Soil Management in the News
PA No-Till Alliance Annual Meeting held in State College
Environmental stewardship and the potential to make more money were two recurring themes that came out of this year?s Pennsylvania No-Till Alliance Conference held here this week.
Soil carbon sequestration can add to farmers' paycheck
Kansas State researcher Chuck Rice explains to Kansas farmers how carbon sequestration works.
Conference examines no-till for life
Dan Towery expounds on the benefits of continuous no-till and what holds us back from implementing this exciting practice.
Organic grocery wars get heated: will Whole Foods fix a broken Wild Oats?
Organic food chain Wild Oats has been purchased by Whole Foods. An evaluation of the odds as organic produce goes mainstream.
Organic growers hope '07 Farm Bill helps
U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., said Friday he will work to include provisions in the 2007 farm bill that are helpful to organic farmers.
PA No-Till Alliance announces equipment grant program
The Pennsylvania No-Till Alliance is announcing the No-Till Equipment Incentive Program, designed to help producers purchase new, properly equipped no-till planting equipment.
Chicago Climate Exchange faces scrutiny
The carbon credits of no-till are being sold, but some are critical of the concept.
Study disputes benefits of organic fare
New study came out in the Journal of Food Science on the benefits of organic food.
Nematode damage higher in no-till wheat
Dave Wichman had a problem. The superintendent of the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station's Central Agricultural Research Center at Moccasin had poor yield and a seeming "failure to thrive" in a wheat field that had adequate nutrients, moisture and sunshine.
No-Till Gaining Ground in Illinois
No-till has become the dominant tillage type in Illinois.
Cuba expands use of organic fertilizers
The government of Cuba stimulates the use of organic farming methods.
Solanco no-till meeting
Dave Johnson to speak at Solanco farmer meeting in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
FAO to hold conference on organic farming for food security in 2007
Because of frequent requests for assistance in the area, FAO organizes a conference to discuss the contribution of organic ag to food security.
Organic group calls for changes in Farm Bill next year
Various sustainable ag groups call for fewer subsidies and more research dollars in the next Farm Bill.
GMO Traces Pressure Spain's Organic Maize Farmers
Traces of GMO were found in organic maize in Spain, causing rejection of product.
EU Farm Chief announces flexibility on organic label
A third organic label is under consideration in the European Union
Living mulches increase insect pest predators
A new study shows that living mulches have increased numbers of predators that control insect pests such as European Corn borer.
Illinois reports no-till gains
No-till now represents 33% of crop acres as reported in the 2006 tillage survey.
Weather has the greatest influence on organic arable production, conference hears
Environmental factors have greater impact on organic crop production than on non-organic production, study shows.
Lime quality - does it matter?
With the increase in no-till acres in the U.S. lime quality becomes more important to neutralize pH.
Health benefits of organic milk
Article from the American Cancer Institute about the health benefits of organic milk
Fall good time to plan conservation practices
Fall harvest is an excellent time to scout and plan for conservation practices that can be installed or implemented to help reduce soil erosion and improve water quality.
Global Warming and Agriculture Workshop Feature DEP, Agriculture Secretaries
On November 8 the Clean Air Council will host a Global Warming Policy and Pennsylvania Agriculture work featuring the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection as the keynote speakers.
Bill Promotes Watershed Practices That Yield $27 In Benefits for Every $1 Invested
The House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee held an informational meeting this week on House Bill 2878 (Stern-R-Blair, Hershey-R-Chester, Daley-D-Washington) that would establish the Resource Enhancement and Protection Tax Credit Program.
Organic food 'rort'
AUSTRALIA'S peak consumer watchdog has called for urgent government action to stop what it claims is a multi-milliondollar organic food rort.
Wal-Mart Declares War on Organic Farmers: Partners with Agribusiness for Corporate Takeover
A report released today by The Cornucopia Institute, the nation's most aggressive organic farming watchdog, accuses Wal-Mart of cheapening the value of the organic label by sourcing products from industrial-scale factory farms and Third World countries, such as China.
Organic milk joins ban
First spinach, now milk. California regulators ordered the recall of Organic Pastures raw milk products sold in grocery stores - including Save Mart and S-Mart stores in San Joaquin County - after three children were hospitalized with E. coli illnesses.
?Time to set record straight? on cotton?s sustainability
U.S. cotton organization explains their perspective on sustainable cotton production.
