Indiana Farmers Speak At #SHPSummit16

Taylor TruckeyCover Crops, Nutrient Management, Soil, Soil Health Partnership, sustainability

Carrie Volmer-Sanders farms with her husband and parents in Northeast Indiana/Northwest Ohio, and they have implemented cover crops on their farm for about 5 years now. Sanders works for The Nature Conservancy which is where she first heard about the project. “There are a couple of goals being a part of this. Some include sharing the information with local farmers … Read More

The Economics of Cover Crops

Cindy ZimmermanCover Crops, Soil, Soil Health Partnership, sustainability

At the first Soil Health Summit last year, I talked with Purdue University agricultural economist Dr. Wally Tyner about the need to quantify the economic benefits for farmers of using cover crops. This year, Chuck talked with him again about where they are at with that initiative. “We’ve designed some new studies…to get statistically, economically valid comparisons on farm fields … Read More

SHP, Farm Foundation Share Common Goals

Taylor TruckeyCover Crops, Nutrient Management, Soil, Soil Health Partnership, sustainability

Farm Foundation is one of the supporting partners of the Soil Health Partnership (SHP). While at the Soil Health Summit late last week, Tim Brennan, Farm Foundation, shared why the being a part of the Partnership just makes sense for their organization. The Farm Foundation started the Soil Renaissance (with the Noble Foundation) a little over two years ago to … Read More

Soil Health Partnership Continues To Grow

Taylor Truckeyagronomy, Cover Crops, Soil, Soil Health Partnership, sustainability

Nick Goeser, Director of the Soil Health Partnership as well as Director of Soil Health and Sustainability for the NCGA, gives us an update on what to expect at the Soil Health Summit as well as future plans. “The Soil Health Summit is a number of different topics combined together. First we’re focusing on innovation, innovation in agriculture production. We’re … Read More

Soil Health Important To Demo Farmers

Taylor Truckeyagronomy, Cover Crops, Soil, Soil Health Partnership

The Soil Health Partnership (SHP) has a number of their demo farmers, the farmers who are implementing field size research trials over the next 5 years, at the Soil Health Summit this week. Hear from a few of them about their experiences so far in the program, and their hopes for what the next few years will bring. Gordon Smiley … Read More

National Organizations Support Soil Partnership

Taylor TruckeyCover Crops, CTIC, Soil, Soil Health Partnership, sustainability

Several national organizations are supporting the efforts of the Soil Health Partnership (SHP) and the research they are doing with farmers across the US. Jim Gulliford with the Soil and Water Conservation Society spoke about their involvement while at the Soil Health Summit in Indianapolis this past week. When asked about the value in supporting the SHP, Gulliford commented on … Read More

Soil Health Makes Financial Sense #SHPSummit16

Taylor TruckeyCover Crops, Monsanto, No Till, Nutrient Management, Soil, Soil Health Partnership

Monsanto has been a part of the conversation for the Soil Health Partnership since the beginning. Kevin Coffman, Market Development Lead in the Ag Sustainability Strategy division of Monsanto, elaborated on the plans of the Partnership with AgWired’s Chuck Zimmerman during last week’s Summit. Kevin Coffman, a member of the steering committee for the Soil Health Partnership, said the conversation … Read More

Soil Health Stewardship Program Benefits All

Taylor TruckeyCover Crops, No Till, Nutrient Management, Soil, Soil Health Partnership

While at the Soil Health Summit, David Brown, a farmer from Illinois, spoke with AgWired about his involvement in the Soil Health Partnership Stewardship Program. “We’re learning so much from it. When the opportunity presented itself, I thought ‘we have to do this’. It’s a learning opportunity for us and if you don’t learn, you’re standing still.” Brown is involved … Read More

#SHPSummit16 Values Field Research

Taylor TruckeyCover Crops, No Till, Nutrient Management, Soil, Soil Health Partnership

The Soil Health Partnership knows that further research is needed to show farmers the benefits of soil health. Dan Towery, Field Manager with the Soil Health Partnership in Indiana, spoke with Chuck Zimmerman at the Soil Health Summit this week in Indianapolis about the purpose of the Summit as well as the field research trials they are currently conducting. “We’re … Read More