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 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…
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…