Soil Health
Soil Health Resources
Farming With Soil Biology (PDF) Fact Sheet
What is Soil Health and How Do We Get There??
Soil Health is the newest ‘buzzword’ in agriculture. But just what do we mean by soil health, why do we care, and how do we get there? Healthy soils support high yielding crop production, conserve resources, help farmers mitigate the effects of climate change, and protect our natural environment and water quality. Farmers are the first line of defense when it comes to soil health. By managing your farmland in a way that builds soil health, you not only lessen your impact on the environment, you can increase the resiliency of your business, and can create system that provides a huge benefit to your whole community and beyond. The main principles of soil health include tilling the soil as little as possible, grow as many species of plants as is practical, and keep the soil covered with intact roots. Our team is here to help farmers in the Champlain Valley navigate the new world of soil health, try new practices and measure results. If you have questions contact us at champlain.crops@uvm.edu.
Soil Health Links
- Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Soil Health Page
- Determining Your Soil Texture with NRCS Guide to Texture By Feel
No-Till and Cover Crop Symposium
UVM Extension's annual gathering to discuss the latest research on no-till and cover crops, usually held in February. Read More about the Symposium.
Cover Crops
Cover Crop Resources
Multispecies Decision Making Tool (PDF)- Cover Crops as Forage Crops (PDF) Fact Sheet
- Manure and Cover Crops (PDF) Fact Sheet
- Herbicide Resistance and Rotation to Cover Crops (PDF), W. Curran, Penn State
Cover Crop Links
- Cover Crop Variety Selection For Inter-Seeding (and Drilling) YouTube Video Presentation with Kirsten Workman
- Improving Water Quality Through No-Till and Cover Crop Pracrices YouTube Video from Across the Fence
- Penn State Extension Cover Crop Page
- Cornell Cover Crop Guide and Decision Tool (for Vegetable Farmers, but lists cover crops generally)
- Cover Crop Page by Northwest Crop and Soils Team