Green Success Stories sat down with Jim Schneider, soil conservationist at USDA-NRCS. We discussed how to improve agricultural sustainability, consistency, profitability and food security.
Tell us a bit about the product or solution you offer.
I like to think of myself as the product. I am a product of a lifetime of dedication to improving agricultural sustainability, consistency, profitability and food security. I was raised on a diversified farm in north central South Dakota. I started at a time when tillage was the norm and 25-30% of the ground was allowed to “rest” each season by a practice we called summer fallow.
Over the years I was involved in the transition to production systems with elimination of tillage, elimination of summer fallow, addition of diversity and other beneficial practices which boosted production, profitability, consistency and sustainability in the direction of regeneration.
Share a green success story with us – how have you helped customers or other businesses in the fight against climate change?
While employed as an Extension Educator for the University of Nebraska Lincoln, I was approached by a middle-aged man who retired from over-the-road trucking to farm his family land. It was a small farm and he knew that in order to be successful, he needed to maximize efficiency, resiliency and sustainability of the operation. He had been to some meetings and heard about no-till and cover crops. I had an understanding of the direction he wanted to go and a passion for the end goal. I also had a lot of professional connections that shared the passion. We worked together to research different cover crops for their ability to feed the grain crops. We made a system of continuity which not only accomplished our goal but in a way that almost continuously sequestered carbon while minimizing the carbon footprint of his production by reducing tillage, mechanized fieldwork and commercially produced inputs. I might add that this was a family endeavor with involvement by his spouse, siblings and parents. It was a real joy to reach our goals together and to share the success with field days for the public, news releases and public speaking.
What would you do with $1 billion dollars?
More of the same. I would promote sustainable agricultural practices. I would seek out geographic areas around the globe that would be most likely to respond and grow from the education and demonstration of farming practices that add consistency, sustainability and productivity. I would promote infrastructure to move the product to where it is most needed. I would educate educators to grow this seed of knowledge hopefully in an infinite way.
What do you envision your industry looking like in ten years?
I cannot even imagine because the technology improves exponentially. There is no doubt in my mind that technology provides the ability to manage our land and resources in the direction we need to go. Robotics and sensory innovation will make huge differences by being able to precisely manage our land and resources. I’m proud to say my son is completing his degrees in agricultural engineering and agronomy. I cannot fathom the excitement he will have in his career.
Jim Schneider can be reached at [email protected].
