In this edition:

• Can no-tillage and crop diversification sustain nutrient stocks in acidic and poorly-fertilized soils? Evidence from 32 years of real-world agricultural management in Paraguay.
• The key role of local and global farmer networks in the development of conservation agriculture in California.
• Mega-analysis of no-tillage and reduced tillage impacts on crop yields and greenhouse gas emissions.
• Beyond the buzz: analyzing actors promoting regenerative agriculture in Europe.

In this edition:

• Exploring Soil Hydro-Physical Improvements Under No-Tillage: A Sustainable Approach for Soil Health.
• Conservation agriculture: A pathway to achieving sustainable development goals.
• Resource Conservation Technologies for Mitigating Climate Change Impacts in Agriculture: A Review.
• Ch. 18 Soil Conservation.
• Ch. 16 Climate Resilient Agriculture: The Perspective of Conservation Agricultural Practice.

It is crucial to consider current soil moisture conditions and expected rainfall if you are planning to plant green. Our research shows that planting green significantly dries the top 3 inches in the soil profile, compared to planting into cover crops that are killed a week or more prior. Read more in this article from Lancaster Farming.

Soil conservation efforts can help maintain healthy soils for thousands of years, in contrast to nearly a fifth of soils worldwide that have less than a century of life in them, according to a new study. The major new report from a global collaboration of scientists, including the UK’s Lancaster University, found that 90 percent of conventionally farmed soils were thinning, and 16 percent had lifespans of less than a century. Read more in this article from the Fresh Produce Journal.

Tong Wang, Advanced Production Specialist with South Dakota State University Extension, shares results from a study that looked at how growers in the Northern Great Plains adopt soil health practices. The study examined how growers value yield and profitability compared to soil health.

According to a recent survey, Indiana farmers planted 950,000 acres of cover crops in 2019. Cover crops are known for their environmental benefits and, with the exception of corn and soybeans, are planted on more acres than any other commodity crop in Indiana.

Almost half of all Indiana farmland isn’t owned by the farmer who works it — it’s rented out. In the same way people who rent apartments are unlikely to invest in them, studies show farmers who rent land are less likely to do conservation practices. Read more in this story from Indiana Public Media.

The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) announced the release of a free, first-of-its-kind curriculum, “A Guide to Conducting a Pollinator Conservation Field Day,” available for download. This new curriculum is designed to provide interactive learning experiences for grades K-8, engaging them in habitat-focused, pollinator-themed activities for the classroom and outdoors.

Brad Zimmerman openly admits it was daunting when he “was handed the checkbook” to the farm after his father passed away. Zimmerman, of Groveland, a fifth-generation farmer and Tazewell County Soil and Water Conservation District director, shared his journey into farming and his experiences using cover crops at the recent Illinois SWCD annual conference in this article from AgriNews.