Farmers realize the benefits of improving soil health on their farm. However, sometimes they just need help implementing some of the practices.
Mitchell Hora, agronomist and CEO of Continuum Ag, says farmers need to keep the principles of soil health in mind, which includes improving the microbiological activity and resilience of the soil by adopting what Mother Nature intended.
“We need to minimize soil disturbance, chemical, physical, keep armor on the soil, keep a living root as much as we can, get as much diversity into the system as possible, maybe integrate livestock back out on the land,” he says.
He says farmers need to approach soil health offensively instead of defensively.
“Cover crops and no-till have been branded wrong. They have been branded as defensive management tools, defense against erosion, defense against water quality problems, but really to actually make these systems work that cover crop is my offensive tool,” Hora says. “It’s my nutrient stabilizer, it’s my herbicide program, it’s my moisture management program, it’s my soil building program, it’s my resiliency program.
Most importantly, he says a farmer needs to implement soil health practices within the context of their farm. To ensure success, he recommends finding a good mentor, working with local experts and doing your research.
