This week, the American Farmland Trust (AFT) is promoting the importance of soil health through Healthy Soils Week, a nationwide campaign to raise awareness about sustainable farming practices. Paul Lum, a Senior Agricultural Specialist for AFT, discussed the organization’s efforts and the critical role of healthy soils in agriculture. Founded in 1980, AFT initially focused on protecting farmland through conservation …
American Agriculture History Minute: Becoming Stewards of the Soil
I’m Mark Oppold with an American Agriculture History Minute. We like to think that early American farmers and ranchers were good stewards of the soil, like farmers and ranchers are today, but history shows they were not. From the 1770s to the 1830s, pioneers moved into new lands that stretched from Kentucky to Alabama to Texas. Most were farmers who …
American Agriculture History Minute: Learning Soil Preservation by Crop Rotation
I’m Mark Oppold with an American Agriculture History Minute. Early settlers, unfortunately, tended to be careless with the use and care of their soil. This was the case across the country, as Americans were used to thinking that there would always be more land for new farms. And by the 1880s, they saw this would not be the case much …
Latest Topsoil Moisture Condition Report
USDA’s latest topsoil moisture condition report reflects a dramatic increase in very-short to short ratings from the previous week, as well as levels not reached in two years. Rod Bain has more. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsNovember 1, 2024Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril 1, 2024
Wide Disparity in Latest Topsoil Moisture Condition Report
A wide range of climate conditions across the continental U.S. results in some large changes in USDA’s topsoil moisture condition report. Rod Bain reports. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsNovember 1, 2024Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril 1, 2024
Benefits of Composting for Farms
Learning the importance of composting. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours Seventeen-year-old Summer Davies of Florida is earning her Girl Scouts Gold Award – the highest award in the Girl Scouts – by reporting on the positive effects of composting for small farmers. Here is her report. Listen to Summer Davies’ This Land Of Ours program here. For …
USDA Soil Science Proposals are Due July 8
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will be investing $3 million in partnerships to promote and fund research that informs and improves soil surveys. So, the NRCS encourages institutions of higher education in the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network to submit proposals by July 8, 2024. NRCS Chief Terry Cosby said, “Congress recognized that states and other partners need soil …
The Science of Soil From Feeding Minds Press
A book that teaches young readers about agriculture. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Young readers, gardeners, and educators have a new agricultural adventure to dig into with the latest children’s book from Feeding Minds Press. “The Soil in Jackie’s Garden” is a cumulative-style picture book that tells the story of Jackie and her garden friends as they …
Efforts Underway to Improve Soil Surveys
Efforts to improve soil surveys is currently underway through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). They plan to invest in partnerships to promote and fund research that informs and improves soil surveys. This is all part of an ongoing effort to continue to provide critical data to the country, and partners are encouraged to prepare proposals. For those interested, 2024 Cooperative Soil …
Studying Soil Moisture Maps
Grain traders have been busy studying a soil moisture map and what it could mean for the 2024 crop year. Mark Oppold has more on that, and information about National Ag Day coming up Tuesday. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsNovember 1, 2024Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril 1, 2024