Elizabethtown Farmer Shares Conservation Tips at National Cover Crop Summit

Jim Hershey, a Leopold Conservation Award recipient, discusses his latest sustainable farming practices.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 6:43am

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A photorealistic studio still life featuring a collection of organic farming tools and materials, including work gloves, cover crop seeds, and a small shovel, arranged elegantly on a clean, monochromatic background and dramatically lit to conceptually represent sustainable agriculture.A showcase of the tools and materials that enable sustainable farming practices like cover cropping, which are highlighted at the annual National Cover Crop Summit.Elizabethtown Today

Jim Hershey, a Pennsylvania farmer and Leopold Conservation Award recipient, recently spoke at the National Cover Crop Summit, sharing his latest tips and tricks for sustainable agriculture practices on his Elizabethtown farm. The annual summit brings together farmers, agronomists, and industry leaders to discuss innovative cover cropping techniques and other conservation-minded approaches to modern farming.

Why it matters

Cover cropping is a key strategy for improving soil health, reducing erosion, and sequestering carbon on working farmlands. As more growers adopt these practices, events like the National Cover Crop Summit provide a valuable platform for sharing best practices and inspiring wider adoption of sustainable agriculture.

The details

During his presentation, Hershey highlighted several of the conservation methods he has implemented on his own operation, including diverse cover crop rotations, no-till planting, and integrated livestock grazing. These techniques have helped improve the fertility and water-holding capacity of his soils while also reducing input costs and enhancing biodiversity on his farm.

  • The National Cover Crop Summit took place on April 18, 2026.

The players

Jim Hershey

A Pennsylvania farmer and recipient of the Leopold Conservation Award, which recognizes landowners who inspire others with their dedication to land, water and wildlife habitat management on private, working land.

Martin-Till

The sponsor of the Conservation Ag Update podcast, which featured Hershey's presentation from the National Cover Crop Summit.

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What they’re saying

“On this episode of Conservation Ag Update, brought to you by Martin-Till, Leopold Conservation Award recipient Jim Hershey shares some of his latest conservation tips and tricks from his Elizabethtown, Pa., farm.”

— No-Till Farmer, Publication

The takeaway

As more farmers seek to adopt sustainable practices, events like the National Cover Crop Summit provide a valuable platform for sharing innovative techniques and inspiring wider adoption of conservation agriculture across the industry.