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Soil health report cards can track progress

Michigan State University Extension educators are recommending farmers assess their soil health during weather extremes.

Field crops educator Monica Jean tells Brownfield improving problem areas starts with tracking how fields are adapting to climate swings.

“First we don’t have enough moisture then we have so much moisture, we need to make our system as resilient as possible to weather,” she says.  “All we can control is our landscape and our soil.”

The soil health progress report card from MSU helps farmers to study the long-term impact of soil health practices.  Jean says it can be used several times throughout the year.

“Walk through the field, look for ponding, look for areas with plants that aren’t thriving as much, dig around, bring your shovel, smell the soil, touch the soil,” she encourages.

Jean says advancements in technology are providing more insights into the health of the soil and what practices are most beneficial.

MSU is developing a climate-ready tool to help farms evaluate their risk factors.  While not completely launched, Jean says field and farm management assessments can be made now.

Jean will be discussing soil health tools, resources, and practices during field days across the state this week.