Principles of Soil Health
Soil health is foundational to all of SFA's work.
Keep the Soil Covered
Build and maintain vegetation.
Limit Disturbance
Minimize or eliminate mechanical and chemical soil disturbance.
Build Diversity
Manage to increase plant, microbe, livestock and wildlife diversity.
Living Root
Keep living plants in the soil as much as possible.
Integrate Livestock
Healthy soils require appropriate livestock integration.
Context
Apply these principles within your unique operation.
Soil Health Principles
Healthy soil is fundamental. Our health, wealth, and future depends on the ecosystem beneath our feet. SFA's work promotes agricultural community and prosperity through soil health.
We provide consulting and technical assistance as well as educational and networking opportunities to farmers and landowners in the areas of grazing, dairy, cropping, silvopasture, and fruit and vegetable production.
UPCOMING EVENTS
The Latest from SFA
In the latest episode of SFA's podcast series Dirt Rich, our team member Angie Walter shares her experience using PaddockTrac, a grazing tool being developed by the University of Missouri.
The Walters use the device as they drive their pastures weekly, using both their eyes and the data to help make sound grazing management decisions.
How does it work? Listen to episodes 64: Grazing Tech - PaddockTrac anywhere you get your podcasts!
We're all coming out of hibernation, and there's plenty of opportunities to reconnect or get involved with your local chapter or networking group!
Check out our event calendar to see what's happening near you, including:
- Annual Chapter meetings
- Fruit tree pruning workshops
- Kernza Ale Tasting & Brewery Tour
- Dinners with presentations on farmer funding opportunities
Written by Jonathan Kilpatrick, SFA Soil Health Specialist, these new resources are part of SFA's soil health programming and are meant to assist pastured poultry and pork producers of all sizes.
With facts on raising on pasture, shelter options, soil health effects, a resource list and much more, these new resources are packed with information.