Conservation Farming

Edge-of-field tools save nutrients for crops and keep them out of water supplies

Nearly 75 years ago, USDA soil scientist Charles E. Kellogg wrote: “Essentially, all life depends upon the soil.” Expressing a similar sentiment, President Franklin D. Roosevelt said: “The nation that destroys its soil destroys itself.”

Measurable improvements in soil health are showing up in side-by-side trials

You or your neighbors could be unknowingly planting Palmer amaranth anywhere Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) mixes are grown or pollinator mixes are established. Palmer amaranth seed in CRP planting mixes have been identified in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota and Ohio. It could be in CRP mixes in other states, too, just not identified yet.

New drainage designs keep water available when needed.

As farmers harvest their corn crop this year, they might want to look carefully to see what else—namely, marijuana--might be growing among their cornstalks.

Financial health is typically measured in dollars and cents, but that’s not the only standard Bryan Boll uses to evaluate his farm’s well-being. Accruing nutrient-rich soil is just as vital to the future of his operation as hard currency.

Plan well-drilling activities ahead of time to get irrigation water above ground. like the engine that powers your tractor, farmland drives your operation forward by providing the fuel your crops need to survive.

Assess all areas of your farming operation for energy efficiency to save energy and reduce costs.

You can’t always predict the weather; but you can put plans in place so you’re ready to plant in all conditions.