Tag: soil health
Don’t let your soil turn into chocolate milk
Recent summer rains are washing away valuable farm soil. Columbiana SWCD’s Pete Conkle breaks down how cover crops protect fields from erosion, improve soil health, and boost nutrients. Learn how to start small with an oat and radish mix and explore application methods like drone seeding.
Cover crops build resilience into Ohio farms
Don't let another dry season catch you unprepared. Carroll SWCD's Lindsay Short explains how combining no-till farming with late-summer cover crops after your wheat harvest can dramatically improve soil water retention, suppress weeds, and provide high-quality winter forage for livestock.
NW Ohio farmers wanted for soil survey
Ohio State University researchers, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, are conducting a statewide effort to revisit and re-sample historic National Cooperative Soil Survey (NCSS) soil characterization sites across Ohio.
Weigh the risks before planting in soggy soil
As Ohio and western Pennsylvania face record rainfall, farmers are tempted to push the limits. Ohio State University Extension’s Lee Beers breaks down the dangers of planting in wet soil—including compaction, clods and smeared furrows—while offering expert advice on herbicide and nitrogen strategies for a late start to the season.
Give and take: Calculate how grazing livestock impact soil nutrient levels
Stop guessing your fertilizer needs. In the latest All About Grazing columns, Ohio State University Extension's Josh Winters leads us through how to use research-based calculations to determine how much P and K your livestock return to the soil through grazing.
Why soil testing is the key to farm profit and water...
Stop guessing on fertilizer. Learn how soil testing in Mahoning County maximizes crop yields, reduces input costs, and protects Ohio’s local water resources.
Spring rain equals runoff: How to protect local streams
Spring rains bring more than just flowers—they bring stormwater runoff. Ashland SWCD's Zoey Dudte talks about how soil, pollutants and nutrients impact our local waterways and shares simple steps you can take to protect our water quality.
What can you do to improve soil health during winter feeding?
Avoid pasture damage this winter. Noble SWCD’s Kirstin Roman explains how unrolling bales and strip-grazing can boost soil organic matter and animal health.
Winter is the most valuable time of year for conservation
Winter is not the off-season for conservation. Learn how cover crops, soil microbes, stockpile grazing and off-season planning boost success for spring.
How do we determine soil health?
Healthy soil sustains life. Minimize disturbance, keep living roots, boost biodiversity and maintain cover to improve yields, water quality and resilience.
