When it comes to pollinators, bees get a lot of the attention. They’re certainly important, with certain crops relying almost exclusively on bee pollination. But with issues such as colony collapse disorder affecting the world’s bee population, some experts are pushing for a greater emphasis on pollinator diversity. After all, butterflies, moths, birds, bats, and even some […]
The Pollinating Practices of Monarch Butterflies Read More »
Where are all the honeybees going? That is the billion-dollar question agriculturalists across the world are asking. Colonies are dying out in large quantities as the majority of their worker bees simply disappear. It’s called colony collapse disorder. Between 1947 and 2005, the number of honeybees in the US decreased from 5.9 million to 2.4 million. If honeybees continue to disappear at the current
Dealing with Colony Collapse Disorder Among Honeybees Read More »
Fossil fuels are a finite material. Estimates vary, but there will come a day when we run out of them. The sooner we can switch over to cleaner, renewable energy, the better. One of the leading contenders for utility-scale energy needs is solar power. The presence of large-scale solar projects is increasing dramatically. To keep up with demand, 3
A Better Solar Solution: How Pollinator Habitat Improves Utility-Scale Solar Projects Read More »
Cool season grass has long been popular throughout much of the US where it can be found everywhere from lawns to farm fields. While cool season grass thrives in the spring and fall when temperatures are mild and moisture is prevalent, it struggles in the hot dry summer months. Native warm season grass (or NWSG), on the
Converting Cool Season Pasture Grass to Native Warm Season Grass Read More »
At FDCE, we’re passionate about conservation and sustainable practices. In addition to establishing pollinator habitat, native grasses, and forbs for landowners enrolled in CRP, we provide bioenergy solutions across the globe that replace inefficient, expensive, and non-renewable fuel sources with superior alternatives. Not only is bioenergy sustainable, but it’s cleaner, more efficient, and when used correctly, more affordable. Recently, the success of one of our bioenergy projects was highlighted in an article by
FDCE Helps Virginia Hospital Save Thousands of Dollars a Day Through Homegrown Biofuel Read More »
In our last post, we discussed the thorough paperwork requirements for reporting cost–share with CRP. While CRP offers great cost-share benefits (especially with Practice Incentive Payments), stringent documenting and organization are required to receive the appropriate reimbursement in a timely manner. Improper reporting serves as a constant setback for both landowners enrolled in CRP and the FSA offices that oversee them, creating frustration for all parties involved. It’s no
Our CRP Reporting Services Read More »
Nobody enjoys paperwork, but for programs such as the Conservation Reserve Program, it’s a necessary part of the process. After all, CRP doesn’t just pay farmers and landowners a flat rental fee per acre; the program also reimburses them for expenses associated with establishing CRP such as seed, planting and herbicide. This is where first-time CRP
Paperwork Requirements of CRP – Properly Documenting Cost-Share Expenses Read More »
Wildlife and their habitats play an important part in the agriculture ecosystem. Pollinators like bees and butterflies help nurture and spread plant life, affecting 35% of the world’s food crop. Additionally, pollinator habitat provides beneficial cover to soil, preventing erosion and protecting against water run-off. Other wildlife, such as ducks and pheasants, share a similar
Promoting Wildlife Conservation Through CRP Read More »
Farming naturally takes a toll on your land. Crops leave topsoil exposed to wind and rain, causing erosion and runoff. Tillage further erodes the soil. Growing the same crop year over year depletes the soil’s nutrients, removes vital organic matter and leaves it less fertile and more fragile. To compensate, additional fertilizer is used, increasing the presence
What You Should Do with Underperforming Farmland Read More »
With the government shutdown behind us (hopefully for good) and the 2018 farm bill finally taking effect, we hope to see new enrollment in CRP for 2019 very soon. We think that makes this the perfect time to look back on a little history of CRP and how it has changed in recent years. CRP has been around
The Evolution of the Conservation Reserve Program Read More »
