About the Event

Across the country, hundreds of conservation programs aim to help farmers and ranchers adopt practices that improve soil health, water quality, and climate resilience. But until now, no one has measured what it actually takes to enroll producers into these programs. 

Join Trust In Food™ and Environmental Initiative for a Farm Country Update featuring the nation’s first benchmarking study of the true cost, time, and effort required to recruit farmers and ranchers into conservation programs.

This session will explore the human dimensions behind enrollment — from outreach and trust-building to operational bottlenecks — and share actionable insights to help accelerate adoption and strengthen funder-implementor partnerships.

Key Takeaways

Attendees will learn:

• What was measured: The time, touchpoints, and effort required to recruit a single farmer or rancher
• What was found: Hidden costs, internal barriers, and underfunded functions slowing conservation progress
• What’s next: Practical recommendations to improve program design, collaboration, and investment strategy