The Nature Conservancy is putting together a program to increase strip-till and cover crop use in Michigan. The initiative offers a package of adoption incentives to help farmers transition to strip-till and cover cropping.
The incentives would include $40 per acre for strip-till and cover crops, a 15% discount offered by Environmental Tillage Systems on SoilWarrior purchases, free on-site technical assistance from program partners and farm mentors, a free subscription to Strip-Till Farmer and registration for the National Strip-Tillage Conference, as well as a $10-per-acre discount on custom strip-tilling services and SoilWarrior lease options.
The Nature Conservancy’s project objectives are as Follows:
- Promote partnerships with Michigan Sugar Company to communicate and promote this project to the cooperative’s grower network and provide training and demonstration on the benefits of strip-till and cover crops in sugarbeets.
- Record, analyze and report on-farm outcomes, including changes in soil health conditions (environmental), changes in yield indicators (agronomic), and changes to profit and loss (economic) on strip-till acres. Results will be included in a summary report.
- Demonstrate that strip-till is a viable management practice for Michigan sugarbeet growers and support the company’s research to bolster evidence of strip-till benefits to farmers and the environment.
The goals of the project include participation by a minimum of 10 farms, and 6,000 acres of strip-tilled sugarbeets between 2025 and 2028.
For more information on this developing project, reach out to Simon Yevzelman with The Nature Conservancy, simon.yevzelman@tnc.org or 517-316-2251.
