Biodiversity
Value of Extra Plant Diversity
More farmers and landowners are now seeing the value of adding extra plant diversity to their farms, whether through a diversified crop rotation, cover crops, adding legumes or natives to pastures, using pollinator plantings or buffer strips, and other approaches. Soil health improves when there is more plant diversity along with year-round plant cover. Plant diversity also helps support beneficial insects, pollinators, songbirds, and other wildlife. Integration of livestock with cropping systems or managing livestock in a way that supports biodiverse pastures can also benefit overall farm biodiversity and resilience.