FAS turns down organic milk health claims
Britain's Food Standards Agency (FSA) concluded Tuesday that organic milk does not provide significant health benefits over conventional milk despite higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids.
FAS turns down organic milk health claims
Britain's Food Standards Agency (FSA) concluded Tuesday that organic milk does not provide significant health benefits over conventional milk despite higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids.
New Online Service Connects Organic Seed Suppliers with Customers
The Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI), a nonprofit publisher and information service for organic growers, introduced an online, organic seed listing service this month.
Holy Cow! Wal-Mart Really Goes Organic
The retailing giant's push into organic milk will bring in new customers and profits.
Organic Company Disputes Tainted Spinach Claim
The California produce company that's been linked to a widening nationwide E. coli outbreak is at odds with the Food and Drug Administration over what's causing the illness. Natural Selection Foods said Monday that its organic spinach has been cleared as the source of outbreak. But government health inspectors disputed the company's claim and said nothing has been ruled out.
E. Coli Outbreak Proves Organic Food Isn't Risk-Free
The recent e. coli outbreak thought to be tied to organic spinach farms in California should serve to remind Americans that organic food is not necessarily safer food.
Organic milk is healthier? Don't swallow it.
The popular press is excited about research that supposedly proves ?organic? milk is healthier than ?conventional? milk. But what is the evidence?
Organic going to college
An organic crop production major is being offered at the University of Florida
Incentive payments offered farmers for no-till, cover crop acres
Payments for no-till and cover crops available in Snyder County, PA
Organic milk is 'healthier'
A recent British study suggests organic milk contains higher Omega 3 fatty acid contents then non-organic milk
Texas Farm Bureau visits China
No-till and minimum till said to be common practice in China due to limited tractor use.
Organic dairy dispute
A rising movement calls for the banning of organic milk from large organic milk retailers Horizon and Aurora
What does 'organic' really mean?
I HAVE paid extra for a fair number of organic products, believing that they are healthier for me, my family and the environment.
Got organic? Demand lifts Vermont dairies
Almost 10% of Vermont's dairy farms are now organic, and the number is expected to increase to 20% in 2007.
Danone and Stonyfield create European organic dairy firm
Leading US organic dairy firm Stonyfield Farm and Danone have joined forces to create a European subsidiary, which the groups hope will duplicate Stonyfield's US success in Europe's organic dairy industry.
UC-Davis plows ahead, but lags on organic ag major
Washington State first US university to offer an organic major.
Eating organic may soothe some psyches but it won?t do a thing to save the planet
Breeding fears of a changing climate and food raised ?unnaturally," promoters of vegetarianism and organic foods argue that we should go vegan, or eat ?organic?? to save the planet.
10 projects throughout watershed get grants to test innovative cleanup efforts
Efforts to reduce nutrient runoff from Amish farms in Pennsylvania, from dairy herds in Maryland and through nutrient trading initiatives in Virginia were among the projects supported by the first-ever targeted watershed grants announced for the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Green giants: Mega producers tip scales as organic goes mainstream
As big companies take over organic production chains, organic food becomes more accessible.
Soil depletion in Uganda
A new study shows nutrient depletion causing soil degradation in Uganda.
Hogs go organic in Iowa
Iowa State is helping with organic hog production with on-farm research.
Respond to global warming with more technology, not less
There may be hope in the battle against global warming by using new technologies
Crop rotations with forages boost soil quality
The USDA ARS discovered in a study that crop rotations with forages boost soil quality more than corn-soybean or corn-corn rotations
Researchers say more research on organic food quality needed
A USDA-ARS researcher claims that 80-90% of food quality claims of organic research are invalid.
NMA, Environmental Plan Act updated at Crops Day
Canadian nutrient management regulations were discussed at a field day in Ontario
Nutrient depletion cause of soil degradation in Africa
A new report shows that much of African land is loosing plant nutrients which are not replaced.
Organic consumption increases 2% in Spain
The consumption of organic produce increased from 3 to 5% in Spain, where organic production occupies 800,000 ha now.
Natural solutions to sustainability
Read this article that comments on the earlier one by Sjoerd Duiker.
Good soil first step to a great landscape
An article for home owners about the need to improve soil management around the home.
Are conditions right for a second Dust Bowl?
Some climatologists believe climatic conditions may set us up for conditions similar to those that led to the Dust Bowl in the 1930s. However, conservation tillage, different crop rotations and windbreaks help to reduce the chance of the second one having as severe effects as the first Bowl.
