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Soil Health

Publications

Soil Health-focused Land Valuation Market Research in Illinois

July 10, 2023

Incorporating Soil Conservation Practices into Farmland Appraisal in SE Michigan

August 24, 2021

Land Value: Exploring the Current Agricultural Land Valuation System

August 7, 2019

Land Management through Leasing

August 7, 2019

Farmland Leasing Toolkit for Land Managers

August 7, 2019

Advocacy and Action for Incentivizing Conservation

August 7, 2019

Soil Wealth

July 1, 2019

State of Land Stewardship in Illinois

July 1, 2019

Projects

Soil Health-focused Land Valuation Market Research in Illinois

Soil Health-focused Land Valuation Market Research in Illinois

Promoting Soil Health and the adoption of Soil Health Management Systems (SHMS) to farmers is a key priority for the USDA-NRCS, conservation scientists and NGOs. However, prior research by Delta Institute suggests a lack of economic incentives prevent Illinois farmers from adopting SHMS at scale. Furthermore, Illinois’ land valuation system does not explicitly establish a link between Soil Health and land value. Delta offers this analysis of Illinois’ farmland real estate market from 2017—2023. This report synthesizes market signals of farmland real estate in Illinois to uncover driving factors that place value to land. These findings will inform the ultimate goal of institutionalizing Soil Health as a factor in the land appraisal process in Illinois.

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Conservation Hotspot Analysis in Illinois

Conservation Hotspot Analysis in Illinois

To assess conservation adoption in Illinois and identify key factors that lead to higher adoption rates, Delta Institute (Delta) and the Environmental Working Group partnered to identify conservation hotspots. We utilized publicly available data to identify where conservation practices are being adopted. Where we had datasets that covered extended time ranges, we also assessed the longevity of conservation behavior. Additionally, an interactive map was created to facilitate further exploration of the data.

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Examining the State of Land Stewardship in Illinois

Examining the State of Land Stewardship in Illinois

Traditionally, conservation land trusts have protected land, often restored it, and later transferred it to government entities for long-term ownership, which effectively transfers the responsibility of land stewardship to those governmental entities. The project consisted of three phases, each aimed at considering the new approaches to conservation finance and building capacity to enable and enhance land stewardship.

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Soil Wealth: Investing in Regenerative Agriculture

Soil Wealth: Investing in Regenerative Agriculture

Delta Institute released Soil Wealth: Investing in Regenerative Agriculture across Asset Classes, the most comprehensive look to date at investment opportunities in regenerative agriculture. The report provides an in-depth analysis not only of investments in farmland, but also of investment opportunities across asset classes that support regenerative agricultural value chains and food systems.

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Land Tenure and Conservation in Agriculture

Land Tenure and Conservation in Agriculture

Agricultural land management decisions are situated within a complex and interconnected system, influenced by a suite of social and economic factors, many of which are difficult to control. Landowners can, but often don’t, take it upon themselves to drive stewardship of their land. This report focuses on land ownership and tenure as levers to increase conservation and rebuild soil health in the Midwest, where over 50% of the agricultural land is leased. 

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Bringing Greenhouse Gas Benefits to Market: Nutrient Management for Nitrous Oxide Reductions

Bringing Greenhouse Gas Benefits to Market: Nutrient Management for Nitrous Oxide Reductions

Delta created a novel nitrous oxide carbon credit methodology that allowed producers to access carbon market revenue from reducing fertilizer application rates. Delta was able to deliver the first successful nitrous oxide reduction project on the voluntary carbon market. The project was highlighted by Agriculture Secretary Vilsack for its innovation and success.

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Pay for Performance: A Market-Based Approach to Conservation

Pay for Performance: A Market-Based Approach to Conservation

Delta Institute collaborated with Winrock International and Sand County Foundation to create an innovative and comprehensive "How To Guide" for a new concept called "Pay for Performance," a market-based incentive to pay farmers for documented improvements to water- and soil- quality as a result of conservation-focused agricultural practices.

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