Diversity is one of the leading principles of the soil health movement. But can the affects of incorporating diversity into an operation be quantified? Research Microbiologist Dr. Mike Lehman (ARS) set out to find out in this 16 year field experiment… and man, are the numbers impressive!
Teaming Up with Mother Nature
There are many different farming tools and methods, but fundamentally, there are only two ways to farm – with Mother Nature or against her. Unfortunately, conventional agriculture has sided with the latter. Only in recent years has the idea of working alongside Mother Nature picked up momentum. One operation that’s been ahead of the curve…
Unpacking the Benefits of Soil Health w/ Steve Reimer: Increasing Available Moisture Availability (3/3)
We hear about soil health being a tool for things such as sustainability, reduced input costs, and more consistent yields… but how exactly do these benefits unfold? One way that is often overlooked is through reducing runoff and increasing soil moisture availability. As SD farmer Steve Reimer says, “As we started rotational grazing and no-till…
Unpacking the Benefits of Soil Health w/ Steve Reimer (1/3)
A farmer can do everything right and still not get the crops he worked for. If it doesn’t rain enough or if it rains too much, it’ll show up in his bottom line. If it gets too hot or too cold, he’ll feel the affects in his wallet. We can’t control the weather. Nobody knows this…
A Minute w/ Jeff Hemenway: Infiltration Test – Part 2 (5/6)
2:45 WATCH: In our last video, we showed the effects of management on infiltration. In this one, we dig a bit deeper and take a look at why that is plus how management changes the underlying structure of our soils!
A Minute w/ Jeff Hemenway: Infiltration Test – Part 1 (4/6)
Does management affect infiltration? In this video, Soil Health Specialist Jeff Hemenway tests the performance of one soil series under two different management practices!
A Brighter Future with Soil Health
“Sustainable” is a word we often overuse. Sure, it has plenty of appeal – a sustainable farming operation is good for the land, wildlife, and future generations. What often gets lost in the message, however, is the benefits of sustainability for the farmer himself in the here and now! The reality is farming “sustainably” does…
A Minute w/ Jeff Hemenway: Slake Test (3/6)
The difference between conventionally tilled and no-tilled soils often gets convoluted…. But not when it comes to the slake test!
A Minute w/ Jeff Hemenway: Soil Organic Matter and Structure (2/6)
Depending on management practices, the same soil series can function very differently. A South Dakota study recently set out to measure this affect and returned with some eye-popping numbers! Management practices from one side of the fence to the other resulted in a difference of 45 tons of organic matter as well as 150,000 gallons of water…
A Minute w/ Jeff Hemenway: Soil Properties (1/6)
South Dakota features a variety of soil types, from Mobridge, to Glenham, Kube and more. But regardless of what type of soil our land features, we play a crucial role in increasing or decreasing its quality. How exactly do management practices influence the properties of our soils? NRCS Soil Quality Specialist Jeff Hemenway has conducted…