Fungi, soil-living bacteria help developing world farmers to better crop yields: UN
UNEP is implementing a study trying to stimulate living soil organisms to enhance soil fertility.
Soil ersosion could devastate food sector
Cornell researcher David Pimentel claims erosion is wasting away our food supply
Malta organic open forum
The Malta Organic Agriculture Movement holds a forum on March 24th.
Organic milk in short supply
In Chicago, organic milk disappears from the shelves faster than it can be replaced.
Growing organic
It's trendy and risky and it costs more money, but more and more South Valley farmers are growing organic. Some farmers talk about its pros and cons.
Organic supply can't keep up with demand
According to Jim Riddle, University of Minnesota outreach coordinator, only 85% of demand for organic produce is met. Minnesota is number 1 in organic corn production. According to this researcher there is a big push for more federal dollars to support organic research in the 2007 Farm Bill.
Is an organic future really sustainable
Penn State Soil Management Specialist alludes to challenges facing widespread adoption of organic farming.
Farmers exchange experiences with different conservation tillage systems
Farmers can learn from their neighbors when considering a change in tillage system. Read about experiences with strip-till, ridge-till and no-till in the Midwest.
Inspecting wheat stands in the spring, less heaving likely with no-till
Technical note on stand inspection, tillering and nitrogen applications in wheat. Damage to wheat stands can happen due to frost heaving which is less likely to be a problem in no-till wheat. In northern areas such as Ohio early nitrogen applications are unlikely to increase tillering. Nitrogen application should be postponed until after Feekes growth stage 6.
No-till the answer to challenges in Fremont Nebrasksa
No-till helps reduce soil erosion by wind and water, reduces labor and fuel needs, improves soil structure and soil organic matter content, and helps save costly water.
Tillage sales on the rise in Fremont NE
After a drop in sales of tillage equipment this dealer sells more. The use of no-tillage is estimated at 35%. Interesting note about the higher resale value of tractors used by no-till farmers.
Soil and Water Conservation Activities in Eritrea
Soil erosion is a major threat in Eritrea. In the southern region a campaign was started to construct embankments and terraces to protect a reservoir that provides drinking water to 8,000 people.
Maltese soil resources evaluated
A report on the state of the environment of the Mediterranean island Malta was published recently emphasizing the potential productivity of Maltese soil as well as threats to sustainability.
China plans to combat soil degradation
Inappropriate chemical fertilizer use is a likely cause of decreasing soil quality in China's breadbasket, resulting in decreasing yields. This has cause the Chinese Goverment to launch an initiative to educate farmers of appropriate use of fertilizers, organic sources of fertility, and crop rotations.
Recorn corn yields with low nitrogen applications.
An Oklahoma farmers won third price in the corn yield contest in his state, growing 245 bu/A corn with only 155 lbs/A nitrogen. This is almost half the nitrogen rate currently recommended in many places.
Carbon credits under investigation in Montana
Researchers from Montana State University are investigating how much carbon can be sequestered using conservation practices such as no-till.
Farmers note benefits of no-till in Indiana - more earthworms
No-till favors earthworms because crop residue is preserved longer and soil moisture and temperature favor them.
Nitrogen fertilizer estimator released
After release of the energy use estimator, USDA-NRCS released a nitrogen fertilizer estimator.
Californian IPM expert teaches Chinese agriculturalists about the importance of IPM
As China's economy grows, farm labor gets in short supply. The result is increased use of herbicides for weed control. A Californian weed scientist went to China to teach about integrated pest management. Being a knowledge-intensive management system, he also explained the need for a strong research-extension service.
Magic soil from the Amazon?
A Cornell researcher collaborated with Brazilian colleagues on a project studying the burn-and-char methods of waste processing that has the potential to improve soil quality and carbon content.
No-till leads to crop diversification options in India
Read how no-till is opening up alternative cropping opportunities in the rice-wheat systems of northern India.
Ohio State Engineer recommends fuel saving approaches
Tips from Randall Reeder from Ohio State.
Corn, soybean and wheat farmer in SC wins Conservation Legacy Award
Steve Gamble & Sons Farms, of Sardinia, has won the 2006 Southern Region Conservation Legacy Award.
