More is Less: Soil Stability

In rural Iowa, 1991, an early freeze prevented farmer Wayne Fredericks from plowing his fields. While the decision was out of his hands at the time, it turned into a very valuable and eye-opening experience. That summer, his farm saw high yields of soybeans and better controlled weeds. With this success in mind, the USDA Agricultural Research Service was curious to take this case study and determine if such conservation practices consistently lead to increased productivity. After a nearly two-decade study, it was confirmed that by reducing tillage, soil is healthier and holds more water, which increases soil biodiversity and produces less run off and erosion. Additionally, Fredricks found that the soil’s stability ultimately required less equipment use, which reduced fuel and labor costs.

It can be economically and environmentally beneficial to take a closer look at your soil quality and health each season, consider no-till or reduced tillage agriculture methods, and maintain a decent amount of organic matter within your soil.