Soil Health & Crop Production

Agriculture is life! Did you know soil can get sick just like us humans can get sick? Knowing what is inside your soil is the first step in evaluating if the soil is healthy, too sick, or just needs a little “medication” to support crop production. Understanding the soil’s biological, chemical and physical properties are key factors in determining the health of soil. Soil physical properties, such as color or shape, can be visible indicators of the soil's health. Chemical composition, such as nutrient levels, needs to be determined by a laboratory analysis before, during, and after crop production activities. Make it a yearly habit of testing your soil with your local state soil lab. The results provide accurate measurements of the soil’s nutrient levels, pH, and organic matter content. Thus, landowners may use this information to establish crop production practices to conserve or maintain soil health.