Nrcs - Articles

Lessons for No-Till Soil Saving From a Strip-Tiller

June 9, 2022 | Posted in Cover Crops, Soil Health, Strip-Till Farming

Matt Grosshans, a Hamilton County, Neb., farmer, knows reduced tillage, cover crops and crop rotations were vital to maintaining his soil.

No-Till Farmer Influencers & Innovators

[Podcast] Joel Myers on the Rise of No-Till Pennsylvania

For this episode of the No-Till Farmer Influencers & Innovators podcast, brought to you by The Andersons, podcast focuses on the early days of no-till in the keystone state. Joel Meyers is nearing retirement now, but for 20 years as the NRCS State Agronomist for Pennsylvania, he helped to advocate no-tillage for the gently rolling hills and steeper slopes in Northern Appalachia.

By Frank Lessiter and Brian O'Connor posted on June 3, 2022 | Posted in Soil Health

For this episode of the No-Till Farmer Influencers & Innovators podcast, brought to you by The Andersons, podcast focuses on the early days of no-till in the keystone state. Joel Meyers is nearing retirement now, but for 20 years as the NRCS State Agronomist for Pennsylvania, he helped to advocate no-tillage for the gently rolling hills and steeper slopes in Northern Appalachia.

Government, Non-Profit, Company Offer $2.6 Million for Covers

May 24, 2022 | Posted in Cover Crops, Nutrient Management, Residue Management

Grants have been awarded to the non-profit groups American Farmland Trust, Ducks Unlimited, the Kansas Association of Conservation Districts, Minnesota Soil Health Coalition and Practical Farmers of Iowa.

USDA Spotlights Western Lake Erie Watershed Projects

April 28, 2022 | Posted in Nutrient Management, Soil Health

The roughly 20-minute YouTube video promotes efforts undertaken by the NRCS and government farmers in the watershed, which includes portions of Western Ohio, Southern Michigan, and Eastern Indiana.

Financial Aid Available to Texas Farmers Impacted By Wildfires

April 12, 2022 | Posted in Crop Protection

Source: USDA

NRCS in Texas will assist landowners with their efforts to address wind and water erosion, livestock production limitation, degraded plant condition and other resource concerns caused by the recent wildfires.

NRCS Report Indicates Declining Soil Erosion, Increasing Soil Carbon

March 10, 2022 | Posted in Cover Crops, Soil Health, Water Management

Source: NRCS

With millions of tons of soil loss mitigated, an increase in soil carbon and a reduction in nutrient surface runoff, the CEAP report form the NRCS suggests U.S. farmers have seen big improvements from using no-till, diversifying crop rotations and irrigating more efficiently.

Tips on Using Cover Crops After a Drought

March 7, 2022 | Posted in Cover Crops

Source: South Dakota Soil Health Coalition

With dry conditions still covering much of the Great Plains and upper Midwest, many growers have turned to cover crops to improve the water use efficiency and improve water infiltration rates and water storage capacity on their land. But careful management is key, says the South Dakota Soil Health Coalition.

From The Archives: No-Till Gets More Attention Among Soil Conservationists

(August 1982 No-Till Farmer)

February 25, 2022

Washington’s interest in no-till increased dramatically in the 1980s and 1990s as several veteran no-tillers took over the role of Chief of the Soil Conservation Service (SCS), which is now known as the Natural Resources and Conservation Service (NRCS) in Washington. The No-Till History series is made possible by Calmer Corn Heads.

‘Outsiders’ in D.C. Moved No-Till Forward

Two no-tillers — Peter Myers and Bill Richards — brought credibility and trust to Washington, D.C., as they charted a transition for U.S. farmers.

By Mike Lessiter posted on February 25, 2022

The still “coming of age” no-till practice received two significant shots in the arm when no-tillers were tapped for influential posts in D.C. Instead of bureaucrats, the USDA smartly veered from the norm to appoint two practical farmers, Missouri’s Peter Myers and Ohio’s Bill Richards, to help convince farmers of the merits of reducing tillage. The No-Till History series is made possible by Calmer Corn Heads.