How to identify your soil health status
by Molly Raker
Stephanie McLain from the NRCS dives into how to determine your soil health status and resources to help you improve it.
In the above video, Stephanie McLain, a State Soil Health Specialist for Indiana's USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service speaks about the various tools used to understand and plan for better soil health. The tools range from your eyes to shovels to planning resources for conservation. McLain has been with the NRCS for 15 years and she grew up on a row crop and dairy farm in Minnesota.
First, if you're thinking about your operation’s soil health, ask yourself the following questions.
How often do you have your soil covered?
Look throughout the year to see if your soil has a cover before planting, while the crop is emerging, in peak hot months, before harvest, and after harvest before the cold winters. If not, the soil is being exposed to elements that will decrease its health and impact future harvests.
Is the soil surface crusting?
If yes, this is a sign of poor water aggregation and water not getting further in the soil as well as no air exchange to get nutrients further in the soil to help crop growth. Soil microbes require a gas exchange in order to make soil nutrients available for plants.
Does the water pond on your field?
If yes, this is another sign of poor aggregate stability, clogged-up pores, and lack of continuity of soil surface and subsoil.
What's next?
Once you know the concerns of your managed land, you can work on a plan to determine what practices you may be able to apply to improve operations and profitability. At NRCS, there are various programs farmers can use like conservation programs, financial support, and free tech assistance.
There are 9 Steps of Conservation Planning with NRCS to determine the level of resources and program(s) that may work for your farm:
- Identify resource concerns and opportunities
- Determine goals
- Field visits
- Analyze resources
- Develop options & alternatives
- Evaluate and discuss options
- Make decisions
- Implement the plan
- Evaluate the effectiveness
The NRCS identified the practice changes below as the most popular. Keep in mind it’s important to look at your landscape as a full system where more than one practice change is needed to keep the soil healthy.
- Cover Crops
- Crop Rotation
- No-Till
- Nutrient Management
- Reduce Till
At Carbon by Indigo, we see using cover crops as a practice change generates the most carbon credits and payment. Learn more about the program here. To note, farmers can be enrolled in conservation programs with NRCS and be eligible for the carbon program at the same time. In addition, Carbon by Indigo has resources to help farmers plan and understand what works with their operations.
NRCS and Carbon by Indigo are rooted in improving soil health. Soil is a vital, living ecosystem that’s paramount to life on this planet, when it’s not healthy, the negative impact is felt by every group that relies on it.
By Molly Raker - Product Marketer for Sustainability Products at Indigo
This article may include information from third-party sources or other information that Indigo may not independently verify. Carbon quantification methods, processes and understandings are in their nascency and subject to change and continuous development. The information contained herein is for general informational purposes only and may be based on generally applicable assumptions that may not be applicable to any individual operation. Actual results may differ among growers and farms based on a large number of variables. Each operation should independently consider the financial implications and all potential risks and benefits of the use of any agronomic practice. Any payments under Carbon by Indigo are subject to multi-year vesting and are contingent on continued long-term maintenance of regenerative agricultural practices and soil carbon levels. All Carbon Credits generated are subject to buffer pool holdbacks required by third-party crediting; participants will not receive payments for such holdback. Neither Indigo nor its representatives or affiliates makes any representations, warranties or guarantees as to any specific outcomes (agronomic, financial or otherwise) in connection with any recommendations, calculations or predictions. Terms, conditions, limitations and eligibility requirements apply. See program agreement for additional details regarding Carbon by Indigo.
Farmers like you are getting paid to implement practices that improve soil health. With skyrocketing input costs, see how covers help.
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Neither Indigo nor any of its affiliates makes any representations, warranties or guarantees as to any specific results or outcomes, including, without limitation, with respect to soil health outcomes or any minimum amount of greenhouse gasses sequestered or number of carbon credits generated. Participation in Carbon by Indigo is subject to the terms, conditions and limitations of the program contained in the applicable enrollment agreement. Any payments under Carbon by Indigo are subject to multi-year vesting and are contingent on continued long-term maintenance of regenerative agricultural practices and soil carbon levels. All Carbon Credits generated are subject to buffer pool holdbacks required by third-party crediting; participants will not receive payments for such holdback. Not available in all areas.
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