11th International Drainage Symposium August 30-September 2, 2022 Des Moines, Iowa

1. From Practice to Policy:
Advancing Edge of Field Conservation Practices
Clare Lindahl, CEO, SWCS

2. WWW.SWCS.ORG
Overview
• SWCS actions and resources
for advancing Edge of Field
• Discuss how these actions
and resources connect to
policy

3. WWW.SWCS.ORG
Partners

4. WWW.SWCS.ORG
Conferences

5. WWW.SWCS.ORG
Journal of Soil and Water Conservation
• Peer Reviewed Articles
• A Section
• Special Issue on Edge of
Field Monitoring for
Nutrient Losses, 2018
• Special Sections

6. WWW.SWCS.ORG
Report: Study on the Adoption of Edge
of Field Practices, 2018
• Qualitative, interviews with cross sector staff
and farmers who have installed practices.
• Even with no up-front cost to growers the
current audience is limited to producers who
are conservation leaders, early adopters, or
“water quality conscious” farmers.
• The most widely cited reason for the current
limited state of adoption is that farmers do
not see a bottom line or productivity benefit
from edge of field practices.

7. WWW.SWCS.ORG
Report: Study on the Adoption of Edge
of Field Practices, 2018
• Site requirements and complexity of
planning, design and implementation;
multiple parties, funding sources and
paperwork
• Still considered “new”, lack of knowledge
• Lack of funding for practices and associated
technical assistance
• Less momentum with conclusion of DMWW
lawsuit, now the focus on Climate Change
• Rented land

8. WWW.SWCS.ORG
Report: Study on the Adoption of Edge
of Field Practices, 2018
• A general sense that edge of field practices
are supported by “adequate and compelling
science”
• Given the unfamiliarity and complexity of the
project and the process, the availability of
someone to serve as a coordinator or
“quarterback” to facilitate the work and
paperwork was seen as critical to the
success of all edge of field projects.
• Use of Technology (ACPF)
• Address limiting factors of federal funding
(i.e. need for engineering, etc.)

9. WWW.SWCS.ORG
Process Models
• A process model is a visualization of time, labor and
other resources that go into a particular process.
• Build trust with the farmer and landowner, allow
conservation professional to convey the complexity
and timeframe of the project, while also assuring
them that there is a plan and an orderly process for
its completion
• Saturated buffers, Bioreactors, Wetlands (one
farmer facing version, one contractor facing version).
• All process models are based on the NRCS’s
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) as
the main practice funding source.
• The process models are accompanied by resource
guides.
• The process models are available at SWCS’s
Conservation Media Library which provides
resources for EoF and In Field conservation
practices.

10. WWW.SWCS.ORG
Conservation Media Library (CML)
• Multimedia storing house for
conservation photos, graphics,
informational videos, factsheets,
PowerPoints, and other resources.
The Library is open to all, and all
materials can be downloaded and
circulated free of charge.
• Drainage Water Management,
Saturated Buffers, Bioreactors,
Wetlands (Prairie Strips and Cover
Crops).
www.swcs.org/resources/conservation-media-library
Photo Credit: NRCS/SWCS/IDALS
photo by Lynn Betts

11. WWW.SWCS.ORG
Replicating “Batch and Build”, an
Alternative EoF Practice Delivery Method
• “One off” conservation practice implementation will not
accomplish nutrient reduction goals
• “Batch and Build” Model led to the installation of 51 EoF practices
in the summer of 2021 (40 saturated buffers and 11 bioreactors)
all in Polk County
• By addressing barriers of adoption through the financial and
technical assistance programs that exist today
• Identifying one fiscal agent, in this case the county, which enabled
the blending of funding sources, reduced the risk/burden to the
landowner and created sizeable bid packages
• Saved $115,000 when compared to the traditional delivery
method by reducing engineering costs and requiring less
contractor mobilization
• Emulate that delivery method in other watersheds through direct
technical support and training of farmers and watershed
coordinators
• Creation of a “batch and build” process model and tools for other
Iowa watersheds

12. WWW.SWCS.ORG
Leading at the Edge: A Roadmap to
Advance EoF Practices in Agriculture
• Unveiled in February, 2021
• A collaborative effort supported
by the Walmart Foundation.
• Twenty six partners from across
the country - senior leaders from
agriculture, the supply chain, civil
organizations and former
government officials
• Convened and developed this
cohesive set of recommendations
to scale EoF practices at national
and local levels.
Download the EoF Roadmap at nature.org/EdgeofField

13. WWW.SWCS.ORG
Roadmap Design Process

14. WWW.SWCS.ORG
Roadmap Pillars
Build the
economic
case
Increase
capacity to
implement
Elevate a
culture of
conservation

15. WWW.SWCS.ORG
Roadmap Cross Cutting themes
• Invest in science, technology, and data to increase
understanding of the effectiveness of practices and provide
farmersand conservation professionals with the information
necessary to inform EoF practice implementation.
• Align policies and programs so they work in tandem and
amplify corporate supply chain efforts and emerging ecosystem
services markets to create watershed-level improvements.
• Communicate a vision of a more holistic,
regenerative U.S. agriculture system to develop a shared
appreciation of the importance of EoF practices among farmers,
landowners, and others throughout the value chain.

