Nationwide Study on 30 U.S. Farms Shows Positive Economic Impact of Soil Health Management Systems |
On August 9, the Soil Health Institute (SHI) and NACD announced the results of a nationwide study that demonstrates how improving soil health can help farmers build resilience and improve profitability across a diversity of soil types, geographies, and cropping systems.
This multi-year and data-driven collaboration among SHI, NACD, and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) assessed the economics of soil health management systems (SHMS) for a range of crops including canola, chickpea, corn, cotton, dried bean, grain sorghum, millet, pea, peanut, rye, soybean, sunflower, walnut, and wheat. Some of the operations also raised dairy cows, beef cattle, chickens, and hogs. SHI and NACD conducted extensive interviews with 30 farmers with an established history of successful implementation of a wide range of SHMS, including cover crops, no-till, reduced till, strip till, planting green, rotational grazing, livestock integration, and manure incorporation across 20 states. Interviews were designed to learn about farmers’ experiences with adopting those systems and to evaluate their economics by comparing the costs and benefits before and after practice adoption.
Key findings include:
- Across 29 farms, SHMS increased net farm income by an average of $65/acre (1 organic farm was excluded due to high revenue from price premiums).
- On average, when implementing SHMS, it cost producers $14/acre less to grow corn, $7/acre less to grow soybean and $16/acre less to grow all other crops.
- Yield increases due to SHMS were reported for 42% of farms growing corn, 32% of farms growing soybean, and 35% of farms growing other crops.
- Farmers also reported additional benefits of adopting SHMS, such as decreased erosion and soil compaction, earlier access to fields in wet years, and increased resilience to extreme weather.
Individual farmer videos, 2-page economic fact sheets, and 1-page narratives have been created for each of the 30 farmers interviewed to support soil health education and outreach. Results from the wide range of farms, production systems, and geographies included in this national study indicate that many more farmers may also benefit economically from adopting SHMS, thereby expanding the associated on-farm and environmental benefits for farmers and society.
For more information about the economic case studies, including videos, producer narratives and fact sheets, please visit the Soil Health Institute website.
A special thanks to the Soil Health Champions who participated in this project!
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Keep Expanding Your Soil Health Library |
Crop Rotation on Organic Farms |
By Charles L. Mohler, Sue Ellen Johnson |
This manual provides an in-depth review of the applications of crop rotation-including improving soil quality and health, and managing pests, diseases, and weeds. Consulting with expert organic farmers, the authors share rotation strategies that can be applied under various field conditions and with a wide range of crops.
“Crop Rotation on Organic Farms” will be most applicable for the Northeastern United States and Eastern Canada but will also be useful in other parts of the U.S., Canada, and even Europe.
Published by the Natural Resource, Agriculture and Engineering Service (NRAES) and funded in part by SARE, the book includes instructions for making rotation planning maps and discusses the transition to organic farming. Other features include chapters about physical and biological processes in crop rotation, sample crop sequences, a planning procedure for rotating crops, and guidelines for intercropping.
For a free downloadable PDF version or to purchase a copy in print, please visit the SARE website.
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Building Soils for Better Crops (2021) |
By Fred Magdoff, Harold van Es |
The 4th edition of "Building Soils for Better Crops" is a one-of-a-kind, practical guide to ecological soil management. It provides step-by-step information on soil-improving practices as well as in-depth background—from what soil is to the importance of organic matter. It will show you how different physical, chemical and biological factors of the soil interconnect, and how management practices impact them to make your soil healthy and resilient or unhealthy and vulnerable to degradation.
Case studies of farmers from across the country provide inspiring examples of how soil—and whole farms—have been renewed through these techniques. A must-read for farmers, educators and students alike.
For a free downloadable PDF version or to purchase a copy in print, please visit the SARE website.
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The No-Till Organic Vegetable Farm
How to Start and Run a Profitable Market Garden That Builds Health in Soil, Crops, and Communities
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Successful no-till farming is not only possible, but it can be environmentally, socially, and economically enriching. No-till — a method of growing crops and providing pasture without disturbing the soil with tillage — has become a proven and enormously important alternative to standard farming practices.
