The Illinois Corn Growers Association had a head turning display at the 2017 Farm Progress Show centered around soil health. The question is, would your soil pass the tighty whitey test? “Search #SoilYourUndies online and you will find how farmers from all over the U.S. and Canada are taking this approach to learning more about soil health. The better health … Read More
Soil Health Institute Endorses 19 Soil Health Measurements
After three years of industry collaboration, the Soil Health Institute (SHI) has endorsed 19 national soil health measurements that will help answer the question “Just how healthy (or unhealthy) are the nation’s soils?” “We can’t really know the answer to that question until we have a set of common soil health measurements that scientists and farmers can compare and track … Read More
NCGA Moves Forward with Farmer Success
It should be noted that the efforts of growers to create healthier soils and cleaner water are having an impact, which is why the National Corn Growers Association is taking that momentum forward. Last week the staff of the NCGA in Illinois, Colorado, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and Ohio met to learn more about the balance between … Read More
4-H Challenges Students to Tackle Soil Health
Students in the midwest are tackling the challenges of healthy soils as part of the 2017 4-H Ag Innovators Experience (4-H AIE) activity. Sponsored by Monsanto, the two-part challenge was developed by The Ohio State University and focuses on soil composition, impacts of tillage, and new ways to farm. Teams of students in 4-H clubs, camps, after school programs, and enrichment … Read More
Soil Health Institute Action Plan Unveiled
The Soil Health Institute (SHI) has unveiled the “Enriching Soil, Enhancing Life” Soil Health Action Plan during a National Press Club event. “This is an exciting time to be working in soil health,” said SHI president and CEO Wayne Honeycutt. “The action plan identifies critical goals and priorities. It helps identify key gaps in our knowledge and implementation…and we’ve identified specific … Read More
Soil Health Institute to Unveil National Plan
The Soil Health Institute (SHI), a leading resource for science-based soil health information, is unveiling a National Soil Health Action Plan they’ve been developing with the help of experts, including those in agriculture, for the past four years. The announcement will take place on May 18 at 9:00 a.m. a the First Amendment Lounge, National Press Club in Washington D.C. … Read More
Food, Conservation Groups Invest in Soil
Some major consumer and conservation organizations are working together to help create better soil health and enhance farm sustainability. A $2 million investment from General Mills will provide tools and resources for The Nature Conservancy, Soil Health Institute, and Soil Health Partnership to use in working with farmers, landowners, and supply chain leaders to create healthier soil while providing food … Read More
Veris Unveils On-the-Go Sensors at #NFMS17
Corn prices are not going up and land prices aren’t going down, so farmers need to be more efficient with what they have, said Tyler Lund of Veris Technologies. Farmers drive through the field during harvest and watch yields go up and down where the soil changes, but it takes software to better understand and make the most of those … Read More
Smartphone App Balances Conservation and Production
The LandPKS suite of mobile apps provides specific information about soils to anyone with a smartphone, says USDA soil scientist Jeff Herrick. LandPKS, (Land-Potential Knowledge System) is made up of the LandInfo and LandCover modules, including cloud computing, digital soil-mapping data, and the Global Positioning System (GPS) to give information about the sustainable potential and future climate of a piece … Read More
Des Moines Hosts 3rd Soil Health Summit
Nearly 200 scientists, industry leaders, environmentalists, water quality experts and farmers gathered in Des Moines last week for third annual summit of the Soil Health Partnership, a project to make agriculture more productive and sustainable through healthy soil. “Through this program, we have powerful analytics underway providing early indicators of tangible links between soil health and enhanced farm performance,” said … Read More