NCGA’s Program Roadmap: A Pocket Guide to Sustainability

USDA is conducting a research pilot to analyze USDA and third-party datasets to understand how cover crops and no-till practices affected planting and yields in 2019 due to flooding.    NCGA is supportive of the Agriculture Innovation Act, which would build off the pilot and improve USDA data collection and research of conservation practices.

NCGA and partners developed the Post Application Coverage Endorsement (PACE) for non-irrigated corn producers who split-apply nitrogen.    Development is ongoing for additional conservation practice endorsements.    Farm policy continues to knock down barriers and provide incentives for the adoption of cover crops. For example, USDA's Pandemic Cover Crop Program. 

NCGA's Risk Management & Transportation Action Team (RMTAT) partners with the Waterways Council, Inc (WCI) to support the inland waterways system.    By safely moving America’s corn and other cargo at the lowest cost, barge transportation plays a vital role not just to our nation’s economy, but in preserving our environment and limiting traffic congestion.    In 2019, 514.9 million tons of waterborne cargo transited America's inland waterways, a volume equal to roughly 14% of all intercity freight and valued at $134.1 billion.  All that, and the least expensive, safest, and lowest carbon footprint.     Compared to barges, moving an identical amount of cargo by rail generates 30% more emissions, while trucks generate 1,000% more emissions.