Soil Health

Indiana farmers are on a Health Kick!  Soil Health is soil managed to its maximum potential through a system of conservation practices, including never-till, cover crops, advanced nutrient and pest management, and buffers and drainage systems where appropriate.  This approach results in healthy soil that reduces erosion, requires less nutrient inputs, manages the effects of flood and drought, and reduces nutrient and sediment loading to streams and rivers.  Indiana success with this approach, being promoted through the Conservation Cropping Systems Initiative, is getting national attention and will be a focus of NRCS this year.

Video Source:  Indianapolis Star

Indiana Soil Health Profiles - Print

	Anson Family Farm           (PDF; 3.1 MB)
	Wenning Family Farm (PDF; 4 MB)
	Villwock Family Farm PDF; 2.86 MB)
	Keusch Farms (PDF; 3.3 MB)
	Kruer Family Farm (PDF; 869 KB)

Indiana Soil Health Profiles - Videos

Mike Starkey says you have to be a good manager to make soil health management systems work. Producers should gradually “grow into it,” Mike says, and they should be open minded and willing to learn from their peers. Mike has done all of that, and it’s paying dividends on his farm. Watch video

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.

Thanks to his focus on soil health, Jack Maloney says his yields have increased on his “Little Ireland Farms” every year for the past 10 years. “It hasn’t been easy,” he says, “but with the right attitude, you can make it work.” See video

Dan DeSutter is focusing on the long-term, but says he’s already seeing improved yields and better water infiltration on his farm thanks to his soil health management system. Watch video

Indiana Soil Health Briefings

• February 10, 2018 - How Well Will Your Soils Survive Winter?
• February 8, 2018 - 4 Concepts to Keep Nutrients Out of Streams
• February 6, 2018 - 2 Main Challenges: Food World, Protect Water Supply
• February 5, 2018 - Hoosiers Lead Nation in Cover Crops
• January 16, 2018 - Terminate Cereal Rye When Time is Right
• January 16, 2018 - Try These Tips to Terminate Annual Ryegrass
• January 11, 2018 - No-Tillers Must Think About C-N Ratio
• January 9, 2018 - The Case Against Making a Single Tillage Pass
• January 2, 2018 - 4 Ways to Boost Soil Health and Maintain Yields
• December 9, 2017 - Add Legumes to Strengthen Pastures
• December 5, 2017 - Prepare in Advance to Terminate Cereal Rye Cover Crop
• December 5, 2017 - 5 Realities to Consider if you Own Land
• December 4, 2017 - 4 things to Scout for in Cover Crops
• December 4, 2017 - Fight Winter Annual Weeds
• November 29, 2017 - No-Till Success Starts with the Right Planter Setup
• November 27, 2017 - Remember Basics for Fertilizing 2018 Crops
• November 7, 2017 - Use Yield Maps Before Filing Them Away
• October 4, 2017 - Watch Out for Unintended Consequences to Cover Crops, Soils
• October 4, 2017 - Know Why You Want Cover Crops Before You Plant Them
• September 7, 2017 - Specialty Crop Producers Take Hard Look at Covers
• September 6, 2017 - Water Conservation Farmers Can do at Harvest
• August 4, 2017 - Should You Apply Fertilizer for Cover Crops
• July 14, 2017 - 7 Tips to Make Cover Crops Work this Year
• July 3, 2017 - Gear up to Seed Cover Crops Soon to Improve Soil Health
• June 9, 2017 - Cover Crop Seed Quality as Important as Seed Corn Quality
• June 7, 2017 - Wheat, Prevented Planting Acres Open Door to Cover Crop Opportunities
• June 1, 2017 - May Rains Teach Soil Erosion, cover crop lessons
• May 5, 2017 - Conservation Tips that Could Improve your Bottom Line
• May 1, 2017 - Can Brassica Cover Crops Help Control Fungus Issues?
• April 6, 2017 - Late Application of N is Relative
• April 1, 2017 - Become a Friend to Pollinators
• March 10, 2017 - 3 Pieces of Advice from Anonymous No-Till Farmers
• March 3, 2017 - 10 Reasons to Use Cover Crops
• February 4, 2017 - Conservationists Point to 4 Ways to Meet Biggest Challenges of 21st Century
• January 4, 2017 - Understand Ramifications Before Planning Spring Tillage
• December 29, 2016 - 4 Key Ways to Improve Soil Health on Your Farm
• December 6, 2016 - Why You Need a Conservation Plan on Your Farm
• December 5, 2016 - Key Tips to Terminating Annual Ryegrass Before Planting
• December 5, 2016 - What You Can Learn from Snowdrifts
• December 1, 2016 - 5 Things for Landowners to Consider this Winter
• November 2, 2016 - Tips for Applying Fertilizer Correctly and Efficiently
• November 1, 2016 - Mentors and Meetings can Help you do No-Till and Cover Crops Right
• November 1, 2016 - Get Ready for Spring Now
• September 30, 2016 - There's Still Time to Seed a Cover Crop After Corn Harvest
• September 28, 2016 - What Happens with Corn Residue in Fall Matters to Conservation Farmers
• August 29, 2016 - Cover Crops Aren't Just for Corn and Soybeans Anymore
• August 29, 2016 - Sampling Cornstalks for Nitrates can Help Your Bottom Line
• July 29, 2016 - 4 Tips for Selecting Proper Cover Crop Seed for Best Results
• July 26, 2016 - Consider Cover Crops as an Option to Remedy Soil Compaction
• July 25, 2016 - 4 Tips for Successfully Seeding Cover Crops with Aerial Application
• July 25, 2016 - Successful No-Till Starts with Spreading Residue Evenly at Harvest
• July 8, 2016 - Cover Crop Primer: 7 Things You Need to Prepare to Seed This Year
• June 20, 2016 - 5 Opportunities to Build Soil Health this Year
• May 18, 2016 - There is a Reason Why Crops Grow Better in Old Fence Rows
• May 16, 2016 - 5 Tips for Using Conservation to Improve Nitrogen Efficiency
• April 18, 2016 - 4 Nitrogen Management Tactics

National NRCS Soil Health Website

Indiana's Soil Health Strategy

Indiana NRCS leadership will make the relentless pursuit of functioning soil health a priority for all NRCS employees in Indiana. This decision is based on the positive resource benefits achieved from the promotion of soil health through conservation cropping systems across the state over the past several years.

• 2019 Indiana Conservation Partnership (ICP) Soil Health Philosophy (PDF; 2 MB)
• 2018 Indiana Soil Health Long-term Strategy (PDF; 45 KB)
• Indiana Soil Health Long-term Strategy (DOC; 35 KB)
• Indiana 2013 Soil Health Strategy (DOC; 84 KB)
• Indiana 2012 Soil Health Strategy (PDF; 163 KB)

Soil Health Publications