Increasing Conservation on Working Lands

Not all landowners are farmers. Not all farmers are landowners. Yet both groups often share similar interests, such as improving soil health for increased agricultural production, protecting woodlands, improving water quality, reducing erosion, or creating wildlife habitats. With this in mind, TLT formed a new Conservation
Committee, aiming to provide learning opportunities and resources that bridge farming and conservation efforts.

 The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) are two flagship Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) initiatives designed to help landowners and farmers integrate conservation into working land. On Monday September 12th, the new committee conducted a “Walk and Talk” tour at Xarifa Farm in Miami Township. With the help of two EQIP grants, the landowner has removed over 48 acres of honeysuckle and other invasive species from its mature forest, with another 18 acres in progress. The farm also just completed a new CSP pollinator habitat, seeding over 25 native flowers. Approximately 30 participants attended, witnessing the “before and after” of such efforts and how this work truly transforms the land. For more information about these programs, contact your District Conservationist at your local NRCS office. They are there to help and will guide you through the process.