they’ll be perennials. Their root systems are larger, they stay in the ground. Soils are less erodible under those systems. And if you want to address the multiple sustainability goals it’s going to take systems that do that and these more innovative systems are our best hope. But the fact that they exist but aren’t widespread tell us that we must have other barriers to adopting these systems.

The deadline for the latest Conservation Reserve Program sign-up has been extended. The new deadline is next Friday, April 13. Strong interest in the program was the reason for the extension. Once the sign-up ends - FSA will evaluate offers based on cost and the Environmental Benefits Index. The EBI considers several variables including wildlife habitat, water quality protection, soil erosion reduction, air quality protection and other enduring benefits.

Now here’s today’s Washington Grange report.

(Grange)

That’s today’s Northwest Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.