{"id":5758,"date":"2015-12-22T17:19:55","date_gmt":"2015-12-22T22:19:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/?p=5758"},"modified":"2025-07-09T13:32:08","modified_gmt":"2025-07-09T17:32:08","slug":"how-2015-set-the-table-for-major-agricultural-and-environmental-success-in-2016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/2015\/12\/22\/how-2015-set-the-table-for-major-agricultural-and-environmental-success-in-2016\/","title":{"rendered":"How 2015 set the table for major agricultural and environmental success in 2016"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/52\/files\/2015\/12\/Y1C0543.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-5759\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/52\/files\/2015\/12\/Y1C0543-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"agriculture\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/52\/files\/2015\/12\/Y1C0543-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/52\/files\/2015\/12\/Y1C0543-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/52\/files\/2015\/12\/Y1C0543.jpg 1359w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>In 2015, U.S. agriculture proved to be a willing and powerful partner in the path to sustainability. We\u2019ve seen farmers, ranchers and food companies make major headway in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving soil health, restoring habitat for at-risk wildlife and protecting freshwater supplies.<\/p>\n<p>Here are some of this year\u2019s highlights:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Approval of the first carbon offset protocol for crops<\/strong> in a cap-and-trade market (for U.S. rice growers), followed by approval of a grasslands protocol and a <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/2015\/09\/15\/agricultural-carbon-markets-get-yet-another-boost\/http:\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/2015\/09\/15\/agricultural-carbon-markets-get-yet-another-boost\/?utm_source=TakePart&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=cm\">huge investment from USDA<\/a> to develop a fertilizer protocol. These protocols reward farmers for conservation measures that reduce emissions and offer businesses new opportunities to offset the environmental impacts from their operations.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li><strong>Launch of the innovative SUSTAIN platform <\/strong>throughout the United Suppliers agricultural retailer network. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.sustain.ag\/\">SUSTAIN<\/a>, developed in coordination with EDF, trains ag retailers in best practices for sustainable farming and aims to enroll 10 million acres in the program by 2020. So far, over 300 sales representatives in Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, and Ohio have attended training. And food companies interested in making SUSTAIN a feature of their sustainable sourcing work include <a href=\"https:\/\/www.edf.org\/media\/campbell-soup-company-joins-edf-initiative-reduce-environmental-impact-food-production\">Campbell\u2019s<\/a>, Unilever, Kellogg\u2019s, General Mills, and Smithfield.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li><strong>A \u201cnot warranted\u201d listing decision for sage-grouse under the Endangered Species Act<\/strong>, due in large part to ranchers\u2019 commitments to develop and implement conservation solutions for the bird. Habitat exchanges \u2013 a solution developed by EDF and partners in agriculture and industry \u2013 are now available in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.habitatexchanges.org\/exchanges\/greater-sage-grouse\/colorado-habitat-exchange\/\">Colorado<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/2015\/12\/11\/2-million-available-for-nevada-landowners-to-earn-revenue-through-sage-grouse-pilots\/\">Nevada<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.wyomingconservationexchange.org\/\">Wyoming<\/a> for landowners to earn new revenue for protecting and enhancing greater sage-grouse habitat.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<li><strong>Release of Colorado\u2019s first-ever water plan<\/strong> to ensure the health and vitality of the state\u2019s streams, rivers, communities and wildlife \u2013 without harming farmers. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.reuters.com\/article\/co-western-resource-advo-idUSnBw196260a+100+BSW20151120\">The plan<\/a> addresses development of financial mechanisms to incentivize participation in alternative water transfer mechanisms and subsidize agricultural water system optimization. This innovative water planning can now be a model for other water-stressed communities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>So what lies ahead for 2016? We asked our experts to share their thoughts and wishes for the New Year.<!--more--><\/p>\n<p><strong>Reducing habitat loss <\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4825\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4825\" style=\"width: 199px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/52\/files\/2015\/02\/holst.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-4825\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/52\/files\/2015\/02\/holst-199x300.jpg\" alt=\"Eric Holst\" width=\"199\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/52\/files\/2015\/02\/holst-199x300.jpg 199w, https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/52\/files\/2015\/02\/holst.jpg 333w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 199px) 100vw, 199px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4825\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Read Eric&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/2015\/11\/03\/new-white-house-mitigation-standard-opens-market-opportunities-for-farmers-and-ranchers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">latest blog<\/a> about new\u00a0market opportunities for ag.