Researchers’ trials have shown that combining cover crops with no-till creates soil health benefits exceeding those created by no-till alone. The two practices combined with applications of manure create the greatest soil health benefits.

Wayne Fredericks, a strip-tiller from Osage, Iowa, has reduced his use of fertilizers by 30% on his 750-acre farm, thanks to strip-till and cover crops. Since the 1980s, Fredericks has collected soil data to measure soil health, and found that his soil organic matter has increased by 2.5% in 25 years. Fredericks will share how his cash crops have remained competitive while utilizing covers, how cover crops have helped reduce nitrates in the water on his farm, how he's built his farm up to 100% cover crop coverage, and more.

Jay Norton from the University of Wyoming discusses why depleted soil has more potential to be revived.

There has been a lot of buzz concerning the carbon credit market. While carbon is essential for all life, there is a balance between where the carbon is located and stored within the earth, oceans, and atmosphere. Read more in this article from The Hays Daily News (Hays, KS).

Aaron Lehman is a fifth generation grower from Iowa who has been using cover crops for 12 years on his 550-acre farm. Find out how cover crops have helped Lehman diversify his family farm, improve soil health, increasing soil organic matter, and more.

Longevity is a hallmark with an asparagus crop, and once the plants are in the soil they can keep producing for 20 years or more. Preparing for the perennial crop to remain productive for such a long stretch is imperative, and it all begins with increasing the organic matter in soil before the asparagus roots take hold. Read more in this article from Lancaster Farming.

There has been a lot of buzz concerning the carbon credit market. This article from University of Minnesota Extension discusses the importance of carbon and carbon markets, what they can offer producers in the Upper Midwest and what questions you should consider when investigating carbon credits.

There is renewed interest in paying farmers to sequester soil carbon by building soil organic matter (SOM) levels. Building soil carbon is dependent upon temperature, moisture, vegetation, tillage, soil texture, crop rotation, and microbial activity. Read more in this article from Ohio's Country Journal.

Concerns about the state of the Island's soil, and its impact on the agriculture industry, prompted the province to begin monitoring organic matter levels in soil in 1998. The study included 600 sites, with samples being taken, analyzed and recorded about once every three years. Read more in this article from the CBC.