cover crops

Cover Crops Play Vital Role in Soil Conservation

Dan Alabama, Field Crops, Industry News Release, Soil, soil fertility

(ACES) — Heavy bouts of rainfall and strong storms created the perfect scenario for Alabama producers to talk about the many benefits of planting cover crops during the winter season. Audrey Gamble, an Alabama Cooperative Extension System soil scientist, said the weather throughout winter months in Alabama has allowed for thought-provoking conversations surrounding use of cover crops and off-season land …

southern region prospective plantings

Now Is the Time to Test Soil

Clint Thompson Soil

By Clint Thompson Farmers need to take soil samples now to ensure essential nutrient levels in their fields. A lack of the right amount of a specific nutrient could cost growers who want to maximize their yields, according to Audrey Gamble, assistant professor and Extension specialist at Auburn University. She said soil testing is one of the easiest ways for …

Mapping Soils in the Florida Everglades

Dan Florida, Soil, USDA-NRCS

During the South Florida sweltering heat this past August, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Soil Scientists Craig Prink and Martin Figueroa were out collecting soil samples in the Everglades in an effort to build a map that helps land managers understand resource concerns affecting the ecosystem, water quality and wildlife. Martin said, “This is the first digital soil map developed in Florida, on …

indigo

World Soil Day is December 5

Dan Soil, USDA-NRCS

World Soil Day is December 5, a day that was established to focus attention on the importance of healthy soil and advocating for the sustainable management of soil resources. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) continues to promote healthy soil for life. Soil health, also referred to as soil quality, is defined as the continued capacity of soil to function as a vital …

Valagro

Italy’s Valagro Breaks-Ground on its First U.S. Manufacturing Facility

Dan Soil

Valagro USA, an Italy-based company, held a ground-breaking ceremony to mark the beginnings of their first manufacturing facility in the United States. The facility will reside in Orangeburg, South Carolina. The ground-breaking ceremony was well-attended by members of the local community, state representatives and members of the federal government. According to a release following the event, the new U.S. facility, …

soilweb

NRCS Reminds Landowners about SoilWeb 2.0 App Update

Dan Soil, USDA-NRCS

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) wants to make sure landowners are aware of the recent release of the iOS and Android SoilWeb app, version 2.0. NRCS, together with the University of California at Davis Soil Resource Laboratory, notes the new app has a cleaner and more modern interface with GPS-location-based links to access detailed digital soil survey data published …

florida

Northeast Florida Farms Test ‘Eyes in the Ground’ Through UF Program

Dan Florida, Industry News Release, Research, Soil, Technology, Water

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (UF/IFAS) — Farming is a business of uncertainty. Through droughts and downpours, generations of Florida farmers have continued to till the land and contribute to a multibillion-dollar industry for the state. But agricultural innovations aim to minimize that uncertainty, and among the technological advances working to improve farmers’ crop yields are soil moisture sensors, which a University of …