Ecosystem Services

The economic impacts of Medusahead rye can be extreme. Dense infestations can reduce rangeland livestock carrying capacity by 50-80%. The resulting impact on wildlife habitat, and the increase in wildfire frequency and severity causes additional losses to ranchers and rural communities. Meanwhile, it is so resilient, that controlling it with herbicides can cost as much […]

The Blair Ranch is a great example of how good livestock stewardship reaps both economic and ecosystem rewards. As Ed and Rich describe in the video below, their initial focus was on providing good forage and water for their stock. With a better water system, weight gains went up, and by piping the water across […]

As Vermont continues to seek to invest in sustainable energy, interest in on-farm solar generation has grown. (It’s probably no surprise that some of the attributes that make land good for farming also can make it desirable for solar arrays.)  For many communities, this has raised concerns about loss of valuable farm land and impacts […]

You’re probably already reaping the benefits of conservation practices on your operation like better soil, cleaner water, and bigger profits.  But what if you could be paid by others for improving water quality?  It’s a new idea, but one that may provide options for you. Water quality trading is a market-based approach to improving water […]

How important, how valuable, is living in a community that strikes a better balance with Nature? And are communities willing to pay for the services that producers provide to meet that balance?

Preparing for this year’s bluebirds, Troy shares how birds benefit him, and the diversity of his farm benefits those that, through loss of habitat, are in danger of becoming homeless.