Corn

In recent years’ soil health has become a popular subject for many farmers and ranchers across South Dakota. Producers are interested in increasing soil health through methods that increase diversity, retain covers and residue on the soil surface, utilize low soil disturbance, and integrate livestock into cropping systems.

Research performed in 2016-17 by the NRCS in cooperation with Cronin Farms was designed to evaluate the impacts of nitrogen rates and application methods on corn yields seeded into full-season cover-crop residue.

Soil degradation has become one of the most pressing global issues, because of its adverse effects on world food security, environment and quality of life. Farm management practices such as conventional tillage and monoculture cropping systems can directly damage soil health by causing erosion, carbon loss and nutrient depletion.

I recently came across an article from the Associated Press addressing road salt and the nation's waterways. Many of you may have seen the article too as a number of local media outlets elected to carry it. While road salt is almost a necessity in our part of the country, it can come at a cost.

In an effort to educate today’s youth about sustainable agriculture, SDSU Extension field specialists teamed up with educators from University of Nebraska Lincoln (UNL) and presented a four-hour training session for South Dakota high school teachers on January 5, 2018 at the SDSU Student Union.

The discussion of grain yields and different tillage practices needs to start in producers’ fields. Grain yield comparisons and results from un-biased research are very important for making agronomic decisions that include tillage; however, producers need to put these practices to work in everyday situations across large acres to consider a practice worthy in modern agriculture.

Do you believe the highest yields return the greatest profit? Are you managing for maximum yields? Do you attempt to manage your corn crop for the highest yields as a result of what yield contest winner’s say?

Earlier this month, I travelled to Indianapolis, IN to attend a meeting sponsored by the North Central Region Soil Health Nexus. The meeting was a kickoff to discuss a new grant the Nexus was recently awarded entitled "Empower Educators to Improve Water Quality by Adoption of Soil Health Practices.”

Cover crops have been gaining a reemerging acceptance over the last decade, with very few producers disagreeing about the potential soil health benefits of adding cover crops to their farming operation. However, with low commodity prices producers are trying to reduce expenses on inputs, especially on inputs with a varying or unknown return.

During the 2017 SD Legislative Session, Governor Dennis Daugaard signed into law Senate Bill 66 (SB 66), also known as the “buffer strip” bill. Essentially, the bill provides an incentive for landowners to plant perennial vegetation on land adjoining qualified lakes, rivers, or streams via a property tax adjustment in order to improve water quality.