January 14, 2025

THE WORLD LOST LORETTA LYNN YESTERDAY, OCTOBER 4TH. SHE WAS MORE THAN A COUNTRY MUSIC ICON, SHE WAS AN ALLY TO FARMERS AND RANCHERS AND A PROMOTER OF SOIL CONSERVATION, EVEN RECORDING PSA’S FOR THE NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE’ PREDECESSOR, THE SOIL CONSERVATION SERVICE, IN THE SUMMER OF 1980. SHE AND HER HUSBAND PLANTED 1,400 ACRES OF CORN AND SOY BEANS AND ROTATED THE CROPS TO REDUCE WEEDS. TO REDUCE EROSION, THEY SEEDED BY AIR A WINTER COVER CROP ON THE BEAN FIELD. THEY WERE SOLD ON NO-TILL FARMING, WHICH REDUCED EROSION BUT SAVED ENERGY AND TIME.

THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME LYNN HAD TAPED PUBLIC SERVICE SPOTS FOR ANY ORGANIZATION. AT THE TIME, SHE SELDOM DID COMMERCIALS FOR RADIO OR TELEVISION BECAUSE SHE SAID SHE WOULDN’T ADVERTISE ANYTHING SHE DIDN’T BELIEVE IN 100 PERCENT.

THE USDA REMINDS PEOPLE THAT AS WORLD POPULATION AND FOOD PRODUCTION DEMANDS RISE, KEEPING OUR SOIL HEALTHY AND PRODUCTIVE IS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE. THROUGH CONSERVATION PRACTICES, FARMERS ARE GAINING MORE CARBON, INCREASING WATER INFILTRATION, IMPROVING WILDLIFE AND POLLINATOR HABITAT—ALL WHILE HARVESTING BETTER PROFITS AND OFTEN BETTER YIELDS.