The FieldRise program, implemented as a result of the National Sustainable Soybean Initiative (NSSI), is a powerful, yet simple program that is easy for farmers. It is a system that documents success for farmers and empowers realistic continuous improvement through a sharing of data in a confidential way.
A diverse team of farm groups have joined the FieldRise Network as founding members. Members put their existing assessment data to work with farmers and farm customers. This data is proving powerful in sparking positive new food chain conversations. Additional Network memberships are under discussion as association boards meet, and promising conversations about launching Frontier assessment programs continue with farm groups and global supply chain corporations. Founding Network members have included:
- American Soybean Association
- The Cranberry Institute
- Illinois Soybean Association
- Wisconsin Soybean Association
- Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association
- Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association
- Midwest Food Processors Association
- Wisconsin Pork Producers Association
- Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin
The groups are among national commodity, direct-consumed crop and livestock associations who helped launch the FieldRise pilot program. The National Initiative for Sustainable Agriculture (NISA) began as a partnership between producer groups including the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board and the College of Agricultural & Life Sciences at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
FieldRise association members advise the company on stewardship strategy, industry trends, farm practice measurement and field-to-family communications outreach to enhance relationships between agriculture and the people it serves.
"We have 274,000 acres of soybeans in the Midwest enrolled including 700,000 acres of whole farms from Wisconsin and Illinois Soybean Boards as well as the United Soybean Board," says Dr. Shawn Conley.
Farmers are excited to gain more information.
"I want to see how I'm doing and make sure my information stays private," says Andy Wallendal, a soybean and corn farmer from Grand Marsh, Wis. "FieldRise's questionnaire was very easy to complete. They suggested how to make more money by adjusting practices to improve my sustainability results."
Look for more information on FieldRise at http://fieldrise.com/blog/page/2/
The Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board (WSMB) is a grassroots, farmer-led organization that leads efforts in soybean research and the expansion of soybean market opportunities. Established in 1983 as part of a Wisconsin-mandated checkoff, the board works every day to maximize the profitability of Wisconsin's 11,000 soybean growers. It builds soybean demand, creates new uses for soybeans, and focuses on soybean disease research. The Wisconsin Soybean Association (WSA) represents soybean farmer-members to positively impact regulatory and legislative issues on a local, state and national level.5.5.2015