WITH A GREATER emphasis on the role agriculture can play in improving the environment, non-farming land owners are showing more interest in no-till and cover crops for the benefits they can generate in terms of improving the soil and boosting long-term production potential. 

Barry Fisher, an Indiana no-tiller and NRCS soil health specialist, says that to help spread the word about how farm management practices can make an impact on soil, water and other environmental concerns, you should be prepared with answers to 5 key questions that landowners should be asking. 

1 Are you building organic matter in the soil on the ground you farm? Organic matter may be the most important indicator of a soil’s productivity and often determines the price farmers will pay to rent land. Finding a farmer who is building organic matter with no-till and cover crops is like finding a bank with a higher interest rate on a certificate of deposit.

2 Do you soil test at least once every 4 years? Regular soil testing offers an indication of trends in soil fertility, pH and organic matter levels. If soil testing shows a field has a history of very high fertility, adding cover crops can keep those nutrients in place rather than applying unneeded nutrients.

3 Do you no-till? Bare soil is subject to erosion and loss of organic matter. The residue in a no-till environment will conserve moisture for the crop and prevent soil loss from wind erosion, water erosion and carbon dioxide that could be burned off by summer heat.

4 Do you use cover crops? Covers that provide a green, protective blanket through the winter months collect solar energy, put down deep plant roots and provide a habitat that offers food and shelter for above ground wildlife and hundreds of beneficial underground organisms. Cover crops hold onto the nutrients left from the previous crop and release them for the next crop. The solar rays these plants collect are powering photosynthesis, taking in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to produce food for the plant and organisms living in the root zone. This process also releases clean oxygen to the air and builds nutrient rich organic matter in the soil.

5 What can we do together to improve soil health on my land? Lease agreement duration is the most critical matter in encouraging the adoption of soil health practices. Farmers can build the production capacity and resiliency of their landowner’s soil, but it may take several years to realize the full benefits. 

Take time to help landowners learn more about the basics and benefits of soil health management systems. Discuss your ideas about land management with landowners so they know you have a stake in improving the health of their soils.