A University of Kansas researcher and his team is using laser-based technology to study soil hydrology, including soil pores and preferential water flow in soils, which could one day help experts predict droughts and water recharge, and improve water-use efficiency.

Hardin County Kentucky farmer Bob Wade Jr. has always been a good conservation steward of the land. He says, “my dad was conservation minded and he passed those values on to me.”

The soil compaction caused by combines, grain carts and trucks last fall could significantly reduce no-till yields for several years in the future, warns Ron Gelderman, SDSU Extension soils specialists.

Farmers are eager to harvest soybeans and corn, but fields are soggy after significant snow and rainfall over the past week. Sjoerd Duiker says the compaction threat is therefore very considerable.