Across North America, voluntary producer organizations work hard to promote no-till systems and other conservation practices that provide economic benefits as well as environmental benefits to their regions. These organizations share similar missions and goals, encounter similar challenges and struggle with all too common problems.
Last December, 20 delegates representing 10 agriculture organizations and advisors gathered at Callaway Gardens in Georgia with the goal of forming a cohesive communication network. They came from as far away as Saskatchewan and Alberta, Canada and as close as Georgia itself. The organizations represent many different crops and specific challenges in their particular locales; however, everyone who attended shares a passion for no-till (or direct seed) and a systems approach to conservation agriculture. After two days of brainstorming, discussing and prioritizing, the delegates unanimously agreed that they are the Conservation Agriculture Systems Alliance (CASA).
Discussions centered around setting parameters for the organization and establishing a strong foundation for the network. Network activities will include facilitating communication among CASA members and partners, sharing information about and promoting consistent messages about conservation agriculture, endorsing adoption of “the ideal” conservation agriculture system and supporting member organizations. The group will not involve itself in actively lobbying, addressing local issues (except upon request by a member organization), acting as a funding source for member organizations or favoring a specific commodity.
“From my perspective, the advantages of belonging to CASA are twofold. First, CASA provides us with the opportunity to network and share information and resources with other conservation agriculture organizations. Second, CASA will work with the local member organizations to help raise the profile of conservation agriculture with farmers, policy-makers and the general public,” says Blair McClinton, executive manager of the Saskatchewan (Canada) Soil Conservation Association, one of the founding organizations of CASA.
Those organizations and advisors who are participating agree to share information, respond to questions from others quickly and with honesty, participate regularly in dialogue, alert others to relevant opportunities and events, and provide social and moral support.
The goal is that CASA will become a strong network of connected groups that exchange information, collaborate on events and projects, distribute common messages about the importance of conservation and speak with a strong voice about the need for support of conservation at all levels.
To learn more about CASA, click here.