N.D. Ag Hall of Fame recognizes inventor of no-till seeder
The North Dakota Agricultural Hall of Fame Committee has selected two inductees to the North Dakota Agricultural Hall of Fame for 2006 - Dr. Richard C. Frohberg, wheat breeder from Fargo, N.D., and the late Sherman Quanbeck, farm equipment inventor of Mandan and McVille, N.D.
Carbon payments to take off in Illinois
Farmers can now get paid for conservation tillage, tree plantings, methane reduction. The payment levels are left unspecified, however.
No-till news from Illinois and Missouri
Article about 11th annual Western Illinois/Northeast Missouri No-till and Crop Management Seminar in Quincy
No-till conference in Southern Australia
Clay Mitchell, Iowa No-Till farmer, and Dwayne Beck, research manager in South Dakota, are keynote speakers in the 8th South Australia No-Till Conference
Increase in carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere may lead to increased soil organic carbon
A study done in a forest in Tennessee suggests that soil organic carbon increased due to higher atmospheric CO2 concentration.
Sunflower news
Sunflowers can be an interesting option to increase diversity in rotations. There are improved high-yielding sunflower hybrids with Clearfield technology and mildew resistance.
Costs drive farmers to no-till
Read this story from western Pennsylvania about no-till systems.
Conservation funds available
Story about conservation payments available in Virginia.
Tropical forest a desert for soil bacteria
A recently published study revealed that there are relatively few species of bacteria in rainforest soil, while desert soils contain many more! The major determinant for bacterial diversity appears to be the pH which often is very low under rainforest vegetation.
Conservation Tillage and Carbon Sequestration
No-till may increase carbon content of the soil, which could result in payments for "carbon credits" to farmers. Unfortunately, credits are worth about $1 per acre at present.
Fuel prices drives farmers into no-till
A Michigan farmer will plant more soybean acres no-till with high diesel prices.
The Morris family receives awards for excellent stewardship on no-till farm.
The Morris' integrate no-till, nutrient management planning, and stream buffers. They received the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce Farm Family Stewardship Award and also won the Shenandoah River Basin award from the Department of Conservation and Recreation.
No-till boosts cotton yield 33%, poultry litter adds more
Cotton growers in the southeastern United States can deal with periodic droughts by using conservation tillage and fertilizing with poultry litter, Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists report.
Farm Press' Southwest High Cotton Award goes to Braswell for his conservation philosophy
Buck Braswell?s dedication to conservation, along with his unselfish willingness to help other growers learn about and adopt conservation practices, earned him the 2006 Farm Press High Cotton Award for the Southwest.
Long-term conservation-tillage study shows benefits, concerns
A North Carolina study shows that high organic carbon in no-till helps reduce bulk density, but sandy soils are problematic.
The soil conditioning index is being criticized in Maryland
A study from Maryland finds the Conservation Security Program has flaws
Why we must all give up organic food in 2006
A thought-provoking article about organic food from Scotland
Brittons serious about organic food
Organic food sales represent about 1% of total food sales in the UK and are expected to grow significantly.
Obasanjo: Africa Loses $4 Billion Soil Nutrients Annually
Nigerian president Obasanjo speaks on nutrient depletion in Africa and what to do about it.
UK/USA: Organic farming campaign gets royal backing
Prince of Wales supports organic movement.
Soil fertility the key to saving Kenya's Lake Victoria basin
Soil erosion threatens soil fertility and clogs Lake Victoria in East Africa
Prince Charles on Farming
Prince of Wales expresses his concern regarding industrialization of agriculture and threat of bird flue for free-roaming chickens.
Heavy Rains Can Make More Dust in Earth's Driest Spots
Results from a remote sensing study show that heavy rainfall in arid regions can actually increase wind erosion.
Fertigation Systems Capable Of Handling Gypsum, Soil Polymers, Ground Limestone
Combining tasks in new fertigation system, fertigation systems capable of combining irrigation with lime, gypsum, fertilizer, herbicide and pesticide applications.
Type of tillage greatly affects soil quality
Soil management specialist of University of Wisconsin gives the Wisconsin perspective on moldboard, chisel and no-till.
The Biointensive Way
Biointensive gardening, a different philosophy that, according to proponents, gives great results.
Manage soil compaction during harvest
Soil compaction recommendations from Minnesota.
African town takes action on erosion.
Soil erosion control in a Nigerian town.
San Joaquin Valley agriculture at risk
A recent study suggests salinization threatens the irrigated agriculture of the San Joaquin Valley.
