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…
Soil Health Applied – Mindsets for Success (6/6)
If you want any business to be successful over time, you have to be open to change. As life-long learners, this is where Brian and Jamie Johnson excel. As Jamie says, “We wanna make [our operation] the best we can. That’s what we’re after to find the best practices to move this farm into the next…
Soil Health Applied – Soil Health and Economics (5/6)
“The farm economy is hard,” says South Dakota soil health advocate Jamie Johnson. “It’s a hard life to make ends meet and [crop] diversity helps keep things even as far as income and expenses… you’re spreading out your risk, you’re spreading out your wealth, and you end up with a higher return.” Less risk? Additional…
Soil Health Applied – Planting Biostrip Covers (4/6)
“Several years ago we were planting our [cover crops] with the drill and we weren’t terribly happy with the placement. We knew there had to be a better way that would work for our operations.” That better way would turn out to be what the Johnsons call their “biostrip“. What is a biostrip? Watch the…
Soil Health Applied – Crop Diversity and Weed Suppression (3/6)
“On our farm we really don’t have a lot of problems with [weeds] and that can be attributed to using the small grains in [our] rotation and keeping it diverse.” Crop diversity is one of the greatest tools a farmer has at their disposal. Hear how Brian and Jamie Johnson continue to experience the benefits…
Soil Health Applied – Small Grain, Covers, & Economics (2/6)
As displayed in our last video, small grains don’t tend to be all that profitable… but Brian and Jamie Johnson swear by them. Find out how these farmers use small grains to increase their corn and soybean yields up to 15%!
Soil Health Applied w/ Brian and Jamie Johnson (1/6)
Brian and Jamie Johnson run an operation in Frankfort, South Dakota where corn-soybeans are the standard rotation. So why do the Johnsons like small grains in their rotation? How do they profit from the small grains both as a cash crop and as a yield booster to their corn and soybeans? Find out in the…