AFT continues to engage female non-operating landowners through the Women for the Land initiative. In 2020, AFT partnered with Champaign County SWCD to plan and host two virtual learning circles. The project was funded by PepsiCo and presentations were designed to increase the use of cover crops on lands in Pepsi-Co’s supply chain. Evaluation polls at the conclusion of the event assessed learning outcomes. Results reflected significantly increased knowledge of the benefits of cover crops and increased confidence in discussing cover crops with family and tenant farmers. More than half of the participants requested additional information about cover crops and soil health.
AFT also recognizes the role that farm advisers and conservation professionals play in facilitating conversations be-tween farmers and non-operating landowners. AFT collaborated with ICGA and ISA to host an online discussion for agriculture and conservation professionals that emphasized opportunities for conservation on rented lands.
To measure impacts of these “conservation conversations,” AFT conducted phone interviews with participants. Fifty percent of participants identified a need for more information on cover crops and soil health practices; 67% requested information on other related topics, ranging from farmland preservation to farm succession planning. Table 4.32 shows a summary of June’s conservation outcomes.
Table 4.32. Summary of June conservation outcomes
Learning Objectives/Outcomes | Strongly Agree (%) | Agree (%) |
Cover crops can improve farm productivity and increase overall profits | 42 | 25 |
Increased knowledge about on-farm and off-farm benefits of cover crops | 33 | 42 |
Cover crops can reduce nutrients, sediment, and greenhouse gas emissions | 50 | 50 |
Confidence in ability to discuss cover crops with family | 44 | 33 |
Confidence in ability to discuss cover crops with tenant farmer | 22 | 56 |
