Farmward Cooperative announced it has joined the Truterra network, the leading farmer-driven ag and food sustainability program in the U.S., launched by Land O'Lakes Inc. in 2016. Being part of the Truterra network will allow Farmward Cooperative to offer local farmer customers a powerful suite of tools to help them protect and restore their land and unlock its deeper value. Through Truterra, farmers are also better positioned to access opportunities to be rewarded for stewardship, including carbon and emerging ecosystem services markets.
"As a precision ag retailer, improving sustainability and stewardship practices are paramount to what we do, as well as to our growers," said Farmward Cooperative's Seed & Precision Ag Manager, Matt Pietig. "With Truterra as a partner, our growers will now have access to the Truterra sustainability tool, a best-in-class tool that allows farmers to generate a sustainability baseline for every field and then predict and measure the impact of implementing specific regenerative practices on both the environment and their profitability."
Farmward Account Managers will work with their growers to document their current practices and then unlock insights about their fields to evaluate and implement regenerative practices to better achieve agronomic and economic goals. Pietig adds, "In addition, Truterra allows Farmward customers to retain ownership of their data at all times; something that is very important to them."
"We are excited to have Farmward Cooperative join our network, expanding our footprint in Minnesota, providing their farmers the tools and technology needed to unlock the deeper value of their land," said Mariah Murphy, Truterra field team leader. "We're proud to work with ag retailers like Farmward who are committed to bringing their farmers sustainability solutions that will improve their soil health and positively impact the environment."
By working with Truterra, Farmward is better positioned to help farmers determine if they qualify for opportunities to earn money by improving their stewardship.
In February, Truterra launched its carbon credit program, a transformational new carbon program that helps farmers generate and sell carbon credits to private sector buyers. Truterra understands improving soil health is a journey, thus is currently enrolling farmers who have recently changed practices to improve soil health or are just beginning their soil health journey. Qualifying farmers may be eligible to earn $20/ton for carbon sequestered retroactively for up to the past five years or $2/acre for implementing an eligible practice in crop year 2022.
Farmward is a diversified and progressive farm supply and grain marketing cooperative headquartered in Morgan, Minn., with outlet locations in Clements, Comfrey, Danube, Morton, Olivia, Renville, Sacred Heart, Springfield, Wabasso, and Wood Lake.
Categories: Minnesota, Business, Crops