In this comprehensive guide to no-till vegetable farming for aspiring and beginning farmers, author Daniel Mays — himself the owner and manager of a no-till farm in Maine — details the many benefits of this system, along with how to establish no-till beds, intensive crop planning, mulching strategies, techniques and timing of occultation and solarization, selection and timing of no-till cover crops, holistic approaches to weed management, and efficient methods of harvest and post-harvest handling.
The book presents innovative labor structures that replace reliance on expensive machinery, as well as streamlined planning and record-keeping tools, marketing strategies, and the value of community engagement through programs like CSA, food justice initiatives, and on-farm education. It shows farmers concerned about the future of their profession and the planet that, together, all of these elements form a cohesive system that works toward the health of the soil, the farm as a whole, the natural environment, and the people it feeds and employs.
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No-Till Intensive Vegetable Culture
Pesticide-Free Methods for Restoring Soil and Growing Nutrient-Rich, High-Yielding Crops
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From a veteran organic grower: a unique agricultural methodology that delivers higher yields, higher quality, and higher profitability--absolutely free of herbicides or pesticides
Farmers are rapidly adopting no-till techniques for the extensive benefits they provide by enhancing soil biological functions. The diverse, balanced soil environment in no-till beds and fields provides growing conditions for vibrantly healthy plants and bolsters crop and farm ecosystem resilience in the face of climate challenges and declining air and water quality.
In "No-Till Intensive Vegetable Culture," renowned grower Bryan O'Hara describes the multi-year process of transitioning his Connecticut vegetable farm to a no-till system. O'Hara uses absolutely no herbicides or other pesticides on his farm, and he asserts that this flexible, nature-friendly agricultural methodology is critical in maintaining the health of the soil and the farm ecosystem as well as for economic success. The methods developed at Tobacco Road Farm, now also in use on other farms in O'Hara's region, have shown stunning results in yields, quality, and profitability.
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The 2022 - 2023 Cover Crop Survey Results Are In |
As of August 2023, the results from the biennial Cover Crop Survey have been released and published. This survey was conducted by the Conservation Technology and Information Center (CTIC), the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE), and the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA). We've promoted this survey among the Soil Health Champions, so we hope you've been able to participate.
The results were published in a full report and also as a summary for quick reading. Both are available for free download on the SARE website.
One of the interesting finds in this survey report challenges the role of incentive payments in the adoption of cover crops. Here's what they discovered:
- 49% of the cover crop users participating in the survey reported receiving some sort of payment for cover crops in 2022
- 77.8% of cover crop non-users said incentive payments would be helpful
- However, 90.3% of the farmers who were receiving cover crop incentives reported that they would definitely or probably continue planting cover crops after the payments ended, while only 3.3% said they definitely or probably would drop cover crops at the end of the incentive program.
- In all, just 15.6% of cover crop users said receiving incentive payments was one of their goals for cover cropping.
These and other findings which were published in this report were based on the insight of nearly 800 producers in 49 states.
To explore this report, the summary, and a supplemental "Technical Bulletin: The Economics of Cover Crops (2019)", please visit the SARE website.
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30 Companion Planting Pairs for a Productive Garden |
The following information was provided by Linda Parker on the website gardeningsoul.com on April 18, 2023.
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The following companion plantings have been known for their symbiotic relationships that work together for a productive garden. Whether you're just a backyard, novice gardener or managing a community garden or larger scale production, these "partners" in your garden can make a positive impact on your operation - helping with nutrient uptake and lowering/eliminating the need for pesticides.
Here are the first 10 combinations on Linda's list:
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Peppers and Basil: The basil drives pests away from the peppers and also gives them a pleasant flavor.
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The Three Sisters - Beans, Corn, and Pumpkin: The beans climb on the corn, the corn fixes the nitrogen in the soil, while pumpkin serves as mulching plants to prevent pest attacks.
