Virtual Soil Compaction Conference to Be Held Throughout February

By Carlos Pires

Soil compaction is a growing concern for farmers and land managers, especially across the northern U.S. and southern Canada.

North Dakota State University; University of Minnesota Extension; Manitoba Agriculture; Iowa State University; and Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness will host the Northern Soil Compaction Conference, an international virtual event designed to help producers understand, manage and prevent compaction.

The conference will be held online from 9 a.m. to noon CST on Feb. 3, 10, 17 and 24.

Compaction can restrict root and crop growth, reduce water infiltration, limit nutrient access, increase crop disease pressure and lower overall yields. Every pass of heavy equipment increases the risk of soil compaction.

“There are effective strategies to fix existing compaction issues and prevent them in the future,” says Carlos Pires, NDSU Extension soil health specialist. “These strategies include using cover crops, rotating crops, adjusting tillage practices, managing traffic patterns, properly inflating tires and distributing axle loads more evenly.”