3 Key Things Every Farmer Needs to Know About Soil Health Exactly what defines soil health? According to the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) soil health is “the continued capacity of soil to function as a vital living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and humans.” Whatever the nature of your farming operation may […]
4 Tips to Improve Your Forage Harvest
Check out these four tips to enhance your forage harvest. Cut hay between 2.5 to 3 inches In most cases your forages should be cut between 2.5 to 3 inches to maximize the yield and longevity of your stand. If you cut to shorter heights you’ll get slightly more yield but experience a decrease in […]
What You Need to Know About Managing Soil Quality and Water Retention on Your Farm
Cover crops are off-season crops that you grow between the harvest and the planting season of your cash crop. They offer a great many benefits, including preventing soil erosion, managing soil fertility, managing soil quality and water retention, and suppressing weeds, pests and diseases in your fields. They can also create forage for your livestock. […]
5 Tips to Care for Your Soil Before Harvest
Healthy soil is key to having a bountiful harvest. So before harvest, farming experts recommend you heed these tips for caring for your soil. Check Your Soil’s Fertilization Needs Check the pH of your soil and treat it with lime stone if it’s needed. Sulfur is also increasingly important in that it is usually lacking […]
Should You Perform a Web Soil Survey?
Whether you’re a new farmer, or you’ve been farming for years, a Web Soil Survey (WSS) allows you to obtain a wealth of information about a property that you may be considering buying, renting, or looking to manage more efficiently. What Is a WSS? The WSS is a web application that’s operated by the USDA […]
