2026 Conservation Legacy Award Application

Are you using a reduced tillage practice? Do you grow cover crops? Have you identified ways to improve water quality or increase the efficiency of water or energy use on your farm? Are you integrating a new conservation technology on your farm? If you are using one of these practices or others, tell us about your accomplishments below and you could win a Conservation Legacy Award.

This annual award program recognizes U.S. soybean farmers who distinguish themselves through outstanding conservation practices, while remaining profitable. All U.S. soybean farmers are eligible to enter. Four regional winners and one national winner are selected.

Winners receive:

Expense paid trip for two to Commodity Classic, February 25-27, 2026, in San Antonio, TX
Recognition at the ASA Awards Celebration at Commodity Classic
A feature article on their farm promoted to agriculture media outlets
A video produced at their farm showcasing their unique conservation practices

Feel free to submit applications via this form until Sunday, August 31, 2025, at 11:59 pm CST. Please reach out to ASA staff members Shelby Basham (sbasham@soy.org, (815) 822-3670) or Michelle Hummel (mhummel@soy.org, (314) 754-1328) with any questions. Michelle or Shelby welcome the opportunity to visit with you about the award and application process. They can also send you a word document of this application if that is an easier way for you to complete the form. We hope you consider applying!

1. Applicant Information

Applicant's Name *This question is required.

First Name *This question is required.

Last Name *This question is required.

Farm Name *This question is required.

Street Address *This question is required.

City *This question is required.

State *This question is required.

Postal Code *This question is required.

Email Address *This question is required.

Preferred Phone *This question is required.

Alternate Phone

1. Number of Years Farming *This question is required. This question requires a valid number format.

3. Please provide list of partner names.

How did you hear about the Conservation Legacy Awards Program?

2. Farm Description

4. Total Farm Acres This question requires a valid number format.

5. What percent of acres do you own and what percent do you rent?

Fill in the number of acres for all major crops grown.

6. Soybean # of acres This question requires a valid number format.

7. Corn # of acres This question requires a valid number format.

8. Wheat # of acres This question requires a valid number format.

9. Cotton # of acres This question requires a valid number format.

10. List other crops and acres

11. What is your crop rotation order?

Fill in the number of livestock owned

12. Cattle This question requires a valid number format.

13. Hogs This question requires a valid number format.

14. Chickens

15. List other livestock and number owned

16. Describe the nature, farm history and production history of your farm operation.

17. Please explain any farming challenges that may be unique to your area or region. This may be related to the location of your operation, soil type, climate, topography or other unique characteristic.

3. Cropland Management

A. Soil Management

18. No-till (% of acres) This question requires a valid percent format.

19. Strip-till (% of acres) This question requires a valid percent format.

20. Minimum-till (% of acres) This question requires a valid percent format.

21. How often does each field get soil tested?

22. How often does each field get a manure application?

23. Do you use cover crops in your operation? If you do, please describe how they are incorporated. In your description, please explain on what percent of your acres you plant cover crops, the subsequent crop and benefits you may have discovered from using cover crops.

24. Do you use any conservation practices on your farm such as contour farming, strip cropping or terracing? Please describe which practice you use and explain why it is beneficial to use on your farm.

25. Please describe any future changes you plan to make to your operation in terms of tillage practice, cover crops, erosion control and soil health.

B. Water Management

26. Drainage tile on (% of acres) This question requires a valid percent format.

27. Buffer strips on (% of stream banks) This question requires a valid percent format.

28. Waterways on (% of fields) This question requires a valid percent format.

29. Please describe any nutrient (nitrate, phosphorus, etc.) reduction practices you are implementing on your farming operation to reduce concentrations in surface runoff and tile outlets. (i.e. cover crops, wetlands, drainage water management, bioreactors and saturated buffers.)

30. Describe any future changes you expect in your water management.

C. Input Management

31. Do you spray fields yourself? (% of acres)

32. Calibrate sprayer how often?

33. Use auto boom section control?

34. Variable rate of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium for planted crops (% of acres)

35. Apply inputs by grid or management zones (% of acres)

36. Use prescription seeding rates (% of acres)

37. Describe how you are practicing Integrated Pest Management on your operation and on what percent of fields. (i.e. scouting, crop and chemical pest control, pesticide rotations, etc.)

38. Describe your weed resistance management strategy. (For example, herbicide rotation, appliation changes, tillage changes, more scouting, etc.)

39. How do you currently make your crop input decision? What crop input management changes do you plan to make in the future?

4. Conservation, Environmental Management and Sustainability

40. Check which practices you employ to protect and enhance environmental quality.

Windbreak/Shelterbelts
Wildlife Food Plots
Wetland Protection/Enhancement
Hazardous Waste Management
Pollinator and/or Monarch habitat plots
Wind/solar energy

41. If you checked windbreak/shelterbelts, indicate # of acres.

42. If you checked wetland protection/enhancement, indicate # of acres. This question requires a valid number format.

43. Describe the practices on your farm that promote wildlife, energy conservation, and/or farm aesthetics.

44. Describe any sustainability efforts or practices that you currently implement on your operation. On what percent of total acres are these practices implemented?

5. Your Conservation Legacy

45. Describe your family farm conservation philosophy.

46. What are a few specific efforts you are taking to build solid relationships with your neighbors and/or landlord? (Examples may include traited crop alerts, buffer areas, spraying alerts, garden gifts, snow plowing, mowing, etc.)

47. Are you doing any activities to share a positive message about your conservation efforts and modern agriculture practices with consumers and others who do not have an agriculture background? (Examples may include social media activity, farm tours, media interviews, speaking engagements, community programs etc.)

48. List your memberships in any conservation groups or initiatives and list any conservation or agricultural honors or awards received.

6. Reference Letter

Please attach one external signed reference letter for your operation. The letter should help describe your farm practices, (For example, a letter from the local conservationist, extension agent, or someone who can speak to your farm stewardship practices.)

49. Reference Letter - Attach a File

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7. Photos

Attach 4 to 6 photos showing your farm and conservation efforts. If you cannot attach your photos because your files are too large, please email them to Shelby Basham at sbasham@soy.org with "CLA Application Photos" as the subject line.

50. Photo 1 - Attach a File

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51. Photo 2 - Attach a File

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52. Photo 3 - Attach a File

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53. Photo 4 - Attach a File

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54. Photo 5 - Attach a File

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55. Photo 6 - Attach a File

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