Soil recordkeeping initiatives are helping farmers increase understanding of their most important asset.
The Soil Health Benchmark Study, led by Pasa Sustainable Agriculture, and the Million Acre Challenge from Future Harvest CASA are yielding insights for improving soil and showing farmers where they still need to improve.
Farmers discussed their use of records in a mid-March Future Harvest CASA webinar.
The benchmark study was designed in part to compare no-till and tillage systems.
The study uses four types of records: soil disturbance, usually related to equipment activity; livestock activity, pasturing and moving herds; planting and termination dates; and soil amendments â probably the most common record kept by farmers.
Tom Venesky, Northeast Pennsylvania Correspondent
âWeâre here to listen, weâre here to help, and weâre here to learn from you,â Cather said. âWe want to hear all your ideas.â
The hope is that farmers can share ideas and the program can connect them with resources and information.
Cather, who raises sheep and poultry on a small farm, is looking to promote cover crops and reduced or no-till, among other practices.
âIt is a legacy, something you can leave to the next generation. Itâs a triple bottom-line win, which is really rare,â she said. âIâve heard people say that it makes farming fun again.â
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