Conservation used to be a side conversation on most soybean operations. It isn't anymore. Conservation and profitability took center stage when 133 farmers and agricultural stakeholders gathered Aug. 31 at the FFA Enrichment Center for the American Soybean Association Farmer Forum.
The event, titled “Building Your Conservation Program and Profit Potential,” brought together producers with agricultural leaders and technical experts to discuss practical solutions for managing conservation programs while maintaining farm income.
“The Farmer Forum is about giving farmers practical information they can take home and use on their own operations,” said Scott Metzger, ASA president and Ohio soybean farmer. “By bringing farmers together with experts from across agriculture, we can have meaningful conversations about conservation, managing costs, and finding solutions that make sense both agronomically and economically.”
Held before the Farm Progress Show, the forum featured three panel discussions covering regenerative agriculture implementation, cost reduction through conservation practices, and policy concerns.
USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Richard Fordyce joined representatives from Field to Market, PepsiCo, and ADM to discuss public-private partnerships in regenerative agriculture. PepsiCo’s fleet uses more than 1.7 million gallons of biodiesel annually.
A second panel featured United Soybean Board Director Brent Rendel and other experts sharing how conservation practices can improve efficiency while maintaining productivity and soil health.
“ASA believes that every conservation effort should be voluntary, incentive-based, and meet growers where they are,” said Carson Fort, ASA director of government affairs.
The day included three rounds of interactive discussions with technical experts, followed by a networking reception where farmers could connect directly with industry representatives and conservation specialists.
