Soil Health - Articles

[Podcast] Rick Clark on Transitioning from Soil Destruction to Regeneration

March 17, 2022 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Soil Health, Termination

This week’s podcast, brought to you by Montag Manufacturing, contributing editor Martha Mintz chats with Williamsport, Ind. grower Rick Clark about how he integrates cover crops in a seven-way crop rotation, how nutrients are cycling in his system, why he says weeds aren't always bad and more.

Study: Cover Crops Offset Water Use with Improved Soil Moisture Retention

March 14, 2022 | Posted in Soil Health

Source: University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources

New cover crop research from the University of California shows winter cover crops don't use a lot of moisture due to low evapotranspiration during winter months, soil surface shading and cooling, and improved soil aggregation, pore space and soil moisture retention.

Living Roots: Fighting Soil Compaction with Biology and Diversity

March 14, 2022 | Posted in Soil Health

Source: South Dakota Soil Health Coalition

A recent study by Anthony Bly of South Dakota State University found that no-till fields managed with diversified crop rotation, cover crops, and livestock integration had 57% porosity and an internal water movement rate of 4.7 inches per hour. Soil from conventionally tilled fields had 49% porosity and an internal water movement rate of only 0.8 inches per hour.

Cover Crops Reduce Water Nitrate Levels on Illinois Farm

March 10, 2022 | Posted in Soil Health, Economics

A sixth generation farmer, Jeff O'Connor is reaping the benefits of using cover crops a decade into the practice.

[Podcast] Minimizing Environmental Impacts of Farming with Healthy Soils

March 9, 2022 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Soil Health, Termination

This week’s podcast, sponsored by Montag Manufacturing, we chat with independent agriculture consultant Bill Stangel of Madison, Wis., who joins us to discuss some of the ways farmers can minimize environmental impacts by focusing on developing healthy soils.

Soil Carbon Initiative Launches Regen Ag Certification Program

March 8, 2022 | Posted in Soil Health

First-of-its kind regenerative agriculture standard announce newest program component, seeks the next 100 farmers to begin go-to-market pilots this spring.

Tips on Using Cover Crops After a Drought

March 7, 2022 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Soil Health, Termination

Source: South Dakota Soil Health Coalition

With dry conditions still covering much of the Great Plains and upper Midwest, many growers have turned to cover crops to improve the water use efficiency and improve water infiltration rates and water storage capacity on their land. But careful management is key, says the South Dakota Soil Health Coalition.

[Podcast] Adopting Covers with Site-Specific Management

March 2, 2022 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Soil Health, Termination

This week’s podcast, sponsored by Montag Manufacturing, features Steven Mirsky, a research ecologist with the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service. In 2020, he received the Arthur S. Fleming award for his outstanding achievements in applied science and engineering. Among his many accomplishments, he co-led the establishment of the Northeast Cover Crops Council and has been instrumental in developing the Cover Crop Decision Support Tool.

Fertilizing Crops and Reducing Nutrient Loss with Microbes

February 25, 2022 | Posted in Soil Health, Economics

Source: Science Daily

Bacteria engineered to excrete high concentrations of ammonia could help reduce the reliance on synthetic fertilizers and the nutrient loss associated with them, according to new research from Washington State University.