One way that LASA hopes to earn public trust is by conducting a conservation survey among its members and measuring the change in acres over time.
We ask our members about conservation practices on their farms. It’s a requirement to be part of the group. Personal information is kept confidential, and our aggregate summary is available to the public.
In 2018, LASA members completed a survey of 14 practices including cover crops, no till, reduced tillage and nutrient stewardship. Using estimates from the USDA’s Conservation Effects Assessment Project, LASA members documented an estimated reduction of 42,648 pounds of phosphorous and 13,285 pounds of nitrogen. These figures include:
- 4,796 acres of cover crops, resulting in a reduction of 3,741 pounds of phosphorous and 13,285 pounds of nitrogen.
- 9,768 acres of conservation tillage (vertical till, strip till), resulting in a reduction 8,694 pounds of phosphorous.
- 12,537 acres of no-till farming,resulting in a reduction of 30,214 pounds of phosphorous.
These numbers will be used as a baseline and the change in acres and practices will be measured over time to show LASA’s progress.
If you have any questions about LASA’s 2018 baseline results and the member survey, please contact us by email