Soil Health
Thanks to technology, the days of choosing one farming system for your entire operation are gone.
The ability to switch between vertical tillage and no-till or strip-till can boost yield and help cope with weather
The Nutrient Navigator series focuses on efficient, environmentally sound management of nutrients. The goal is to provide practical knowledge that helps drive yields and profits higher.
Once you confirm the diagnosis, here’s how to handle iron problems
Iron, a vital element for crop production, is like some people—laced with contradictions.
Copper and molybdenum are easy to manage if you know how to identify deficiencies
Problems can be avoided, or easily fixed, once you understand this secondary nutrient.
From photosynthesis to building carbohydrates, manganese packs a punch
Zinc deficiency—which can easily cost 15 bu. to 20 bu. of corn per acre—is not something you can walk into a field and diagnose
Applying too little phosphate fertilizer can draw down your soil “bank account” and reduce yield, especially if the crop is stressed by weather or other factors.
It’s likely not the first nutrient you think about, but boron is critical to many plant functions
Let your soil and rotation tell you where to expect boron deficiencies
With his farm legacy always top of mind, third-generation Illinois corn and soybean grower realizes understanding and experience with conservation practices is key to preparing the farming operation for the future.
Tending to the fertilizer needs of a field means assessing the past, present and future in order to hit the profitable and environmentally sound bull’s-eye.
Urea can be used to replace part of your spring N needs, but there are risks to be aware of and evaluate before you decide to go with it. The same is true for a mono-crop, especially if you choose continuous corn.
Make sure each acre earns its spot on your farm roster.
How often do you soil test each of your fields?
“We grow rye, alfalfa and oats,” she says. “A lot of conventional farms in Iowa are corn on beans or even just corn on corn.” Andersen was determined to chart a different course by adding small grains to the mix.
Matt Brincks’ average yields have climbed 30 bushels in corn and 12 bushels in soybeans, while his nitrogen fertilizer use has dipped by half, along with a two-thirds drop in phosphorus and potassium.
Farmers in dry climates are taking a holistic approach to flipping their soil to make it healthier and that includes cover crops.
With sky-high fertilizer prices, you want to take a Goldilocks approach for applications — not too much, not too little but just right. How can you perfectly sync your rates to each field’s needs?
In a moisture deficit area like southwest Nebraska conservation and regenerative practices have long been a staple for farmers. That’s important especially in drought years like 2022.
Five ST series strip-till models are available in a variety of shanks, coulters and row spacings and TruSet Active offers enhanced depth control for tillage
If you are adding a new farm for next season, take a hard look at soil health. Missy Bauer, Farm Journal Field Agronomist, says start with the canvas rather than the paint.
For farmers trying to Flip their Soil and improve soil health one simple thing they can do this fall is plant cereal rye as a cover crop and plant soybeans into that stand.
Mitchell Hora, agronomist and CEO of Continuum Ag, advises farmers to implement soil health practices within the context of each field, which includes working with local experts and doing research.
Soil moistures supplies in North Dakota appear to be in decent shape as spring planting season nears.
As you wrap up harvest this year, the work isn’t quite over. With the end of one season, you beckon in a new one with the way you treat the soil and prepare it for spring planting just a few short months away.
Two farmers embrace conservation practices to build soil health, reduce GHG emissions and leave a lasting legacy. They’re discovering the potential of ag lands as some of Earth’s largest natural reservoirs of carbon.