How has conservation on cultivated cropland changed since the beginning of the 21st century? A new report released by USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) demonstrates progress made through voluntary conservation over a 10-year period. It found significant gains for soil health and soil carbon storage, while also identifying areas where additional and targeted nutrient management strategies are needed. Findings from the report will inform future conservation strategies, including USDA’s efforts to tackle the climate crisis.

In this webinar, Dr. Lee Norfleet, CEAP Modeling Team Leader at NRCS, will present findings on changes in practice adoption trends, including conservation tillage, cover crops, structural practices, irrigation practices, and advanced technologies such as enhanced-efficiency fertilizers and variable rate fertilization to improve efficiency. He will also discuss the impacts of these practices on sediment and nutrient losses, carbon sequestration, water use and fuel use.