soil

How Cover Crops Contribute to Soil Carbon Credits

With a soil carbon credit system, carbon becomes a valued commodity for growers to gain additional revenue.

November 16, 2022 | Posted in Soil Health

Farmers who use best practices to reduce carbon can be rewarded with soil carbon credits and earn additional income through carbon markets

[Video] Soil Sampling 101

October 4, 2021 | Posted in Soil Health

After harvest is a great time to conduct soil sampling. In this video, Fabian Fernandez, Soil Fertility Specialist with University of Minnesota Extension, demonstrates how to correctly take a soil sample from your field.

[Video] Carbon Sequestration Has Positive Impacts on Soil Health

June 15, 2021 | Posted in Seeding Practices

Research soil scientist Hal Collins with the USDA ARS explains how plants use photosynthesis to sequester carbon and why growers will need to store more carbon in the soil as organic matter.

Soil Sampling Time

September 15, 2020 | Posted in Soil Health

Source: Pontotoc Progress

September is a great time to take a soil sample. The soil sample can be submitted to the University Extension Service for analysis. Read more in this article from the Pontotoc Progress (Pontotoc, MS).

Improving Soil Health in Vegetable Production with Cover Crops

April 29, 2020 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Soil Health

Using cover crops is a way to protect the soil and mitigate soil loss, says Pennsylvania cover crop expert Steve Groff, and that includes in vegetable production. Groff also explains how vegetable production can be done with no-till, how bare soil can lead to soil-borne disease in vegetable crops, how soil health and plant health are linked, and more.

Using Soil Health Tests

October 16, 2019 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Soil Health

Pennsylvania cover crop expert Steve Groff says that in the past 5-10 years, soil health testing has grown in popularity, but they aren’t a silver bullet for detecting all soil health problems. In this podcast, learn about the different types of soil tests available, what they can measure and why each one is important.

From the Web

October 1, 2019 | Posted in Soil Health

Looking to learn more about building the soil? This podcast from the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture & Research Education program (SARE) breaks down the basics of soil.

Using Manure to Fertilize Cover Crops

September 24, 2019 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Soil Health

Timing, cover crop seeding rates and application methods are the keys to maximizing manure management for cover crops, according to Pennsylvania cover crop expert Steve Groff. Groff recommends that growers plant covers before applying manure and try to do both as early in the season as possible to get the most days with warm enough weather to help the cover crop stand get established. Applying manure to covers can be an efficient way to restore nitrogen in the soil.

Tips for Using Cover Crops in Heavy Clay Soils

September 17, 2019 | Posted in Seeding Practices, Soil Health

Pennsylvania cover crop expert Steve Groff shares key concepts for working with heavy clay soils, discusses why diversity of species is critical for this type of soil, and how cover crops and can be used in heavy clay soils for water management. Because heavy clay soils tend to hold moisture, they can produce outstanding yields, so understanding how to manage some of the biggest challenges this soil type can offer is of the utmost importance.