Soil health tips from the USDA

Jay Fuhrer offers five pieces of advice for healthy soils

By Diego Flammini, Farms.com

Every farmer understands the importance of soil and its health to having successful planting and harvesting seasons; and with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations honouring 2015 as the International Year of Soils, the general public is being educated about soil’s role in many aspects of everyday life.

In an appearance on the Call of the Land podcast, produced by the Alberta’s Agriculture and Forestry department, Jay Fuhrer, a United States Department of Agriculture soil specialist, outlined five important elements to consider when talking about soil health.

“I would probably start with armour, which is residue on the soil,” he said on the podcast. “When we discuss armour that day we’re going to look at it from the viewpoint carbon-nitrogen ratio; which basically means how long will that residue be on the surface of the soil and how quickly do we want it to cycle through.”

Fuhrer said ‘that day’ because he’s one of the speakers scheduled to make a presentation at the Western Canada Conference on Soil Health, set to take place December 8^th, 9^th and 10^th at the Radisson Hotel Edmonton South.

Other speakers include Dr. Jeff Battigelli, Dr. Jill Clapperton and Dr. Yamily Zavala.

The other four keys to good soil health Furher will touch on include soil disturbance, crop diversity, cover crops and livestock integration.

Farmers interested in listening to the podcast can do so by downloading the Call of the Land app from the Apple and Android stores.

Join the conversation and tell us if you’re going to attend the Western Canada Conference on Soil Health. What strategies do you employ on your farm to ensure the soil is its healthiest?