News
Small grains can increase profitability
By Stan Wise PIERRE, SD – When Cronin Farms partner Tregg Cronin takes the long view of his operation, he knows that including a small grain in his rotation can lead to higher profitability. “Consistently we see a yield bump following that year of wheat and, in our...
Finding the pieces: Soil Health Conference offers education, networking opportunities
By Stan Wise Hughes County producer Terry Ness knows the value of South Dakota’s annual Soil Health Conference. “I compare this whole soil health journey to a 10,000-piece puzzle, and we’ve got maybe a thousand pieces in place,” he said. “Every time you go to an event...
Growing Connections: New app creates soil health social network
By Janelle Atyeo For the South Dakota Soil Health Coalition PIERRE, SD – South Dakota farmers, ranchers and gardeners are making strides in improving soil health, and they’re willing to share what works and what doesn’t. A new app from the South Dakota Soil Health...
Volga 4-Hers Win Student Soil Health Video Contest
Volga students Caleb Barsness and Dane Olson won first place in the South Dakota Soil Health Coalition’s 2022 Soil Health Demonstration Student Video Contest. The two sixth-grade Sioux Valley Middle School students, representing the West Sioux 2 4-H Club, will be...
Conference speakers: Solving ag problems begins with the soil
By Stan Wise For fifth-generation Indiana crop and livestock producer Rick Clark, soil health and regenerative agriculture are about stewardship. “You have to be good stewards of the land,” he said. “If you think it's OK to watch your topsoil blow away in the wind,...
Student soil health essay contest open
PIERRE, SD – The South Dakota Soil Health Coalition is excited to announce a student essay contest for the 2023 Soil Health Conference, Jan. 24-25 in Sioux Falls, SD. The contest is open to students in the following divisions: middle school, highs school and...
Video: 2022 Soil Health School Distinguished Researchers Panel
At the 2022 Soil Health School, Aug. 31- Sept. 2 in Garretson, SD, retired USDA-ARS soil scientist Dr. Don Reicosky, retired Dakota Lakes Research Farm manager Dr. Dwayne Beck, and Ward Laboratories founder Dr. Ray Ward took time to answer questions from the school...
Adding life to the soil: Experimenting with compost
By Stan Wise PIERRE, SD – Healthy soil requires healthy, active biology beneath the surface. This includes bacteria and fungi. While the five principles of soil health – soil cover, minimal disturbance, living roots, diversity, and livestock integration – all work to...