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A field with cover crops growing in crop stubble.

Evaluating trends in USDA conservation program adoption and effectiveness

March 27, 2026

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is one of the largest federal government agencies that employs thousands of employees and oversees countless areas of federal agricultural policy. From crop insurance to commodity support programs, to research at universities, and much more, the...

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A field with corn stalks and cover crops.

Exploring the economics of agricultural conservation practices

July 11, 2025

Farm Focus

Agricultural producers across Central Illinois and the United States face numerous challenges and pressures on their operations. These can include policy changes, volatile market prices, fluctuating input costs, diseases and pests, and many other factors. Of extreme importance to crop producers is...

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Rent or Own: How Land Tenure Shapes Agricultural Conservation Strategies, Part Two

October 4, 2024

Farm Focus

This blog post is the second in a two-part series analyzing a United States Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service (USDA-ERS) report on the adoption of conservation practices in agriculture by farmland owners and tenant farmers. The first post studied the current landscape of farmland...

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Rent or Own: How Land Tenure Shapes Agricultural Conservation Strategies, Part One

September 27, 2024

Farm Focus

In recent years, the agricultural sector has seen a growing emphasis on conservation practices aimed at promoting sustainability and environmental stewardship. These practices, which include cover cropping, reduced tillage, and integrated pest management, are designed to enhance soil health,...

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Blog Keywords

Conservation Blogs

Evaluating trends in USDA conservation program adoption and effectiveness

Exploring the economics of agricultural conservation practices

Rent or Own: How Land Tenure Shapes Agricultural Conservation Strategies, Part Two

Rent or Own: How Land Tenure Shapes Agricultural Conservation Strategies, Part One