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>From <a href=\"https:\/\/www.edf.org\/people\/eric-holst\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Eric Holst<\/a>, associate vice president of working lands:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Aside from another championship for the Golden State Warriors, I\u2019m excited about the potential to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.edf.org\/ecosystems\/why-we-need-new-way-protect-wildlife\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">put the monarch butterfly back on a path to recovery<\/a> in 2016. Populations have declined 90% over the last 20 years \u2013 and the possibility of listing the species under the Endangered Species Act would indicate massive failure on the part of the conservation community to stimulate action. 2016 is the year to bend the curve back to recovery by tapping into the potential of agricultural lands to provide needed milkweed and wildflower habitat for this iconic American species.<\/li>\n<li>In addition to launching a habitat exchange program for the monarch butterfly in 2016, I look forward to seeing exchanges formally launch in Colorado, Nevada and Wyoming for the greater sage-grouse, and in California\u2019s Central Valley for multiple species, including Swainson\u2019s hawk, Chinook salmon and riparian songbirds. With <a href=\"https:\/\/www.edf.org\/ecosystems\/habitat-exchanges-how-do-they-work\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">the launch of these markets<\/a> will come numerous opportunities for farmers and ranchers to earn new revenue for conserving wildlife habitat.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Eliminating fertilizer pollution<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_5717\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5717\" style=\"width: 200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/52\/files\/2015\/12\/suzy_friedman_277x387.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-5717\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/52\/files\/2015\/12\/suzy_friedman_277x387-228x300.jpg\" alt=\"Suzy Friedman\" width=\"200\" height=\"263\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-5717\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/2015\/12\/15\/nature-inspired-my-career-in-conservation-but-farmers-and-family-keep-me-going\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Learn more<\/a> about Suzy.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>From <a href=\"https:\/\/www.edf.org\/people\/suzy-friedman\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Suzy Friedman<\/a>, director of agricultural sustainability:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>In 2016 I want to get the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.sustain.ag\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">SUSTAIN platform<\/a> 30 percent of the way towards our enrollment goal of 10 million acres. I also want to replicate sustainability programming across the ag retail sector, with strong support from food companies. Bringing the SUSTAIN model to scale holds huge potential for sustainable ag.<\/li>\n<li>One of the things I\u2019m most looking forward to seeing on the ground in 2016 is a race to the top for <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/2015\/08\/03\/taking-the-bloom-and-gloom-out-of-lake-erie\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">nutrient management tools <\/a>that help farmers be more efficient and sustainable. Keep an eye out for a new program to be launched in 2016 that will bring transparency to these tools \u2013 so that farmers can have certainty that the products they\u2019re using deliver results. That means saving money and eliminating waste from fertilizer use.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Reducing GHGs from agriculture<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>From <a href=\"https:\/\/www.edf.org\/people\/robert-parkhurst\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Robert Parkhurst<\/a>, director of agriculture greenhouse gas markets:<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4981\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4981\" style=\"width: 200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/52\/files\/2015\/04\/robert_parkhurst.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-4981\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/52\/files\/2015\/04\/robert_parkhurst-228x300.jpg\" alt=\"Robert Parkhurst is in Los Angeles today speaking at a conference on Navigating the American Carbon World. His panel is discussing the \u201cFuture Offset Supply.\u201d  \" width=\"200\" height=\"263\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/52\/files\/2015\/04\/robert_parkhurst-228x300.jpg 228w, https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/52\/files\/2015\/04\/robert_parkhurst.jpg 287w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4981\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Read Robert Parkhurst&#8217;s latest blog on ag&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/2015\/11\/10\/who-will-protect-farmers-privacy-in-the-big-data-boom\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">big data boom<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul>\n<li>I\u2019m excited to work with our new partners in 2016 &#8212; ranchers, almond growers and rice farmers. We\u2019ll see <a href=\"https:\/\/www.edf.org\/ecosystems\/greenhouse-gas-markets-agriculture\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">carbon credits being generated<\/a> across these diverse agricultural landscapes, which will benefit growers and the planet.<\/li>\n<li>With the recent adoption of <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/2015\/06\/25\/its-official-rice-farmers-now-eligible-for-carbon-offset-payments\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">the rice protocol<\/a> by the California Air Resources Board, I\u2019m especially excited to witness the sale of the first rice credits to a California company in 2016, verified and regulated under the state\u2019s cap and trade program.