Soil degradation significantly impacts agricultural productivity. Poor soil health leads to reduced crop yields, increased vulnerability to pests and diseases, and greater dependency on chemical inputs, which exacerbate the problem. Moreover, unhealthy soils contribute to environmental issues including soil erosion, water pollution, loss of biodiversity, and increased greenhouse gas emissions.
The Importance of Soil Health Management
The Soil Health Institute and Cargill conducted a project to provide farmers with the economic information they need when deciding whether to adopt soil health practices and systems. 100 interviewed farmers grew crops on an average of 1,940 acres, using no-till on 85% and cover crops on 53%. Farmers using no-till had been doing so for an average of 19 years, and those who grew cover crops had been doing so for an average of nine years. 67% of interviewed farmers reported increased yield from using a soil health management system. Furthermore, based on information provided by these farmers, growing …