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Cucumbers and Nasturtiums: Nasturtiums aid in repelling beetles that attach cucumbers in the garden.
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Lettuce and Chives: The best way to control aphids is to pair these two together.
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Broccoli and Calendula: Calendula prevents aphids from getting attracted to the broccoli, but Calendula also attracts ladybugs which are natural enemies to aphids.
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Squash and Herbs: Flowering herbs attract insects that serve as pollinators to the squash plant, which enhances fruit production.
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Alyssum and Swiss Chard: Alyssum attracts hoverflies which serve as natural enemies to control aphids that may attack the garden.
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Tomatoes and Lettuce: Tomatoes provide shade for the lettuce which can help extend the growing season of the crops.
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Carrots and Radishes: Carrots and radishes can absorb their nutrients from different levels in the soils based on their tap roots. So they do not fight each other to get the nutrients for their growth.
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Eggplant and Lettuce: Lettuce performs well in a cool and shady environment, so it can be cultivated with eggplants to get its shade.
To capture the whole list, click here to read the complete article.
Do you have any companion plantings beyond this list, and if so, why do you use them? Send your answers and pictures of your garden to beth-mason@nacdnet.org.
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Please continue to email Beth Mason, NACD North Central Region Representative, any activities, events, news articles, and interviews so we can help share your message.
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This summer, NACD welcomed one new Soil Health Champion!
Lacy Cotter Vardeman, TX
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2023 Tribal NPS Webinar Training Series |
Early this past Spring, NACD was contacted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to help with finding a speaker from our Soil Health Champions Network who is from a tribal nation and could speak about agriculture and non-point source (NPS) pollution and the mitigation practices they implement on their ranch or farm. After sending out a couple of invitations to members who would fit the request, we immediately heard back from Grant Victor of Oklahoma. Always willing to share his experiences with others, Victor participated in this six-part outreach webinar series with a target audience of tribal landowners and land managers.
Thank you for your willingness to share, Grant!
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The Agrifood Safety Produce Bites Podcast was created by Michigan State University (MSU) Extension, and features Extension Educators, Produce Safety Technicians, fresh produce growers, and others in the industry to talk about anything and everything related to produce safety.
Some topics of discussion include how food safety practices are being implemented on farms, challenges growers are facing when it comes to food safety, and clarification on certain aspects of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule.
Stay tuned each month for a new episode with additional resources and a transcript available on their website.
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Podcast: Regenerative Ranching — For Environment AND Economics |
Regenerative practices have become a new area of focus in production agriculture. But what about our grazing lands — are we managing those lands for healthier soil, a healthier environment AND a healthier bottom line?
Hugh Aljoe and Jim Johnson with Noble Research Institute, an Oklahoma-based ranch and research entity operating on 14,000 acres, join Damian Mason in this podcast. They discuss the important role grazing land plays in American Ag and methods by which to improve soil, environment, and our balance sheet. With almost double the number of acres in grass and rangeland as there are in crops, proper management can boost beef production while more than offsetting the greenhouse gases released by all of production Agriculture.
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Manage Weeds on Your Farm Video Series |
In this series, experienced farmers from around the country talk about how they have found success controlling weeds by following ecological principles, and without resorting to the use of herbicides. To do so, they rely on a range of cultural and mechanical practices, including diverse crop rotations, well-timed cultivation and targeting weeds when they're at vulnerable growth stages. They are:
Additionally, there is a companion book available for free download as a PDF or you can purchase the book at the SARE website.
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Are you a member of our Facebook Group? If you are an NACD Soil Health Champion or the conservation district/ Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) employee who sponsors a Champion, be sure you connect with us on Facebook.
Share your conservation articles, your pictures, your updates and your events with us by connecting through Facebook! This is just another way to network with other Champions.
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Promote Your
Next Soil Health Event
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Do you have any upcoming soil health events? Are you looking for an upcoming soil health event to attend?
NACD has opened the events calendars for folks to post various soil health events whether they are local, state, national or even international.
Be sure to check out NACD’s events calendar to add your event today and look for future events to add to your calendar!
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