Financial Solutions for Agricultural Resilience
How farmers and their financial partners can realize the full value of conservation investments
EDF works with farmers, companies and policymakers to build agricultural resilience by identifying and promoting financial incentives for conservation practice adoption.
Our farm finance analyses show how farmers — from corn and soy farmers in the Midwest to dairy farmers in the Northeast — realize returns on their investments in conservation.
We’ve found that the value of reduced costs and risk, increased yield resilience and diversified income streams extends far beyond the farm field — benefitting farmers and their financial partners, including agricultural lenders, insurers and landowners.
Our goal is to build private and public financial solutions to help farmers adopt resilient farming practices across the agricultural landscape, strengthening rural economies and communities.
Are you interested in staying informed about EDF’s agricultural finance work? Visit our sign-up page where you’ll receive the latest news on important research reports, engaging webinars, and more.
Learn how three farmers realized positive financial returns and created value for their business partners by adopting cover crops, no-till and precision agriculture practices.
Climate-resilient farming practices can help small farms in North Carolina profit in a changing climate, according to research by N.C. A&T Cooperative Extension and Environmental Defense Fund.
What’s New
Explore the latest resources on the financial value of agricultural conservation. Resources include EDF reports, blogs, case studies and more.
For questions, contact one of our experts.
Project
Financial impacts of regenerative agriculture on Native farms and ranches
EDF and IAC are leading a study to understand the financial, soil and animal health impacts of regenerative agriculture practices on Native farms and ranches.
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Blog
Modernizing agricultural insurance to strengthen farmers’ ability to adapt
Modernizing agricultural insurance in the U.S. is a crucial step toward protecting farmers’ financial stability and reducing the risks they…
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Blog
The Regenerative Agriculture Financing Program expands in its second year
The Regenerative Agriculture Finance Program, also known as RAF, was launched in January 2022 by Farmers Business Network in collaboration…
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Blog
A new resource hub empowers crop insurers and farmers to boost financial resilience to extreme weather
The last two production seasons have demonstrated the intensifying damage of extreme weather on America’s farms.
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Blog
CoBank’s new loan signals a new wave of sustainable finance in agriculture
Sustainability-linked loan signals that major financial institutions are looking to direct more financing toward their customers’ sustainability efforts in innovative…
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Blog
Financial impacts of cover crops in Minnesota and Wisconsin
In-depth cover crop financial data from 141 Minnesota and Wisconsin farms informs farmers’ cover crop decisions.
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Blog
Understanding the costs and returns of cover crops: What farmers need to know
As farmers grapple with severe weather conditions, it's crucial to support them in implementing climate-smart agriculture practices that can bolster…
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For finance and insurance professionals
Blog
Modernizing agricultural insurance to strengthen farmers’ ability to adapt
Blog
A new resource hub empowers crop insurers and farmers to boost financial resilience to extreme weather
Report
Financing dairy climate solutions: How the dairy value chain and financial sector can collaborate to reduce methane emissions from U.S. dairy
Blog
CoBank’s new loan signals a new wave of sustainable finance in agriculture
Report
Lender perceptions and actions on conservation agriculture
Blogs & Webinar
Breakthrough agricultural loan rewards farmers for environmental stewardship
Blog
How Farm Credit Canada uses partnerships to help farmers invest in sustainable practices
Guide
Managing climate change risks at agricultural finance institutions
Blog
Climate, agriculture, and finance: exploring connections at the Fed
Blog
Major banks are setting climate targets. What the agricultural finance sector needs to know.
Report
Banking on Soil Health: Farmer Interest in Transition Loan Products
Report
Financial Innovations to Accelerate Sustainable Agriculture: Blueprints for the Value Chain
Blog
Farm Credit CEOs discuss emerging opportunities to finance resilient agriculture
Report
How agricultural lenders can boost climate resilience
Blog
Banks take major step to turn climate commitments into action for global agriculture sector
Podcast
Listen to GARP’s Climate Risk Podcast on agriculture, forestry and land use
Blog
What agricultural lenders need to know about emerging carbon market opportunities
Blog
Study shows healthy soils protect corn yields and lower crop insurance payouts
Report
How catalytic capital can support sustainable agriculture
For farmers and advisers
Project
Financial impacts of regenerative agriculture on Native farms and ranches
Case Study
Achieving financial success with adaptive grazing management: a young rancher’s approach
Report
Financial impacts of cover crops in Minnesota and Wisconsin
Blog
PACE Crop Insurance helps an Illinois farmer improve conservation and save money
Report
Financial impacts of cover crops in Minnesota
Case Study
N.C. A&T, Environmental Defense Fund Partner on Farming Study
Report
Conservation’s impact on the farm bottom line
Blog
New program sheds light on cover crop financials with big data
Report
Practitioner’s guide to conducting farm budget analyses for conservation
Blog
Cargill and Soil Health Institute find farmer experience with soil health pays off. Here’s how.
Report
How conservation makes dairy farms more resilient
Report
How on-farm conservation can generate financial value
For policymakers
Factsheet
National Center for Conservation Economics: a policy proposal to provide farmers data on the financial impacts of conservation practices
Report
Extreme heat’s impacts on farm financial outcomes in Kansas
Blog
New analysis shows cover crops and no-till reduce crop insurance claims
Blog
3 takeaways from my testimony to Congress on climate-related financial risks to U.S. agriculture
Blog
What does the executive order on climate-related risk mean for agricultural finance?
Report
Innovative State-Led Efforts to Finance Agricultural Conservation
USDA Resource
USDA Looks to Conservation Finance to Deliver More Working Lands Conservation
Blog
How USDA can leverage a carbon bank for farmers, foresters and the climate
Our Experts
Maggie Monast
Senior Director of Climate-Smart Agriculture, Finance & Markets
Office: 919-881-2919
Email
Vincent Gauthier
Manager,
Climate-Smart Agriculture
Office: 919-881-2932
Email
Deja Curtis
Senior Communications Specialist, Climate-Smart Agriculture
Email
Mai Lan Hoang
Research Analyst, Climate-Smart Agriculture
Office: 206-581-7782
Email
Partnerships
