WHO IS ECOSHIELD PARTNERS

ECOSHIELD PARTNERS is a small family run business seeking to assist America's farmers at the same time as improving our environment for generations to come. Our goal is to get every American farmer involved in the practice of growing cover crops. Although cover crops are not a new agricultural practice, the use of cover crops has gained popularity recently. Unfortunately, the number of acres planted to cover crops is still a very small percent of our

tillable ground. While the benefits of cover crops are widely known among American farmers the adoption of their use is limited due to the expense associated with their implementation. Additionally, as more and more farmers use cover crops the cost to plant them will inevitably increase. With margins being so tight for American Farmers and fewer and fewer farmers being profitable the use of cover crops will continue to be underutilized. With the help of our partners we can help increase the use of cover crops and be confident we are doing everything we can to reduce atmospheric carbon at the same time we improve our soil and water quality and increase wildlife habitat. Join our American Farmers in the pursuit of 50 million acres of cover crops.

WHAT ARE COVER CROPS

Cash crops like corn, soybean, wheat, rice, and cotton are responsible for most of the food and fiber consumed by humans and animals around the globe. These annual crops are usually

only growing on farm fields for

about half of the year. Growing

seasons are usually April through

September or September through

July, depending on the crop and

area of the country. After harvest,

the soil can lay bare. This can

lead to several problems:

Escape of Carbon into the atmosphere
Harmful wind and water erosion causes loss of nutrient-rich topsoil.
Weeds more easily invade bare soil requiring more use of chemical herbicides
Future crop yields tend to decline drastically.
Run-away soil can also be harmful to the environment causing algae blloms and dead zones in our rivers, lakes, and oceans
Eroded soil is costly to replace – in nature it can take thousands of years to replenish just one inch of topsoil.
Lack of plant cover can increase nutrient runoff, as well as movement of pesticides into adjacent areas.

No Cover Crop

Cover Crop

To reduce and eliminate these problems cover crops can be established and grown in the fall months, and remain during the winter. In the spring they are then killed and left on the surface as residue for conservation tillage or are incorporated into the soil. Cover crops are not grown for their financial benefit but rather the benefit of the ecosystem. Generally cover crops cost more than they provide in financial benefit. Currently the costs of including cover crops in a farm operation averages $37.00 per acre. However, these costs can vary depending on the type of crop being planted and the mode of planting. Unfortunately this added cost is simply not something many farmers can incur and remain profitable.

COVER CROPS SEQUESTER CARBON

The world’s soils hold a significant amount of carbon – more than double the amount in the atmosphere. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report finds that storing, or “sequestering,” carbon will be essential in lowering atmospheric carbon levels. Agriculture, forestry and other land use practices that store carbon in the ground offer an opportunity to mitigate climate change. Healthy soils with more organic matter can store carbon while providing agricultural and environmental benefits. A 12-year University of Illinois study showed that adding cover crops to all tillage treatments increased soil organic carbon stock gains by 30% for no-till, 10% for chisel plowed and 18% for moldboard-plowed plots

WHAT IS SOIL EROSION

Soil erosion is a gradual process that occurs when the impact of water or wind detaches and removes soil particles, causing the soil to deteriorate. Soil deterioration and low water quality due to erosion and surface runoff have become severe problems worldwide. When soil erosion is out of control the effects can be devastating to the local ecosystem often resulting in the abandonment of cultivation of the soil. Not only does soil erosion effect the area where the erosion occurs but it also is detrimental to distant ecosystems as well. Non-point pollution is is caused when rainfall or snowmelt, moving over and through the ground, picks up and carries natural and human-made pollutants, depositing them into lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal waters and ground waters. This results in decreased water quality and detrimental effects on a wide range of ecosystems. Fertilizers used by farmer, most often Nitrogen (N), and Phosphorus (P), are attached to soil particles which then contaminate the water supply. These fertilizers then increase plant and algae growth beyond what is considered healthy. Reducing erosion has been a goal of the agricultural industry for decades, unfortunately the cost of implementing erosion controlling practices is cost prohibitive.

Cropland in the US looses approximately 2.7 tons/acre/year due to water erosion.

Soil erosion is the source of 80% of the total P and 73% of the total N in US Waterways

Long term levels of excess nutrients can lead to algea growth creating dead zones, causing large fish kills.

Ingestion of toxic algea can cause headaches, nausea, and even seizures or liver failure

WHAT IS THE GULF OF MEXICO DEAD ZONE?

The Gulf of Mexico dead zone is an area of waters at the mouth of the Mississippi River that has an extremely low amount of oxygen. Its area varies in size, but can cover up to 6,000-7,000 square miles. The zone occurs between the inner and mid-continental shelf in the northern Gulf of Mexico, beginning at the Mississippi River delta and extending westward to the upper Texas coast.

WHAT CAUSES THE DEAD ZONE?

The dead zone is caused by nutrient enrichment from the Mississippi River, particularly nitrogen and phosphorous. Watersheds within the Mississippi River Basin drain much of the United States, from Montana to Pennsylvania and extending southward along the Mississippi River. Most of the nitrogen input comes from major farming states in the Mississippi River Valley, including Minnesota,

Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Nitrogen and phosphorous enter the river through upstream runoff of fertilizers, soil erosion, animal wastes, and sewage. In a natural system, these nutrients aren't significant factors in algae growth because they are depleted in the soil by plants. However, with anthropogenically increased nitrogen and phosphorus input, algae growth is no longer limited. Consequently, algal blooms develop, the food chain is altered, and dissolved oxygen in the area is depleted. The size of the dead zone fluctuates seasonally, as it is exacerbated by farming practices.

WHAT WE DO

ECOSHIELD PARTNERS provides a connection between our farmer clients and environmentally conscious individuals who desire to make the world a better place. We coordinate with actual farmers located throughout the United States who would like to implement cover crops into their farming operation but who are unable to afford to cover the entire costs of implementation. Together we can make the world a better and healthier place.

WHAT WILL YOU RECEIVE FOR YOUR PAYMENT

Every one of our partners will receive verified assurance that your partnership payment is used to implement the planting of cover crops. We require our farmer clients to implemented a minimum of one acre of cover crops for every $10.00 they receive in assistance. Our farmer clients provide the labor and additional expense to plant the required acres. In return for your partnership you will receive a certificate confirming the location and the number of acres planted with your assistance. Additionally we will provide each of our partners a picture of the cover crops planted with your assistance. Join with an American Farmer to make a difference. A difference you and future generations can be proud of. We can't continue to wait for someone else to make the change, join us today to make the World a healthier place.