Farming and conservation have always gone hand-in-hand for Jared Herbert, who grows corn and soybeans near Lake Park in Dickinson County.

In his 30-plus years of farming, Herbert has constantly searched for new and better methods to reduce soil erosion, trim nutrient loss from his fields, guard water quality in local streams and nearby Silver Lake, and improve wildlife habitat. And the Dickinson County Farm Bureau member has put conservation into action on his farm.

Herbert was an early adopter of no-till and...