Several years after the initial lime application, it is not unusual for the soil pH to decline again, especially in the upper 2 to 3 inches of soil.

Following last year’s record-setting drought, some Vigo County, Ind., farmers have turned to cover crops to help trap nitrogen in the ground to benefit this year’s crops.

No-tillage corn following alfalfa has become a viable option for alfalfa-corn growers seeking to reduce input costs, conserve soil moisture, and even improve corn yield in some cases.

Iowa farmer Kris Wernimont carefully uses the right amount of fertilizer and pesticide on her corn and soybean fields, and solar panels power the electric fencing in her pastures. Thats because she is a steward of natural resources, as these actions conserve energy and lead to cleaner water and healthier soil.

In October we announced a new project, funded by the Council for Best Management Practices, designed to sample soil this fall to see how much nitrogen is left after 2012's dry growing season and, in many areas, low corn yields.

With this years drought conditions there is less residue than normal in many fields. In some, the crop was harvested as a forage or cut as silage, leaving very little residue at all. Without residue to absorb the energy of raindrop impact and keep the wind off the soil surface, soil erosion will be greater and surface crusting could be a problem. Also, without the water-conserving residue mulch, soil moisture losses by evaporation will be much higher.