Growing Returns: Farm Finance

Co-authored by Pinion The use and production of fertilizer in agriculture is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and a major cause of pollution in the nation’s rivers and lakes. Agriculture is the largest global source of nitrogen pollution, and annual damages from nitrogen pollution are estimated to exceed $200 billion in the US. […]

  A new survey of agricultural lenders in the upper Midwest reveals important insights about their perceptions and support for farmers’ conservation efforts. As the first of its kind, the survey can inform agricultural lending institutions’ climate and sustainability strategy development. Farmers rely on agricultural lending institutions for loans to cover equipment, land and operating […]

During the summer of 2023, Kansas endured a historic heat wave with temperatures soaring above 110°F in some areas. As climate change continues to intensify, the frequency and severity of extreme heat are projected to increase. Are Kansas farmers at risk of losing money in the face of these extreme growing conditions? A new study […]

In early December, the EDF climate-smart agriculture team will join hundreds of farmers, food and agriculture companies, university experts and other conservation organizations at the 2023 Sustainable Agriculture Summit, “Scaling Collective Impact: Collaborating to Accelerate Agricultural Sustainability.” This conference is one of the largest annual gatherings of people working to improve sustainability in U.S. agriculture, […]

In January 2022, global farmer-to-farmer network and ag tech company Farmers Business Network®, launched a new rebate program for farm operating loans. The Regenerative Agriculture Finance Operating Line program includes a 0.5% interest rate rebate for farmers who achieve climate and water quality benchmarks established by Environmental Defense Fund. Both farmers who already meet the benchmarks, […]

How small-scale farms are adapting to a rapidly changing climate.

12 finance solutions and value-added incentives to support farmers in adopting new conservation practices

Farmers who meet climate and water quality benchmarks will have lower interest rates, enabling broader adoption of sustainable agriculture

Farmers’ interest in cover crops is growing rapidly, but they still want to know how the practice will impact their finances.

Carbon credits are just one tool in a portfolio of financial solutions that farmers and lenders should explore.

It’s time for agricultural business and financial leaders to respond quickly to meet the needs of farming for the future.

Three key insights from five years of farm data.

Accurate and abundant data is a constant need for farmers and companies to change the way they operate, and conservation practices are no exception.

Executive-level engagement on climate resilience will be essential for agricultural lenders to meet the needs of farmers and seize opportunities to benefit their borrowers.

Adopting soil health practices increased net farm income by $52 per acre for corn and $45 per acre for soybeans.

Report finds similar approaches taken by farmers who experience the greatest financial and operational benefits from soil health practices.

New research shows how climate change could affect Iowa farm revenue in the coming decades.

Cover crops are most effective when approached as a long-term investment that can provide sustained benefits from soil health and soil function over time.

New report from EDF and Soil Health Partnership helps farmers better understand the benefits, opportunities and limiting factors associated with common conservation practices.

New report details how soil health practices like cover crops and no-till affect farm budgets.