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Crop rotation with sorghum helps improve soil structure and yield

An eastern Nebraska farmer says adding sorghum to his crop rotation has improved soil health on his operation.

Stuart Hoff says it’s helped increased organic matter. “It gives a bit different root structure than the other plants or other crops that we put into place, so it gives the biomatter and the small critters in the soil something else to feed on.”

He tells Brownfield, in some cases, it has helped reduce pest pressure for other crops like soybean and corn.  “I’m not dealing with any rootworm or wire worm issues as I’m putting all these other crops into place especially where we have a rotational farm with covers in there giving a blend of root matter and stuff.”

Hoff says his operation has also used no-till conservation and cover crops for nearly 40 years for better soil health and yields.