The Grow Down on Soil Health
Welcome to “The Grow Down on Soil Health” podcast, where we dive deep into sustainable farming practices designed to enhance both your land and your bottom line. Join host Ben West, Ph.D., executive director of Farmers for Soil Health, and a diverse lineup of guests from various agricultural backgrounds as they share entertaining stories, invaluable soil health management techniques, and the incredible benefits cover crops can bring to your farm.
The Ripple Effect of Cover Crops with Trey Hill
Trey Hill owns and operates Harborview Farms, a multigenerational farm in Rock Hall, Maryland, on the Delmarva Peninsula. About 25 years ago, Hill began experimenting with cover crops. Initially skeptical, he was convinced after seeing improvements in soil structure, moisture retention, water quality and overall field performance. Hear Hill discuss how successful cover cropping requires paying close attention to the land, remaining open to change and continuing to learn from each growing season.
Soil Health Investments for Agricultural Lenders
Agricultural lenders must balance farm profitability and risk. Soil health practices such as cover crops, conservation tillage, rotational grazing, and nutrient management can balance profitability and risk by strengthening farm resilience and financial performance.
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Seeding Cover Crops with Drones
Learn from Alex and his daughter, Emma Menzel, drone applicators based in Archie, Mo., as they share their experiences with seeding cover crops with drones into corn and soybeans. Video by The Center for Regenerative Agriculture.
Selecting Cover Crop Seeding Machinery
Read this guide by the University of Missouri Extension to learn more about equipment used to plant cover crops.
Seven Generations of Stewardship with Susan Watkins
In this episode of Soil Sense, we get to talk to seventh-generation Virginia farmer Susan Watkins about her family farm’s legacy of caring for the soil, transitioning to no-till over 20 years ago, incorporating cover crops about 15 years ago, and what she and her family are looking forward to next.
Slakes: A Free Smartphone App to Measure Aggregate Stability
The Slakes app uses image analysis to measure the ability of dry soil aggregates to resist dispersion once rewetted. Weaker aggregates will slake (or break apart) more easily, while stronger aggregates will slake less, indicating better soil aggregation and healthier soil. Learn more!