Soil Health

soil health

Soil Health

Cover Crops
Having plants growing most months of the year has many benefits.  Cover crops prevent wind and water erosion to soils by providing cover to the land surface.  That same cover acts as a mulch to suppress weed germination.  The plant material and root network feed soil microbes, break hardpans, sequester nitrogen, and increase organic matter.

The NRD offers cost-share opportunities for producers in certain areas who want to introduce cover crops. Please call the office at 402-362-6601 to find out more, or check out this NRD program or the Nebraska Soil Carbon Project.


Soil Health
The biology of the soil includes bacteria, fungi, arthropods, and earthworms to name a few.  To have healthy soil there needs to be a vibrant soil biology that will provide plant protection and give plants better access to water and nutrients. Learn more about Soil Health from this comprehensive NRCS site. 

Soil Health Blog

mitchell hora
From Carbonomics to Carbon Intensity Scoring, Regenerative Agriculture Conference Explores Conservation ROI
Sustainable, regenerative, decarbonized—no matter what you call it, Nebraska’s farmers are increasingly being asked to produce enough food, fuel, and fiber for a growing global population, while...
Todd Dzingle
Chasing Profit
Nebraska farmer uses conservation practices to improve soil and financial returns If your idea of a successful Nebraska farmer is one who has the biggest equipment, and whose fields are regularly...
cover crops
The Dollars and Sense of Regenerative Agriculture 
Free conference for Central Nebraska producers to focus on how to make practices profitable Farmers have heard the hype. So called “regenerative agriculture” can boost yields, reduce inputs and...
irrigation
Advancements In Irrigation  
As Nebraska grapples with the challenges of erratic weather patterns and loss of soil and water resources, producers and conservationists alike stand at the forefront of addressing these issues. One...

Soil Health Resources