Special Report

Partnership to improve productivity, soil health

The recently announced Soil Health Partnership between Monsanto and the National Corn Growers Association aims to sustain higher yields by improving soil health.

During Commodity Classic, Iowa farmer Bill Couser told Brownfield he learns from his son Tim about using technology to their farm’s advantage.

“It’s time for our generation to move over there and learn from this next generation about soil health, and how do we make sure that it’s ready for that next crop and keep it alive longer,” Couser told Brownfield Ag News.

The younger Tim Couser relies on his computer, but also cites technology that will allow 10-mile-per-hour planting, spraying soybeans with Dicamba and 2-4D chemistry. This, he says, does not overshadow the importance of cover crops and proper nutrient management.

“This is not new stuff, this is not risky stuff, this is stuff we need to figure out how we can become better at, and one of the huge benefits from it is if we can keep that soil healthy and alive longer throughout the summer, if we do get adverse weather conditions, a drought, there are going to be huge benefits to it,” said Tim Couser.

The Cousers were introduced at Commodity Classic as the first farm family that will participate in the initiative’s demonstration farms. More are to be announced this spring.

“Monsanto is proud to be a founding supporter and member of this important initiative,” said Michael Doane, Monsanto Sustainability Business Solutions Lead. “While we continue to see great progress in improved genetics, we’re keenly aware that it is essential to unlock the potential that’s right under our feet to sustain higher yields. Improving soil health is what this partnership is all about.”

The purpose of the Soil Health Partnership is to measure and communicate the economic and environmental benefits of different soil management strategies and provide a set of regionally specific, data-driven recommendations that farmers can use to improve the productivity and sustainability of their farms.

“Over the next five years, this partnership will work to aggregate regional data to catalyze a platform for knowledge-sharing from farmer to farmer to create a set of best practices to improve soil health,” said Doane.

According to Monsanto, the Soil Health Partnership will measure and communicate the economic and environmental benefits of soil management to improve farm productivity and sustainability.

The partnership also includes the Nature Conservancy with support from the Walton Family Foundation.

AUDIO: Bill and Tim Couser (3 min. MP3)

AUDIO: Michael Doane (2 min. MP3)

AUDIO: Soil Health news conference (20 min. MP3)

Photos:

Tim (left) and Bill Couser at Monsanto’s Soil Health news conference during Commodity Classic in San Antonio, Feb. 28, 2014.

Michael Doane, who leads Monsanto’s sustainable business solutions, conducted a soil health news conference at Commodity Classic, San Antonio, Feb. 28, 2014.