Most of us have heard the old sayings regarding weather and farming including, “Don't plant until the barn swallows return,” and “Wait until the oak leaves are as big as a squirrel's ear.” These, and many other sayings, were tied to observations and farming in sync with what Mother Nature was telling us in terms of heat accumulation, insect activity, etc. They were used to provide guidance for crop establishment and crop growth prior to our increasing reliance on technology.  We have been sold on the promise that technology will “make your life easier.” I think it's safe to say everyth ..read more

The first two parts of this series examined the critical role of carbon in powering plant and soil life (all terrestrial life) and the cyclic outflow from an average corn field. Now let’s look at inflows. Unsurprisingly, the lack of photosynthesizing plant cover throughout the growing season makes the carbon inflows smaller. Maintaining living cover throughout the growing season is the best and easiest way to increase carbon flow into the soil. Plant photosynthesis is by far our biggest arrow. The corn crop in the diagram emerges and reaches maturity in about 120 days. The remaining growi ..read more

I'm a traveler unseen, in cycles I flow, From the air to the earth, far down below. Plants welcome me in their leafy grace, As part of a process, essential to embrace. I dance with the sun, in the atmosphere high, Yet in oceans and soil, you'll find me nearby. Roots release me when they exhale, Guess my name, for I never fail. Where do I journey, where do I roam? In this grand cycle, I find my home. A puzzle of nature, a mystery in prose, Tell me dear friend, where do I go? In part 1, we reviewed the important role that carbon plays in the soil. Now let’s focus on how that carbon moves t ..read more

When I began studying ornamental horticulture and landscape design over 25 years ago, regenerative agriculture was just a twinkle in Gabe Brown’s eye and a glimpse of the future in the eyes of Allen Williams’, Ph.D. For me, well, I was taking an introductory soil science class in a two-year horticulture degree program at Farmingdale State College on Long Island, NY. In that soil science class, I learned all about soil horizons, particle size ranges that comprise sand, loam, and clay, pH, N,P,K, and the fact soil compaction inhibits plant growth. Today, following many years in both the lands ..read more

Planning Winter Cover Crop Rotations Maximizing cover crop benefits in the garden requires strong crop planning with strategic rotations coupled with creative improvision so it’s important to examine strategies and considerations for incorporating cover crops with no-till methods and inter-seeding.  These strategies can apply to the market gardener or home gardener, and have applications for larger-scale vegetable production.  If you have not read the previous article, Armoring Your Soil for the Winter, I suggest you read it first to become familiar with the basic timing and sea ..read more

In parts one and two of this series, we reviewed the role of biology and the importance of living roots, aggregated soil, and a functioning water cycle for building strong, compaction-resistant soils. Now let’s look at the equipment and field management practices that can help mitigate compaction while you transition to a regenerative system. Compaction depth and equipment loads The depth of a traffic compaction layer depends on several factors. Topsoil compaction (roughly the top 12 inches) is caused by contact pressure. If you are running radial tires, a general rule of thumb is that the ..read more

In part one of this series, we reviewed the fundamental role that biological glues and soil aggregates play in creating healthy, strong soil that resists compaction. Given the importance of living roots that drive aggregate formation, how can we use that to our advantage to remediate and prevent compaction? Living roots not only build aggregates, but they also help repair the water cycle in our fields. Poorly-drained and excessively-wet fields are particularly vulnerable to compaction. Compaction from equipment traffic is most severe when soil moisture is at or near field capacity, meaning ..read more

Soil compaction is the most common problem that I have encountered on farms as I travel across the Midwest. It is so prevalent that it’s easy to forget that compaction is a symptom, not an inherent property of soil. It is the result of poor soil function, which is the result of management practices that inhibit soil aggregation. Soil aggregates are the building blocks of healthy soil. Well-aggregated soil has a crumb structure that gives it a “cottage cheese” or “chocolate cake” look. Aggregation allows the soil to breathe and water to infiltrate rather than running off the surface. There ..read more

In part one of this series, we examined some of the findings from research conducted by a science team headed up by Dr. Stephan Van Vliet that had a goal of performing deep metabolic and nutritional profiling of grass-fed beef samples. In this article, I’d like to share even more detailed evidence from the study regarding the link between the health of our soils, our plants, our animals and our health. What scientists have found is that plants respond biochemically to sunlight, rainfall, nutrients, other plants, and the herbivores that eat them, by producing a broad array of health-promotin ..read more

Research conducted by a science team headed up by Dr. Stephan Van Vliet had a goal of performing deep metabolic and nutritional profiling of grass-fed beef samples submitted by farms in various regions of the U.S.  Nutritional profiling included fatty acids, amino acids, phytochemicals, vitamins, and oxidative stress markers.  To fully understand the contributions of soil health parameters, plant species diversity, and the actual absorption of nutrients in the animal’s gut, researchers collected and analyzed soil, plant and animal fecal data.  Additionally, beef samples were ..read more