“This is the most beautiful place on earth.”

There are many such places, however, our unique Western landscapes, steeped in ruggedness and history, have long inspired writers, outdoorsmen, farmers and stewards of the land, alike. As Edward Abbey said, “I stand for what I stand on.”

The frontiersman of 100 years ago who journeyed to the West saw an infinite expanse, a chaotic force to be tamed. But as farming has advanced from mule-drawn plows to GPS-guided precision, today’s frontiersman have traded the pursuit of conquest for that of stewardship. Modern farmers recognize the greatest feat of the next hundred years won’t be finding ways to break the land, but ensuring it never breaks.

Conservation in agriculture is often synonymized with the Soil Conservation Service (SCS), established in 1935, now called the Natural Resources and Conservation Service (NRCS), out of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The agency was born out of the historic Dust Bowl, implemented to protect and conserve natural resources, particularly soil and water, and continues to support farmers in their conservation efforts to this day. Western Growers members also work alongside NGO partners to conserve natural resources, protect farmland from development and facilitate programs to champion farmers to continue to be the best stewards of the land. A few of our key partners include:

• American Farmland Trust (AFT): Known for their “No Farms, No Food” mission, AFT focuses specifically on keeping working lands in production.
• The Nature Conservancy (TNC): TNC works to protect water quality and biodiversity, often partnering with producers on large-scale grazing or water-rights projects.
• Trust for Public Land (TPL): TPL is a leader in creating conservation easements to ensure the land is kept open and undeveloped.
• California Rangeland Trust (CRT): A rancher-led organization that has protected hundreds of thousands of acres of open space while keeping cattle on the land.
• Pollinator Partnership (P2): Protecting the health of pollinating animals, including bees and butterflies, and their ecosystems through the combination of science-based conservation, large-scale habitat restoration, public education and global policy collaboration.
• California Marine Sanctuary Foundation (CMSF): Protecting and restoring coastal and ocean ecosystems throughout California by implementing science-based, practical solutions.
• CDFA Health Soils Program (HSP): Supporting farmers and ranchers to incorporate new sustainable agricultural practices into their farming systems.
• USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS): The primary vehicle for federal public funding, with several programs that support on-farm improvements, including:
  • Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP): Provides financial and technical assistance to address natural resource concerns, such as improving water quality or reducing soil erosion.
  • Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP): Designed for farmers already implementing conservation practices looking to maintain their conservation efforts.

Regenerative for the Future

Western Growers members have long been leaders in agricultural conservation. One such project is the Braga Ranch Regenerative Farming Program, a collaborative initiative inspiring the future of conservation through regenerative agricultural practices. This project implements reduced tillage and permanent cover crops to improve soil health, sequester carbon and protect ocean ecosystems. Through a three-year California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) HSP, the project successfully demonstrated significant environmental benefits, including a 36.8 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions and a 57 percent decrease in tractor passes compared to traditional organic farming.

“At Braga Ranch, a hundred years of farming has taught us that long-term success begins with healthy soil,” said Jaylen Calabro, Sustainability Specialist at Braga Fresh. “Our regenerative certification and Healthy Soils Project with the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation put that belief into action. We’re seeing stronger root systems, better water movement through the soil, less disturbance in the field and soils that are storing more carbon. Early results are encouraging, and they show that when large-scale farmers take a conservation-focused approach, we build resilience, improve efficiency and care for the planet while feeding people.”

“Conservation in agriculture, specifically in the Salinas Valley, has changed immensely over the last 100 years,” said Taylor van Rossum, Agriculture Water Quality Program Coordinator at CMSF. “In the 1920s, the region saw a huge expansion of lettuce and other row crops, leading to a rapid increase in irrigation. As agriculture and water usage grew throughout the years, so did water quality impairment issues. For the past 30 years, the California Marine Sanctuary Foundation’s Water Quality Protection Program has worked closely with growers in the Salinas Valley to implement voluntary measures that improve water quality and protect the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. We continue to work with farmers today to improve ocean health by reducing pollutants entering coastal waterways and sequestering greenhouse gases. Our Reduced Tillage project with Braga Ranch proves that small changes in working land management can greatly impact soil health, local watersheds and coastal waters. We are proud to work with companies like Braga Ranch, who are scaling up regenerative practices and leading the way for growers in the Salinas Valley to adopt healthy soils practices that protect both people and the planet.”

Protecting Nature for the Future

P2 programs work in collaboration with farmers to protect pollinators, their habitats and agricultural productivity. Through their Bee Friendly Farming (BFF) initiative, a certification program that integrates science-based conservation directly into working lands, farmers can implement essential habitat features, including diverse floral strips, nesting sites and integrated pest management (IPM) strategies to support honey bees and native pollinators. In collaboration with California almond growers, P2 integrates conservation into commercial farming by supporting growers to establish and maintain flowering cover crops and permanent hedgerows, ensuring bees have diverse food sources and nesting habitats. These projects actively enhance crop yields and soil health, proving that productive agriculture and robust pollinator ecosystems can thrive together.

Through their USDA funded Farmer-to-Farmer Collaboration, California producers are provided with technical and financial support to implement practices, including IPM and prescribed grazing to protect soil and pollinators. “These collaborative efforts are the key to a resilient food system,” said Miles Dakin, Co- Director of Agricultural Programs at P2. “The conservation of pollinators is not just an environmental goal; it’s a vital component of sustainable agriculture. By fostering collaboration between land managers, scientists and the public, we can ensure that our landscapes remain productive and resilient for generations to come.”

This partnership model proves that conservation and high-yield agriculture can coexist. In California, the initiative has successfully scaled up through the California Pollinator Coalition, providing farmers with technical expertise and financial incentives to adopt integrated pest management. By bridging the gap between industry and ecology, P2 ensures that the “small but mighty” workers of the field are protected, securing the future of both the environment and the global food supply.

Preserving Farmland for the Future

An imminent threat to the sustainability of agriculture is the loss of farmland. Preserving farmland is essential to maintaining agricultural productivity and livelihoods. Further, open lands provide critical environmental services by recharging groundwater, sequestering carbon and protecting the biodiversity of local ecosystems. “Across the country, protecting working lands is essential to sustaining the landscapes that keep rural economies strong and maintain rural communities’ way of life,” said Jim Petterson, Vice President of the Mountain West Region at TPL. “By partnering with farming and ranching families to conserve their land while thoughtfully expanding public access, where appropriate, for recreation, we can ensure these lands continue to support agriculture, water resources and the outdoor traditions that define our nation.”

Across Arizona, Colorado and California, TPL has spearheaded numerous conservation efforts to safeguard working ranches, restore vital ecosystems and expand public recreational access. Among their many projects, TPL is working with Alphabet Farms in California’s Imperial Valley to establish agricultural conservation easements on five key ranches, preventing development and securing essential wildlife habitats. Guillermo Rodriguez, Vice President of the Pacific Region at TPL, said, “Protecting working lands and farmland not only keeps land in production vital to California’s economy—it’s also a critical strategy for safeguarding biodiversity and building climate resilience for many communities. By protecting and conserving working lands in ways that also provide responsible public access, we can bolster wildlife habitat, support natural landscapes and ensure these lands continue to benefit both ecosystems and the economy for generations to come.”

From restoring wetlands at Cienega Ranch and securing historic access at Cross F Ranch to preserving massive ecological corridors like Wind Wolves Preserve and Temescal Ranch, these initiatives reflect a unified strategy of partnering with landowners and key stakeholders to balance agricultural productivity with lasting environmental stewardship.

The Future of Conservation in Agriculture

“Over the last 100 years, agriculture has evolved tremendously as growers have adapted to new challenges, new technologies, changing expectations and increasing demand,” said Nikki Cossio, CEO at Measure to Improve. “But sustainability has always been a cornerstone of agriculture, driven by the need to maintain productivity, efficiency and long-term viability.”

She continued: “Today, the focus is not just on the work happening in the field, but also on making sure that work can be measured, documented and recognized across the supply chain. Projects like the Advancing Markets for Producers (AMP) grant project are important because they support growers directly while helping the industry document practices in a practical way. At Measure to Improve, our work focuses on helping growers and supply-chain partners turn farm-level work into credible information for reporting, supply-chain requests and expanding market opportunities.”

Josette Lewis, CEO of Sustainable Conservation, a non-profit that focuses on accelerating habitat restoration, improving water quality and groundwater management, as well as promoting sustainable agricultural practices, said, “Over the past century, agriculture has evolved from a primary focus on production to a growing recognition that long-term success depends on healthy soils, resilient water systems, and thriving ecosystems. In 2026, conservation is ingrained in the day-to-day decisions farmers make because the viability of their operations and the health of the land are inseparable.”

For many Western Growers members, the goal is simple: keep the land productive, healthy and protected for the next generation. As we celebrate 100 years of Western Growers supporting the fresh produce industry, we celebrate the foresight of the farmers and our conservation partners who recognized the importance of conserving and sustaining the next century of agriculture and our farming families.