This week we're pleased to share excerpts from Dr. Abbey Wick’s conversation with Tony Kramer on the RDO Equipment Co. Agriculture Technology Podcast. Tony and Abbey discuss defining soil health, cover cropping strategies, and the value of strip-till to retain moisture and size residue.

Underground Agriculture intends to focus on soil health intelligence to optimize equipment choices.

Tillage might result in some sort-term gains, but soil scientist Jay Fuhrer warns that the practice causes long-term damage to healthy soil’s best friend — fungi.

To help young people understand the roots of agriculture, Trevor Zantow hosted Leola ag students to his farm where he explained the importance of soil health in his operation.

It’s been said, “You can’t manage what you can’t measure.” For strip-tillers, getting an accurate read on soil health is key to prescribing the right remedy for nutrient-deficient areas. Dr. Kristen Veum, research soil scientist with the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in Columbia, Mo., has studied assessment of soil quality in agro-ecosystems, development and refinement of soil quality indicators and application of sensor technology for soil quality assessment.

Soil health is rooted in a comprehensive farm management strategy. Knowing how to utilize natural soil heal stimulants to maximize crop production is an objective of Aaron Hird, Nebraska's NRCS state soil health specialist. Hird shares soil health principals promoted by the NRCS including the use of dual purpose cover crops for grazing as well as other opportunities to enhance a strip-till system.

Building biological diversity is an objective many strip-tillers seek when developing a comprehensive system. This starts from the ground up, investing in the soil as a living resource to support crop growth.

Jay Fuhrer of the NRCS explains why soil armor, minimizing soil disturbance, plant diversity, continual live plant roots and livestock integration are all key to soil health.