• Welcome!

    Thank you for participating in the Leading Harvest Farmland Management Standard Metrics Pilot. Your involvement in this project is a direct extension of the work you have already contributed, through focus groups, surveys, and convenings, to help shape what a meaningful, practical metrics standard looks like for farmland managers and asset managers. This pilot is the next step in that process. It moves from asking what metrics matter to actually testing whether those metrics can be collected, what the data looks like in practice, and where the gaps are. The findings will directly inform whether and how Leading Harvest incorporates a metrics module into the Farmland Management Standard.

  • Saving Your Work

    You can save and come back to this pilot at any point. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click "save". You will receive an email with a link to return.

  • Privacy Statement

    Data privacy is important to us: Participation in this pilot asks participants to report metric data to Leading Harvest and its consultancy partner. All data will be 1) held confidentially and 2) only be reported out in the aggregate, 3) without the disclosure or identification of participating entities. Important to note: If metrics are subsequently incorporated into the Leading Harvest Farmland Management Standard, Program Users would not be required to report data directly to Leading Harvest. Rather, third-party auditors would be seeking conformance evidence that management systems are in place to collect and manage this data, consistent with how the Farmland Management Standard operates today.

  • Background & Pilot Scope

    • Background 
    • Frameworks / Programs That Apply
    • What platforms or systems do you currently use to track farm management data?
    • Pilot Scope 
    • Primary Crop(s) or Commodity Type(s) in This Subset*

  • Metrics Data Collection: Soil Health

  • Soil Organic Matter (SOM)

  • What is the sampling method for SOM samples?
  • What lab analysis method was used for calculating SOM?
  • Was the same lab analysis method used consistently across all reported acreage?
  • What was the date of the most recent sample?
     - -
  • Do you have historical data for SOM prior to 2024?
  • Is SOM currently sampled as part of an existing agronomic or soil health program?
  • What is your primary barrier to more consistent SOM sampling, if any?
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  • Aggregate Stability

  • What is the sampling method for aggregate stability samples?
  • Was the same lab analysis method used consistently across all reported acreage?
  • What was the date of the most recent sample?
     - -
  • Do you have historical data for aggregate stability prior to 2024?
  • Is aggregate stability currently sampled as part of an existing agronomic or soil health program?
  • What is your primary barrier to more consistent aggregate stability sampling, if any?
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  • Nutrient Use Efficiency- Nitrogen

    Total nitrogen removed in crop harvest ÷ Total nitrogen applied as inputs. A ratio below 1.0 indicates more N was applied than removed. A ratio above 1.0 indicates more N was removed than applied.
  • What nitrogen input sources were included in that calculation? (select all that apply)
  • If organic inputs (like manure or legumes) were used in the calculation, how was N contribution estimated?
  • What was the source used for yield in the calculation?
  • What was the source for estimating crop removal coefficient for the calculation?
  • Is NUE already calculated as part of existing operations, or was it calculated new for the pilot?
  • For systems with multiple crops included in the pilot acreage, is the breakdown of NUE available by crop type?
  • Do you have nitrogen application records?
  • Do you have yield records?
  • Are there data gaps that exist for getting data needed to calculate NUE?
  • If NUE data currently used to inform nitrogen application decisions?
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  • Metrics Data Collection: Biodiversity

  • Crop & Rotation Diversity Index

    Report on the 3-year rotation window: 2023, 2024, and 2025. An intentionally planted species includes any cash crop, cover crop (each species in a mixture counted individually), companion crop, or nurse crop. Variety-level distinctions within a single species do not count as separate species.
  • Do you have rotation or species planting records available for your pilot subset covering 2023–2025?*
  • Are cover crops included in the species list?
  • Are nurse or companion crops included in the species list?
  • Is a species list or rotational record currently maintained as part of existing farm management records?
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  • Habitat Extent and Quality

