FDCE Inc.

The Importance of National Pollinator Week

Thirteen years ago, National Pollinator Week was established to help raise awareness for the critical role pollinators play in our environment, as well as the challenges they face. This year’s initiative officially kicks off June 22, though things might look a little different in 2020.   Typically, countless events are held in communities across the country. Due to the current outbreak of COVID-19, the festivities are more limited […]

The Importance of National Pollinator Week Read More »

What to Do with Inherited Farmland

With one–third of the US’s farmers over the age of 65, a lot of farmland will likely be changing hands throughout the next decade. In many cases, this farmland will be passed on to another member (or members) of the farmer’s family. Farmland is generally a very valuable asset. Not only is the land itself worth money, but it’s capable of generating on-going revenue should you continue to farm

What to Do with Inherited Farmland Read More »

Moths: The Underappreciated Pollinators

When people talk about pollinators, most of the attention goes to bees, butterflies, and birds. We actively see these daytime dwellers at work, flying from flower to flower as they help plant life thrive. But with the serious population declines that honeybees, bumblebees, and monarch butterflies have all seen in recent decades, there’s a need for greater pollinator diversity.  This is where nighttime pollinators like moths can help.  While

Moths: The Underappreciated Pollinators Read More »

The Relationship Between Hunters and Conservation

Hunting and conservationism are often shown to be at odds with one another. Stories of trophy hunters traveling around the world to hunt endangered species are regularly shared on news and social platforms.   However, trophy hunters are not a proper representation of the North American hunting community. The large majority of hunters are licensed and law-abiding people who target local wildlife that have healthy populations. They hunt for food, general sport, and in cases, land/livestock protection.   These hunters tend

The Relationship Between Hunters and Conservation Read More »

The Impact of the Conservation Reserve Program

Since launching with the 1985 Farm Bill, the Conservation Reserve Program has set out to reduce soil erosion, improve water quality, and restore wildlife habitat. It does so by paying farmers and landowners to take marginal farmland out of active production.  In place of traditional farm crops, which can deplete soil health and fertility overtime, farmers establish

The Impact of the Conservation Reserve Program Read More »

What Do I Need to Plant CRP?

Looking to enroll or just recently enrolled land in CRP? If you’re new to the program, it’s natural to have a few questions. The Conservation Reserve Program has a number of specific requirements that contract holders must follow, including what seed is used, how it’s planted, and how it’s maintained.  Before you get too far along in

What Do I Need to Plant CRP? Read More »

The Effects of Tilling on Soil

Farmers have long employed various methods to disrupt soil, using sticks, hoes, ards, rakes, and plows to turn the ground and prepare farmland. This is process is known as tillage.   Tillage serves a number of purposes including seed bed preparation, burying crop residue, leveling soil, spreading nutrients, mixing in fertilizer, and activating pesticides. It’s also very helpful with

The Effects of Tilling on Soil Read More »

CRP vs. Crop Rotation – What’s Best for My Land?

Growing the same crops in the same spot year after year can take a toll on soil, depleting it of certain nutrients and leaving it unbalanced. As the soil’s health decreases, water runoff and erosion increases, damaging the soil further. Ultimately, this results in weaker crop yields.  Farmers have long employed techniques to combat this.  One of the more aggressive methods of keeping soil balanced

CRP vs. Crop Rotation – What’s Best for My Land? Read More »

How Soil Erosion and Farming Practices Lead to the Dust Bowl

In 1929, the United States stock market crashed, kickstarting a decade long period known as the Great Depression. The exact causes for this crash are heavily debated to this day, though common factors typically include overproduction of crop and industrial materials, overpricing of stock values, and easy credit/loan practices.   Farmers were already in a tough spot leading

How Soil Erosion and Farming Practices Lead to the Dust Bowl Read More »

The Importance of Pollinator Diversity in CRP

The honeybee has long been the US’s main pollinator, contributing over $15 billion to our economy every year. Over the past few decades, however, the honeybee has seen its population cut in half largely due to colony collapse disorder.   If things continue at this rate, the honeybee could be extinct by 2035.   Unfortunately, counteracting CCD directly has proven to be difficult. Eliminating the use

The Importance of Pollinator Diversity in CRP Read More »