The keynote speaker at this year’s Soil Health Summit told participants they need to get involved and understand how the global economy affects innovation and the regulatory environment regarding agriculture. Sustainability is a key factor globally, and many of those efforts are tied to the soil. “We have a lot of very emergent technologies, disruptive technologies we’re working on, and …
Iowa Farmers Share Commitment to Soil Health
Being a part of the Soil Health Partnership was a natural decision for two Iowa farmers who have now been enrolled in the program for a number of years. “I wanted to learn more about my soils and we were just getting into cover crops, so it just fit very well into what I was already doing,” said northeastern Iowa …
NCGA Pleased with Soil Health Progress
More and more farmers are signing up to be a part of the Soil Health Partnership, a fact that was evident at the 2018 Soil Health Summit. The initial goal was to enroll 100 farmers over a five-year period. Organizers reached that goal after just three years and have now extended the program to at least 10 years based on …
First Soil Health Partnership Awards Presented
Four “Seeds of Change” awards were presented at the 4th Annual Soil Health Partnership Summit, Jan. 18-19 in Chicago. These first awards were developed to highlight those members of the Soil Health Partnership who go above and beyond to advocate for the partnership and for soil health throughout the year. And the winners are – from left to right in …
4th Soil Health Summit Underway in Chicago
The 2018 Soil Health Summit kicked off yesterday in Chicago and all of the proceedings can be found on the Soil Health Summit Blog! This is a brand new blog which is being used to feature photos, interviews and other media content from this annual event. You can subscribe to the Soil Health Summit Blog with this feed link. This …
Soil Health Partnership Grows Program
The Soil Health Partnership (SHP) is expanding its program thanks to a large investment made by the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) and matched by other donors. The FFAR, a nonprofit established in the 2014 Farm Bill, awarded a $9.4 million grant to SHP, the Soil Health Institute, and The Nature Conservancy. The grant is being matched by …
Would Your Soil Pass the Tighty Whitey Test?
The Illinois Corn Growers Association had a head turning display at the 2017 Farm Progress Show centered around soil health. The question is, would your soil pass the tighty whitey test? “Search #SoilYourUndies online and you will find how farmers from all over the U.S. and Canada are taking this approach to learning more about soil health. The better health …
Soil Health Institute Endorses 19 Soil Health Measurements
After three years of industry collaboration, the Soil Health Institute (SHI) has endorsed 19 national soil health measurements that will help answer the question “Just how healthy (or unhealthy) are the nation’s soils?” “We can’t really know the answer to that question until we have a set of common soil health measurements that scientists and farmers can compare and track …
NCGA Moves Forward with Farmer Success
It should be noted that the efforts of growers to create healthier soils and cleaner water are having an impact, which is why the National Corn Growers Association is taking that momentum forward. Last week the staff of the NCGA in Illinois, Colorado, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and Ohio met to learn more about the balance between …
4-H Challenges Students to Tackle Soil Health
Students in the midwest are tackling the challenges of healthy soils as part of the 2017 4-H Ag Innovators Experience (4-H AIE) activity. Sponsored by Monsanto, the two-part challenge was developed by The Ohio State University and focuses on soil composition, impacts of tillage, and new ways to farm. Teams of students in 4-H clubs, camps, after school programs, and enrichment …