Iowa farmer Mark Peterson is on the front lines of the Mid-West’s sustainable agriculture movement. As a farmer in Stanton, IA he knows what is working for and what is hurting the soil health in popular farming practices. In an op ed to the Des Moines Register, Peterson outlines how a couple key changes to how crop insurance is applied could protect the soil in his area and around the nation. Peterson’s suggestions include, removing cover crop date restrictions, upholding the “sodsaver” provisions to discourage breaking virgin ground, and expanding the requirements for crop insurance conservation plans. Because crop insurance is so vital to a farmer’s financial wellbeing, making these changes in the insurance provisions would incentivize compliance on a new level. Read more about Mark Peterson’s suggestions here.
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