By Dean Baas
There’s a whole world beneath the surface. Learn more about soil health at MSU Agriculture Innovation Day: Focus on Soils on Aug. 24, 2016.
It’s not unusual that our view of landscapes, fields and farms is primarily on what is happening above the surface. We survey a world of lush vegetation and vibrant crops with little thought of the soil beneath them. Many of the advancements in modern agriculture have led to increases in yield and productivity even as the world below may be declining in health. In this hidden world, we may be losing suitable habitat for the myriad of soil organisms that support growing plants. Restoring this habitat by managing for soil health is one way farmers can increase crop productivity and profitability while improving the environment. Soil health management includes minimizing tillage, diversifying crops and using cover crops.
MSU Extension educator Paul Gross talks about healthy soil in a root pit at a recent event.
The time has come to pay attention to what’s happening below the surface in addition to above. To unlock the secrets of the soil, we need to dig a little to learn a lot about how management practices impact soil health. Michigan State University (MSU) will host its first MSU Agriculture Innovation Day: Focus on Soils on Aug. 24, 2016, at the Saginaw Valley Research and Extension Center in Frankenmuth, Michigan. At this educational field day, farmers can get to the bottom of soil health by visiting a root pit comparing two management practices. Join MSU Extension educators and researchers in the pit and see that healthy soil has a certain smell, feel and look. Current research on soil health will be discussed during this demonstration.