  • Do you have habitat and edge of field data available for your pilot subset?*
  • What habitat categories are present in the pilot subset acreage? (Select all that apply)
  • How was acreage determined? (select all that apply)
  • Are these habitat areas actively managed or passively present?
  • Is any habitat acreage enrolled in a formal conservation program?
  • Is habitat acreage tracked in current reporting or management systems, or compiled new for pilot?
  • Do you currently use GIS or mapping tools to track habitat features?
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  • IPM and Beneficial Insect Management

  • Are IPM being utilized or beneficial pest populations being actively managed on the pilot subset?*
  • Do you have beneficial or pest insect monitoring data?
  • If yes, what is the monitoring method? (select all that apply)
  • During the growing season, what is the monitoring frequency?
  • Are monitoring results quantitative or qualitative?
  • Do you currently monitor beneficial insects separately from pest monitoring?
  • Are biological control inputs used?
  • Is IPM acreage currently tracked for pilot subset, or was it estimated for the pilot?
  • What do you consider barriers to more formal beneficial/pest monitoring?
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  • Metrics Data Collection: Water

  • Irrigation Efficiency

  • Does the pilot subset include any irrigated acres?*
  • Irrigation efficiency calculation used:
  • Data source for water application records
  • What is the primary irrigation system type?
  • What was the source used for yield in the calculation? (if yield-normalized calculation used)
  • If pilot acreage falls under regulatory compliance program, which program does it fall under?
  • How is irrigation scheduling informed?
  • Is irrigation efficiency currently tracked for pilot subset in existing management, or was it estimated for the pilot?
  • What are the primary barriers to more precise irrigation efficiency tracking?
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  • Groundwater Levels

  • What is the primary water source for your pilot subset acreage?*
  • Data source for water application records
  • Is withdrawal volume metered directly or estimated?
  • Do you have water table depth data for your managed land?
  • Date of most recent water table depth measurement
     - -
  • Does a historical baseline exist for water table depth?
  • Do you currently monitor water table depth?
  • Has water table depth changed noticeably over the past 3-5 years?
  • What is the primary reason groundwater is not monitored, if applicable
  • Are you currently in or adjacent to a regulated groundwater basin or equivalent?
  • Is groundwater withdrawal currently tracked for pilot subset in existing management, or was it estimated for the pilot?
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  • Nutrient or Sediment Load

  • Do you have nutrient or sediment load data (measured or modeled) for your pilot subset?*
  • Rows
  • Rows
  • What was the sampling location of water samples?
  • What is the sampling method?
  • What is the sampling frequency?
  • Do you implement any edge-of-field or other conservation practices specifically for water quality?
  • What is the primary barrier for collecting water quality data from this pilot subset?
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  • Metrics Data Collection: Climate

  • GHG Emissions — Carbon Intensity

  • MRV Tool, Platform or Calculation Method Used
  • Is the same MRV tool or calculation method used consistently across all reported acreage?
  • Proportion of inputs used in MRV or calculation that were primary data vs. tool default values
  • Are you currently calculating carbon intensity as part of existing reporting obligations or voluntary programs?
  • What do you consider your primary barrier to GHG reporting?
  • Has carbon intensity data informed any on-farm or portfolio-level management decisions?
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  • Soil Carbon / Carbon Sequestration

  • Do you have soil carbon data available for your pilot subset?*
  • Soil carbon reporting format
  • Was this value derived from a direct SOC measurement, or conversion from SOM?
  • Lab analysis method or modeled source
  • What was the date of the most recent sample?
     - -
  • Do you have historical data for SOC prior to 2024?
  • Is soil carbon currently tracked as part of existing reporting obligations or voluntary programs?
  • What is your primary barrier to more consistent SOC sampling, if any?
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  • Land Use Change

  • If yes, what type of conversion occurred?
  • Is land use change currently tracked in existing reporting systems for pilot acreage?
  • Do you currently have GIS capacity to detect land use change from satellite or aerial imagery?
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  • Metrics Data Collection: Social

