03Jun/19

Understanding Farmers, Educators, and Agency Staff’s Perceptions of Soil Health

June 3, 2019Soil Healthbarriers to adoption, perceptions, resource needs, soil healthAnne Nardi

Over the past decade, there has been significant research aiming to better understand the biophysical processes and indicators of soil health. Significantly less research however, has been dedicated to understanding people’s perceptions surrounding soil health. To help address this research gap, the Soil Health Nexus team conducted a survey to better understand how different audiences define soil health, growers’ perceived barriers to adopting soil health practices and resource needs for teaching soil health.

07Apr/19

Join us at “How to Teach Soil Health” Field Days

April 7, 2019Manure, Soil HealthLeslie Johnson

By the end of the program, participants will: 1) know how the Soil Health Nexus defines soil health, 2) be able to conduct demonstrations that show effects of soil health practices, and 3) be able to make research-based recommendations that promote soil health and are economical, based on field assessments and current management practices.

25Mar/19

Soil Health Not Just a Trending Topic

March 25, 2019Soil Healthagregates, agriculture, crops, erosion, farmers, farming, soil health, soil organic matter, soil tilth, soilsLeslie Johnson

Many of us take the soil we stand on for granted, including myself. I mean, it’s everywhere – especially on my carpet with 2 boys in my house. However, without soil, we can’t grow crops. Farmers know that soil is a critical part of farming, and making sure that soil can continue to grow crops for many years to come is at the forefront of every farmer’s mind – sometimes without even realizing it.

28Feb/19

Soil Health Nexus debuts new soil health resource

February 28, 2019Manure, Soil Healthon-farm research, toolboxAnne Nardi

The Soil Health Nexus team is making it easier than ever to access valuable soil health information through their newly released Soil Health Toolbox. To date, the team has released resources on conducting on-farm-research that incorporates soil health, and is working on resources on 1) how soil health impacts water quality and flow through the landscape, and 2) understanding and measuring soil’s physical, chemical and biological properties.

01Feb/19

Soil Health Events Coming Soon!

February 1, 2019Soil Healthagriculture, cover crops, crops, farmers, farming, nebraska, organic matter, science, soil, soil amendments, soil health, soil organic matter, soil tilth, soils, state of the scienceLeslie Johnson

Soil health conferences in South Dakota and Nebraska will take place on February 14, 2019.

04Jan/19

Getting to the Science of Soil Health: USDA Releases Standard Indicators and Laboratory Procedures to Assess Soil Health

January 4, 2019ManureARS, indicators, NRCS, soil health indicators, soil health measurements, standard methods, state of the science, USDA NRCS, webinarPaul Gross

The enthusiasm for the soil health principles in some cases has gotten ahead of the science behind them. To address this, NRCS and the Agricultural Research Services (ARS) lead a diverse group of technical experts in selecting methods to assess six standard soil health indicators, which focus on key physical and biological process that must function well in healthy soils. The document titled “Recommended Soil Health Indicators and Associated Laboratory Procedures”, Technical Note No. 450 (PDF) was developed by a group of experts and provides information getting us closer to understanding the science behind soil health and how it is best measured.

15Nov/18

Time to Assess and Take Stock of Your Soil Health

November 15, 2018Soil Healthagregates, conferences, cover crops, discussions, farmers, farming, science, soilMahdi Al-Kaisi

As the season approaches its conclusion and harvest conditions are most challenging, there are a few things worth remembering to protect and sustain soil health. Consider attending the 2019 Soil Health Conference held on February 4-5.

01Nov/18

Building Soil Organic Matter Takes Time

November 1, 2018Manure, Soil Healthbuilding organic matter, organic matterTodd Whitney

Our “instant” culture gravitates to testimonials about how to rapidly increase soil organic matter by 1% within 1 to 3 years. Conversations with lenders and landlords regarding rewards on manure applications and multi-species cover crops investments would likely be easier if financial rewards or measured soil physical properties came quickly.

28Sep/18

Maintaining soil fertility is important for soil health

September 28, 2018Manureagriculture, crops, farming, fertility, nutrients, phosphorus, research, soil, soil amendments, soil health, soils, soybeans, state of the scienceFrancisco Arriaga

Maintaining soil fertility is important not only for profitable crop production, but also soil health. In a long-term P and K fertility trial, we can see that there is much greater residue cover in plots that have received adequate potash applications over time compared to where no K was applied. Application of P had minimal to no effect on residue cover.

02Sep/18

Stan Boltz demonstrating infiltration with jars of soil

Demonstrations Teach Soil Health Comparisons

September 2, 2018Soil Healthaggregates, demonstrations, erosion, extension, infiltration, runoff, soil aggregates, soil health demonstrations, soil health tools, tools, water quality, wind erosionLeslie Johnson

Have you ever wondered how to demonstrate differences in the health of soils? At a recent meeting of the Soil Health Nexus team, Stan Boltz of the South Dakota Natural Resources Conservation Service shared tips and tricks he uses when demonstrating soil health principles to producers and other farm advisors.