Deforestation and erosion starving Malawi
Soil erosion and deforestation in Malawi.
Chinese grass and bushes may check soil erosion in HP
Soil erosion is threatening the lifespan of hydropower facilities in Himachal Pradesh, India. The government plans to limit erosion by planting chinese grass and bushes as well as construction of check dams.
Role of Mineral-Nitrogen in Residue Decomposition and Stable Soil Organic Matter Formation
A recent study shows that mineral fertilizer nitrogen helps to increase the transformation of crop residue in soil organic matter.
Farmers, developers urged to act on soil erosion
The Queensland Environment Minister blames farmers and developers for soil erosion problems and promises to do something about this problem.
Aerial seeding to protect the soil
Farmers in Minnesota are experimenting with aerial rye cover crop seeding in standing corn and soybeans.
A million species in a thimble of soil
Recent research suggests there are more than 100 times more species in a spoonful of soil than thought before.
European Commission consults citizens about measures to protect soil resources in the EU
The European Commission today launched an 8-week long Internet consultation on the measures which the European Union (EU) could adopt to address soil degradation. Good quality soil is crucial for the conservation of biodiversity and natural resources. However, scientific evidence shows that soil is degrading throughout Europe and the EU therefore needs to act to protect this precious resource. Issues such as erosion, landslides and contamination of soil will be addressed.
Texas Soil Conservation Districts assist soil conservation on farms
Farmers and ranchers in the Hill Country region can now receive up to $20,000 in grant funding to help pay for conservation measures designed to reduce soil erosion and improve land productivity, such as removing brush and restoring native vegetation.
Soil Emissions Are Much-Bigger-than-Expected Component of Air Pollution
New research led by a University of Washington atmospheric scientist shows that, in some regions, nitrogen oxides emitted by the soil are much greater than expected and could play a substantially larger role in seasonal air pollution than previously believed.
Researchers unlocking switchgrass secrets
Switchgrass has the potential to store large amounts of carbon in the soil to depths up to 8 feet, as was shown in this USDA study in North Dakota.
Can No-Till 'Fill the Bill' for Rolling Plains Wheat Producers?
No-till trials in Texas show that grazing cattle can cause surface compaction that reduces following wheat yields.
Tracking Soil Loss Through Water-Clarity Sensors
Seth Dabney from the National Sedimentation Laboratory in Oxford, Mississippi, developed a new water clarity sensor to measure soil erosion.
No-till increases production and soil tilth for Brazilian
Frank Dijkstra, a no-till pioneer in Brazil, has made his farm operation a true success.
Whale bones and farm soil: Sequencing biodiversity
The European Molecular Biology Laboratory is using sequencing DNA from soil and other places to better characterize bacterial communities.
Non-native soil insects may have a positive effect on nutrient cycling in forests
A 22-year-old Johns Hopkins undergraduate and native of Ellicott City, Md. is playing an important role in ascertaining the role that terrestrial isopods - bugs commonly known as pillbugs, sowbugs and roly-polys - play in the recycling of nutrients in forest ecosystems.
World Bank helps reduce run-off soil on Loess Plateau
A 10-year project to harness run-off soil on the Loess Plateau funded by World Bank loans has produced encouraging results, according to the Office for Loess Plateau Water and Soil Conservancy Project.
China successful in water and soil conservation
China has made substantial progress in water and soil conservation by exercising control over 370 thousand square kilometers of land.
Tradeoff between development and soil quality
An article showing the importance of soil degradation in Yemen, but also showing there is significant need for education of journalists on soil management issues. Major misunderstandings in this article are that fertilizers damage soil, and that leaving soil fallow degrades it.
Manitoba soil at risk from acid rain
A new report by Environment Canada is raising concerns about soil damage caused by acid rain.
NGO Fights Soil Erosion
An international NGO, World Agroforestry Centre (WAC), has embarked on a tree planting exercise to form progressive terraces around several provinces.
Farmers discuss growing methods
About 100 farmers from Lancaster and Chester counties learned about alternative growing methods designed to reduce groundwater nitrate levels at a daylong conference Thursday. No-till land management experts and nitrogen testing specialists outlined new innovations for the lifelong farmers in attendance, including a plan to minimize large-machine usage and diminish soil losses.
Farming Workshop to Focus on Nitrate
A Pennsylvania agricultural conservation organization is doing its part to try and improve water quality with a program designed to educate farmers on alternative growing methods.