Agriculture and the Environment
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Browsing Agriculture and the Environment by Subject "soil health"
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Item Literature Review Summary of the Influences to Soil Health Practice Adoption Behavior in the Midwest(2022-11-16) Roth, SarahIncreasing voluntary adoption of conservation practices by producers is key to reducing agricultural pollution in Minnesota’s waterways. In order to do this, we must understand producer adoption behavior including the drivers of and barriers to adoption. A literature review was conducted that was exclusive to studies in the Midwest, published since 2000, and focused on soil health practices of interest including cover crops, conservation tillage, perennials, and livestock integration. The major factors that influence producer behavior related to adoption were grouped into 5 main categories: farm characteristics, personal characteristics, perceived practice characteristics, social factors, and structural factors.Item Measuring soil health in the Upper Midwest to improve water quality(2023-07-28)The Minnesota Office for Soil Health (MOSH) collaborated with six university partners, six external partners, and 27 farmer collaborators to learn what soil health looks like in Minnesota. Soil Health Management Systems (SHMS) have been shown across the country to hold tremendous potential for simultaneously supporting water quality and agricultural productivity. However, adoption of practices that build soil health have been limited in the northern climates of the Dakotas, Minnesota, and neighboring states where cold soils and shorter growing seasons create special challenges to using cover crops and minimal tillage. To increase adoption, farmers and their advisors need to network with other farmers to work out the challenges of building SHMS, and they need more data from their region to provide relevant guidance and support research on how to measure and interpret soil health changes.Item Minnesota Soil Health Action Framework(2024-01) Rhees, Suzanne; Lewandowski, A. Marcelle; Cates, Anna; Gile, TomThe purpose of this report is to develop an action framework to increase adoption of soil health management practices. We believe that improving the health of soils across the state means a more stable, financially sound, and productive agricultural sector; healthier lakes, streams and groundwater; better habitat; more carbon storage; and opportunities for flood mitigation through more dispersed water storage. This document is a framework of desired outcomes, metrics, strategies, and actions, intended to be used by diverse interests to guide their planning for advancing soil health. The document resulted from meetings of an advisory group representing diverse interests from both the public and private sector.Item Minnesota Soil Health Action Framework: Fact Sheet(2024-01) Rhees, Suzanne; Lewandowski, A. Marcelle; Cates, Anna; Gile, TomThe purpose of this report is to develop an action framework to increase adoption of soil health management practices. We believe that improving the health of soils across the state means a more stable, financially sound, and productive agricultural sector; healthier lakes, streams and groundwater; better habitat; more carbon storage; and opportunities for flood mitigation through more dispersed water storage. This document is a framework of desired outcomes, metrics, strategies, and actions, intended to be used by diverse interests to guide their planning for advancing soil health. The document resulted from meetings of an advisory group representing diverse interests from both the public and private sector.