Diversifying US Midwest farming for stability and resilience

January 7, 2026

Dr. Bruno Basso, Mathieu Delandmeter, and colleagues used a high-resolution crop simulation model across 46 million hectares of the U.S. Midwest to show that diversifying crops and integrating livestock can improve farm efficiency, climate resilience, and environmental performance while maintaining or increasing profitability. Their analysis found that diverse rotations with cover crops and pasture-cattle systems boost yield stability, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase soil carbon sequestration, and enhance drought resistance, highlighting trade-offs but demonstrating clear gains in economic stability and ecosystem services over corn monoculture.

Read the entire news release at Eureka Alert and read the full journal article via Oxford Academic