  • Safety Training Completion and Recordable Incident Tracking

    Farm-level labor data is important for this standard. Report what you have access to and document the scope clearly.
  • Reporting scope for this metric:
  • Which safety training options are you able to complete?
  • Is training conducted in-house or by a third party?
  • What types of incidents are tracked?
  • Is safety training completion tracked in existing HR or compliance systems?
  • For tenant-operated systems, do you have visibility into safety training and incident data?
  • What is the primary barrier to more comprehensive safety tracking across pilot acreage/operations?
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  • Agricultural Management Retention Rate

    In scope: permanent full-time farm managers, agronomists, field supervisors, operations managers, and sustainability managers with direct farm management responsibilities. Excluded: seasonal workers, H-2A or PALM scheme workers, independent contractors, corporate/financial/administrative staff
  • Are you able to report either of the following metrics related to agricultural management retention rate:
  • Option 1: Data source for that tenure information:
  • Option 2: Data source for that tenure information:
  • For tenant operated acreage, do you track farm management tenure?
  • For tenant operated acreage, what is the approximate average length of current management relationship on those acres?
  • Is management tenure or retention currently tracked in existing HR or portfolio management systems?
  • What is the primary barrier to more formal retention tracking for the pilot acreage?
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  • Community Engagement Activities Annually

    This reporting metric can be a combination of overall company activities, along with specific involvement in the communities most relevant to pilot acreage. Active participation is the threshold across all four categories. Passive association (receiving newsletters, informal affiliations, or attending a conference without an active role) does not qualify. Report on calendar year 2024 and/or 2025.
  • Are you able to report any of the following metrics related to annual community engagement activities:
  • Category 2: Did any events involve engagement with indigenous communities?
  • Category 3: How were volunteer hours captured?
  • Category 3: Is volunteering part of a formal organizational program or informally practiced?
  • Is community engagement tracked in existing CSR, stakeholder or management systems?
  • What is your primary barrier to more comprehensive community engagement tracking?
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  • Section 3: Pilot Feedback

  • How long did it take to compile the data and complete Part 1 and Part 2?*

  • Soil Metrics

  • Soil Organic Matter: Was data available for SOM for your pilot acreage?*
  • Aggregate Stability: Was data available for aggregate stability for your pilot acreage?*
  • Nitrogen Use Efficiency: Was data available for NUE for your pilot acreage?*

  • Biodiversity Metrics

  • Crop and rotational diversity: Was data available for crop & rotational diversity for your pilot acreage?*
  • Habitat Extent and Quality: Was data available for habitat extent and quality for your pilot acreage?*
  • IPM and Beneficial Insect Management : Was data available for IPM and beneficial insect management for your pilot acreage?*

  • Water Metrics

  • Irrigation Efficiency: Was data available for irrigation efficiency for your pilot acreage?*
  • Groundwater levels: Was data available for groundwater levels for your pilot acreage?*
  • Nutrient or Sediment Load: Was data available for nutrient or sediment load for your pilot acreage?*

  • Climate Metrics

  • GHG Emissions — Carbon Intensity: Was data available for carbon intensity for your pilot acreage?*
  • Soil Carbon / Carbon Sequestration: Was data available for SOC for your pilot acreage?*
  • Land Use Change: Was data available for land use change for your pilot acreage?*

  • Social Metrics

  • Safety Training and Incident Tracking: Was data available for safety training and incident tracking for your pilot acreage?*
  • Do you have preference for one of the safety training and incident tracking metric options?*
  • Agricultural Management Retention Rate: Was data available for agricultural management retention rate for your pilot acreage?*
  • Do you have preference for one of the agricultural management retention rate metric options?*
  • Community Engagement Activities: Was data available for community engagement activities for your pilot acreage?*
  • Do you have preference for one of the community engagement metric category options?*
  • Should be Empty: