AGree Economic and Environmental Risk Coalition

As the manager of the AGree Economic and Environmental Risk Coalition (the Coalition), Meridian connects leaders across diverse sectors to build trust, develop creative solutions, and take legislative and regulatory action. Coalition members include: farmers; researchers; former U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) leadership; and representatives from farmer-based, environmental, and conservation NGOs.

The AGree Economic and Environmental Risk Coalition’s 2018 Farm Bill recommendations to improve agricultural data collection and the adoption of cover crops were included in the bill’s final text. The Meridian Implementation Fund, a separate 501(c)(4) organization, successfully advocated to introduce Coalition recommendations as stand-alone legislation and to eventually incorporate them in the Farm Bill. AGree has also made use of strategic communications, including advertising in ag media, op-ed placement, and social media amplification.

Since farm bill passage, the Coalition has worked to strengthen USDA guidance on cover crops, which are important for soil health and water quality. Previously, a farmer’s crop insurance coverage could be jeopardized by planting a cover crop, even though this practice can reduce risk. The Coalition met with USDA, advocated for support on Capitol Hill, and pushed for guidance that doesn’t disincentivize cover crop use. We are pleased that as of July 2019, USDA guidance has clarified this!