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Rebalancing water use<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>From Kevin Moran, senior director of EDF\u2019s Colorado River program:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>One of the goals I am personally excited about in 2016 is taking a leadership role in getting Arizona and the Imperial Irrigation District to assist in reducing the structural water deficit in the Lower Basin of the Colorado River. It\u2019s been widely known that demand for Colorado River water has exceeded the river\u2019s supply in recent years, so I am hopeful that with Arizona continuing to lead on water, we will catalyze a shift toward demand management in the Lower Basin that promotes flexibility and resilience throughout the entire Colorado River system.<\/li>\n<li>To achieve this goal, we need to make real progress on piloting agricultural water efficiency practices linked to ecosystem benefits, which EDF is pursuing in partnership with the University of Arizona\u2019s ag extension office and Yuma farmers. Through pilot programs, we will influence how Yuma agriculture invests in water efficiency to advance both sustainable agriculture and ecosystem and water system management benefits.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><figure id=\"attachment_4503\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4503\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/52\/files\/2014\/11\/festaonfarm.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-4503\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/52\/files\/2014\/11\/festaonfarm-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"EDF's David Festa (left) met with farmers in two Yuma area irrigation districts to learn more about irrigation efficiency.\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/52\/files\/2014\/11\/festaonfarm-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/52\/files\/2014\/11\/festaonfarm.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4503\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">David Festa (left) meeting with a Yuma farmer to learn more about irrigation efficiency. Read his latest blog: 3 investment ideas to sustain water in the American West.<\/figcaption><\/figure>From <a href=\"https:\/\/www.edf.org\/people\/david-h-festa\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">David Festa<\/a>, senior vice president of ecosystems:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>In 2016, I would like to see California Governor Jerry Brown and the state legislature unleash the potential for water sharing by blowing up the state\u2019s \u201c<a href=\"http:\/\/www.sacbee.com\/opinion\/op-ed\/soapbox\/article49903615.html\">paper dams<\/a>\u201d \u2013 a patchwork of outdated laws and regulations that have disproportionately affected disadvantaged communities and the environment during the drought. Agriculture has a big role to play in water sharing. Through a whole host of practices \u2013 from efficiency, to fallowing, to crop switching \u2013 many farmers could sell 10% to 20% of their water for other uses while improving their bottom-line.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>EDF&#8217;s agriculture team would like to thank all of the partners &#8211; from individual farmers to major food companies &#8211; for their help in making U.S. agriculture more sustainable and, ultimately, more prosperous. <\/p>\n<p>More to come in 2016!<\/p>\n<p><em>Related:<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/2015\/12\/08\/why-the-sustainable-agriculture-glass-is-half-full\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Why the sustainable agriculture glass is half full &gt;&gt;<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/2015\/10\/20\/why-almond-lovers-can-breathe-easy-again\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Why almond lovers can breathe easy again &gt;&gt; <\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/2015\/10\/05\/ags-big-data-explosion-can-benefit-the-environment-too\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ag\u2019s big data explosion can benefit the environment too &gt;&gt;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In 2015, U.S. agriculture proved to be a willing and powerful partner in the path to sustainability. We\u2019ve seen farmers, ranchers and food companies make major headway in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving soil health, restoring habitat for at-risk wildlife and protecting freshwater supplies. Here are some of this year\u2019s highlights: Approval of the first &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3982,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[120554],"tags":[234,84734,71775,84733,56,190,71826,71642,202,67067,75692,71660,71659,39994,84809],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-5758","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-agriculture","tag-agriculture-tag","tag-campbell-soup-company","tag-central-valley","tag-climate-change-and-agriculture","tag-conservation","tag-drought","tag-grand-valley-water-users-association","tag-greater-sage-grouse","tag-greenhouse-gas-emissions","tag-habitat-exchange-2","tag-monarch-butterfly","tag-sustain","tag-united-suppliers","tag-walmart","tag-water-use"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5758","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3982"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5758"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5758\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16071,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5758\/revisions\/16071"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5758"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5758"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5758"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=5758"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}