How Does Soil Health Relate to my Operation? The potato industry needs productive, healthy soils to remain competitive By Dr. Chad Hutchinson, TriCal Group global director of potato research and market support Soil Health is a relatively new phrase in agriculture that describes the important role soil plays in the longterm sustainability of cropland. Soil health involves a productive
balance of soil chemistry (nutrients), physics (structure) and biology (microorganisms).
competitive. Therefore, it is good to ask the question, “How does soil health relate to my operation?”
The potato industry needs productive, healthy soils to remain
Sometimes it is easier to understand a new concept by saying what it is not. Farmers know the opposite of soil health and they have a word for it. Problem, low yielding, unresponsive fields are referred to as “tired.”
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Tired fields are those in which the potato crop struggles to reach its yield potential and/or yields decline over time. Farmers respond to tired fields by increasing inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides to improve production. 654 E. OSHKOSH STREET RIPON, WISCONSIN 54971
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Tired fields are a problem because they increasingly cost more to farm and inevitably provide the least return on investment. Above: The future environmental and financial sustainability of each farm and the potato industry is dependent on adopting practices that improve soil health.