16. WWW.SWCS.ORG
Roadmap Recommendations

17. WWW.SWCS.ORG
Blue Ribbon Panel on EoF Technologies
• In May of 2021, SWCS also collaborated
on a Blue Ribbon Panel on technologies
to expand EoF practice adoption.
• The panel engaged a group of 15
national leaders and experts in EoF
research, engineering, siting and
implementation for a dynamic
discussions about innovative
technologies, research, decision tools
and practices innovations.
• The project was supported by NRCS and
proceedings were shared with national,
state and local NRCS staff to advise on
how the agency can expand Eof practice
adoption on working lands.

18. Edge of Field Technologies
DWMRx
Decision support
tool for configuring
ADWM system tile-
line regulators
EoF
Decision
Trees
EoF Practice
Process
Models
Remote
Sensing for
mapping
tile lines
Woodchip
Locator App

19. Edge of Feild new ideas and
communication tools
Ag Drainage
Mgmt.
Systems
Task Force
Exploring
new
practices
and
pairings
The Water
Table
Podcast
SWCS
Conservation
Media
Library

20. Strategic planning and
partnerships needed to expand
EoF practice adoption
Move toward landscape-
scale conservation to
achieve efficiencies of scale
Need for clear, simple, and
streamlined EoF planning and
implementation standards
Outreach, education, and
technical assistance are key
Need to create economic
incentives for conservation
adoption
Clearly communicate and/or
reduce the burden of practice
management on producers
Outstanding questions and
research needs remain
Discussion themes around scaling
technologies

21. WWW.SWCS.ORG
FFAR Achieving Conservation through Targeting
Information, Outreach and Networking (ACTION)
Program RFA
• Take alternative EoF
Practice Delivery Methods
like the “Batch and Build”
regional
• Utilize biophysical data from
practice implementation to
improve data-driven
decision tools (ACPF, NTT)
and USDA-NRCS
Conservation Practice
Standards

22. WWW.SWCS.ORG
SWCS in Washington D.C.
• Feb 22 through June 3rd, 2022 (3 months)
• Elevate SWCS among national circles
• Form connections with the chapters, members,
and partners in the region and engage new and
diverse audiences in SWCS and conservation
• Gather information to better define how SWCS
can play an effective role in advocacy and policy
• Translate SWCS priorities and member needs
and ideas into advocacy and policy
• Take the voices of conservation professionals to
the desks of leaders and find collaborations to
advance issues members care about
• Continue CEO responsibilities
• Met with 69 organizations and agencies

23. WWW.SWCS.ORG
Policy Learnings
• Understand our unique
perspective, if we are not at the
table, what won’t be said, what
won’t be heard (voice of the
conservation professional,
agriculture, water sector, practice
vs theory)
• There are policy implications of all
of our work, i.e. special projects
(Process models > cut red tape,
Conservation Practitioners Poll >
needs of field staff in USDA
Offices)

24. WWW.SWCS.ORG
Policy Learnings
• Defining policy within SWCS as a non profit,
understanding government
• Have an ask or an offer; be bold, be beautiful, be brief,
be gone, follow up
• Changing a rule, adding a rule, taking away a rule, at
various levels, to make things easier so we can have
better, faster and more
• Legislative Changes (Farm Bill, Appropriations,
Reconciliation Packages)
• Changes within agencies
• Amplifying and emulating local policies
(Edge of Field Batch and Build)
• Balance work at multiple scales to advance
conservation, local and national, practice and policy
• Communications back to members and partners

25. WWW.SWCS.ORG
Policy Learnings
• What is everyone talking about in DC,
start with the opportunities or you could
get lost
• Need to know what the talk of the town is
• Build coalitions and form unique
partnerships
• Power Mapping, use of consultants, like
everything, it is a people game
• Things happen fast, things happen slow,
hurry up and wait
• Enjoyment and enthusiasm go a long
way!

26. Thank you!
P.S. Join SWCS!
Be part of the conservation community!
Have your voice heard!