DENVER, CO. (March 3, 2025) — A new industry collaboration announced at Commodity Classic is set to drive large-scale water conservation efforts across the agricultural landscape. The National Sorghum Producers (NSP), Ducks Unlimited (DU) and Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) have partnered to create an initiative aimed at improving resource efficiency while ensuring economic viability for producers.
The partnership takes a cross-functional approach to conservation, bringing together commodity groups, sustainability leaders and food industry stakeholders to support on-farm practices that enhance long-term water sustainability. The initiative seeks to provide incentives for conservation practices while strengthening rural communities.
“Sorghum has long been recognized as The Resource Conserving Crop®, thriving with less water while delivering strong economic benefits for farmers,” said NSP CEO Tim Lust. “This partnership expands upon work already being done with General Mills. It allows us to take that impact further by collaborating across industries to create meaningful, scalable solutions for water conservation. By working together, we can ensure that farmers have the tools and incentives to drive real change in water sustainability.”
Building on last year’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between NSP and DU, this partnership strengthens a shared commitment to sustainable water management, ensuring long-term benefits for both agriculture and waterfowl habitat.
“By collaborating with industry partners, we’re identifying new ways to leverage technology, policy, and incentives—helping more producers implement water-saving strategies that make a real difference,” said DU CEO Adam Putnam. “Sustainable agriculture isn’t just about crops—it’s about ecosystems. Healthy wetlands and working lands go hand in hand, recharging groundwater, reducing flooding, and strengthening biodiversity. The benefits reach beyond the farm gate, supporting rural communities dependent on stable water supplies and healthy landscapes.”
The collaboration underscores a shared vision for sustainability, recognizing that meaningful progress requires engagement across the entire agricultural supply chain.
“Dairy farmers have been caring for their animals and the land for generations, and water conservation is an important part of that, with the average dairy recycling water about four times for different uses on the farm,” says Hansel New, AVP of Sustainability Strategy and Programs at DFA. “Partnerships like this will build upon that foundation and allow our farm families to continue making progress on water resilience.”
As this partnership moves forward, the organizations involved remain committed to driving real-world solutions that protect water resources, enhance waterfowl habitats, support producers and strengthen rural economies.
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About National Sorghum Producers
National Sorghum Producers represents U.S. sorghum producers and serves as the voice of the sorghum industry coast to coast through legislative and regulatory representation and education. To learn more about NSP, visit www.sorghumgrowers.com.
About Ducks Unlimited
Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America’s continually disappearing wetlands, grasslands and other waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 19 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science, DU’s projects benefit waterfowl, wildlife and people in all 50 states. DU is growing its mission through a historic $3 billion Conservation For A Continent comprehensive campaign. Learn more at www.ducks.org.
About Dairy Farmers of America
Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) is a farmer-owned leading global dairy cooperative focusing on sustainability, innovation, community and the future of family dairies. While supporting and serving more than 10,000 farmer-owners, DFA manufactures nearly every form, function and flavor of high-quality nutritional dairy products, including fluid milk, cheese, butter, ice cream, dairy ingredients and more. These products connect our Cooperative’s family farms to family tables with national and regional brands, such as Alta Dena® Dairy, Meadow Gold® Dairy, Friendly’s®, Borden® Cheese, Plugrà® Premium Butter and Kemps®, to name a few. On a global scale, we work with some of the world’s leading food companies to develop ingredients that deliver the greatest source of nutrition to consumers around the world, while staying committed to social responsibility and ethical farming. For more information, please visit dfamilk.com.
