Soil Health in Nebraska
Soil is a living and life-giving substance, without which we would perish. As world population and food production demands rise, keeping our soil healthy and productive is of paramount importance. So much so that we believe improving the health of our Nation’s soil is one of the most important conservation endeavors of our time.
Nebraska farmers have been taking steps to improve the health of their soil. Meet some of Nebraska's "Soil Health Heroes":
Sowing the Seeds of Sustainability: Nebraska's Soil Health Partnership
Farmers, conservationists and others interested in soil health are working to inform and support other producers across Nebraska through a budding soil health partnership. Aaron Hird, NRCS’ soil health specialist in Nebraska, says the partnership helps everyone benefit from the experience and expertise of the group. “At this point in the youth of soil health we are having to learn this as we go. It’s definitely a two-way street as we work through each individual process with each farmer. Each case is different, and we learn so much every time we put this on the ground,” Hird says.
Watch THIS VIDEO to learn more about Nebraska's Soil Health Partnership.
Bill Nielsen - Profile in Soil Health
Bill Nielsen, has been using cover crops and other soil health practices to improve his Kearney County farm in central Nebraska. Watch THIS VIDEO where he talks about his soil health journey.
Farmer, Educator Sows Seeds of Sustainability on Nebraska Farm
He's an educator who loves to learn. And when it comes to his soil health-centric farming approach, Mike McDonald admits he doesn’t mind making a mistake or two along the way, as long as he learns something in the process.
Watch THIS VIDEO to learn more about Mike's soil health journey.
Farmer/Retailer’s Adventures in Cover Crops Yield Multiple Benefits on and Off the Farm
Veteran no-till farmers Jason Degenhardt and his family farming partners, Kenny and Colby, have long witnessed the benefits of foregoing the plow in lieu of the no-till drill. Decreased erosion and increased moisture retention are at the top of that list.
Watch THIS VIDEO to learn more about Jason's soil health journey.
Hear Nebraska farmers talk about their Soil Health successes in the following episodes of Playa County Radio:
Good Soil Health Practices Benefit Playas 
Playa wetlands benefit from practices that result in good soil health. The Natural Resources Conservation Service says there are four principles to improving soil health: 1) keep soil covered as much as possible; 2) disturb the soil as little as possible; 3) keep plants growing throughout the year to feed the soil; and 4) diversify as much as possible using crop rotation and cover crops.
No-till and Cover Crops Help Rainwater Basins
South-central Nebraska producer John Kinley has a three-acre rainwater basin in a crop field. He talks about progressive practices such as no-till production and cover cropping. Even though he farms through his wetland, no-till leaves the playa with cover year-round, and it now attracts ducks and geese as they migrate.
Nebraska Farmer Learns New Tricks With Cover Cropping
Nebraska farmer Bill Volkmer describes himself as an "old farmer." But this old farmer is willing to learn some new tricks. He started planting cover crops in 2011. Cover-cropping — the practice of keeping fields covered between cash-crops — leads to a healthier, more bio-diverse soil and better crop productivity, which directly helps the bottom line. By selecting specific plants, from amongst the broadleafs, the grasses and the legumes, producers can improve their soils. By keeping soil covered, there's less evaporation, and when it's windy, there's less loss of topsoil.
Improving Water Filtration through No-till and Cover Crops
Scott Gonnerman started no-till practices in 2005 and began cover-cropping his east Nebraska fields in 2009. He says he used to think of the soil simply as dirt. But he's seen with his own eyes how infiltration has improved in step with a healthier ecosystem immediately below the soil surface.
Explore the Science of Soil Health
When we use tillage the soil ecosystem is disturbed on a massive scale. Purdue’s Dr. Eileen Kladivko contrasted natural ecosystems with tilled systems and what we stand to lose when soils are tilled. Watch the video:The Science of Soil Health: What Happens When You Till?
Profiles in Soil Health
Rodney Rulon and his family were a little bit reluctant to get started with cover crops. They didn’t have any experience with covers, and so they started with about 60 acres their first year. But the Arcadia, Indiana family soon saw the benefits and now have about 3,000 acres “under cover.” More importantly, they’re very pleased with the results. Watch the video: Profile in soil health: Rodney Rulon.
For more information
Carlos Villarreal
State Soil Health Specialist
(402) 437-5300