Soil Health Field Day promotes agricultural evolution

Long gone are the days of horse-drawn plows and “simple” farming methods. Today’s farmers are not only focused on high yields, but soil health, water quality, and environmental benefits as well. One local farmer, Tim Smith of Eagle Grove, has been pursuing such tactics since the fall of 2011, when he planted his first cover crop.

Smith shared his experiences of the past four years with interested farmers on Wednesday, Sept. 9, when he hosted a Soil Health Field Day on his farm just east of Eagle Grove. Joining him to provide even more information were soil health experts, industry professionals, and a farmer panel who also shared their insight on what they have tried and where the future of environmental conscious farming is going.

Smith told the crowd that the main reason he got involved with cover crops in the first place was to promote water quality. He added that with cover crops came tremendous benefits to soil health, long-term sustainability, and more.

Read the full article in the September 17 edition of the Eagle.