News

Soil health a long-term process

Conservation practices are making a positive difference in soil health, but new data indicate that patience is needed.

Data examining soil make-up, soil management and crop performance are not conclusive, but they’re important, says Nick Goeser, director of the National Corn Growers Association Soil Health Partnership.

“It’s pretty interesting to start to look at the relationships between the different soil samples as they link to aerial imagery and yield,” Goeser told Brownfield Ag News, at the Soil Health Summit in Des Moines Friday.

Although data released at the Soil Health Summit is less than conclusive, Goeser says the hoped for outcome of improving soil health through sustainable practices is “a triple win.”

“Something that’s going to pay off for productivity, the crop yield, boosting the yields or optimizing the yields within a given field, while also paying off, meeting that bottom line, even maybe increasing profitability,” he said, “and then also, at the same time improving the environmental footprint of that field.”

AUDIO: Nick Goeser (5 min. MP3)