Soil Health Practices Build Farm Resilience

Mar 12, 2026
By Farms.com

South Dakota farmer improves soil organic matter and drought resilience

Building resilient farms is an important goal for many conservation minded land managers. Healthy soil helps farms handle major challenges such as drought, extreme temperatures, floods, rising input costs, and market uncertainty. Strong soil systems allow farms to maintain productivity even during difficult conditions.

A farmer in South Dakota began focusing on soil health in the early 1990s after learning about research on no till farming at a nearby agricultural research farm. After studying the results and visiting the research site regularly, he decided to adopt no till practices on his operation. The transition required removing traditional tillage equipment and investing in a no till drill. Over time, the new system proved highly effective.

The farmer gradually added several other soil health practices. Crop residue is carefully managed, so the soil remains covered and protected. Biodiversity is encouraged by growing many different crops over the years. Cover crops are used to keep living roots in the soil, and livestock grazing is incorporated into the system. These practices work together to strengthen soil structure and improve nutrient cycling.

After more than three decades of no till management, soil conditions have improved greatly. Soil organic matter increased from slightly above one percent to an average of about four percent. Higher organic matter improves soil fertility and helps land hold more water. Research shows that every one percent increase in organic matter allows soil to hold about 20,000 additional gallons of water per acre.

Improved soil health has also reduced the need for fertilizers. Nitrogen and phosphorus applications have been lowered significantly without reducing crop performance. In addition, rainfall now infiltrates the soil rather than running off the field. The farm has experienced virtually no runoff during heavy rain events for many years.

These soil improvements have helped crops survive dry periods. Even during recent years with below normal rainfall, most fields continued producing average yields. Experts say regenerative agriculture practices like no till, cover crops, and diversified systems can strengthen farms against extreme weather.

“I think regenerative ag practices serve multiple purposes, and one of those is to be more resilient in the face of extreme weather,” said Laura Edwards, South Dakota State University Extension State Climatologist. “I tell people we don’t need to invent a new toolbox to survive a changing climate. We already have that toolbox with regenerative agriculture or soil health practices.”

Healthy soils improve water retention, protect crops, and help farms remain productive in changing climate conditions. Many agricultural organizations encourage producers to explore soil health practices as a practical way to build long term farm resilience.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-sasiistock

Video: How farmers are protecting the soil and our food security | DW Documentary

For a long time, soil was all but ignored. But for years, the valuable humus layer has been thinning. Farmers in Brandenburg are clearly feeling the effects of this on their sandy fields. Many are now taking steps to prepare their farms for the future.

Years of drought, record rainfall and failed harvests: we are becoming increasingly aware of how sensitively our environment reacts to extreme weather conditions. Farmers' livelihoods are at stake. So is the ability of consumers to afford food.

For a few years now, agriculture that focuses solely on maximum yields has been regarded with increasing skepticism. It is becoming more and more clear just how dependent we are on healthy soils.

Brandenburg is the federal state with the worst soil quality in Germany. The already thin, fertile humus layer has been shrinking for decades. Researchers and farmers who are keen to experiment are combating these developments and looking for solutions. Priority is being given to building up the humus layer, which consists of microorganisms and fungi, as well as springtails, small worms and centipedes.

For Lena and Philipp Adler, two young vegetable farmers, the tiny soil creatures are invaluable helpers. On their three-hectare organic farm, they rely on simple, mechanical weed control, fallow areas where the soil can recover, and diversity. Conventional farmer Mark Dümichen also does everything he can to protect soil life on his land. For years, he has not tilled the soil after the harvest and sows directly into the field. His yields have stabilized since he began to work this way.

Isabella Krause from Regionalwert AG Berlin-Brandenburg is convinced after the experiences of the last hot summers that new crops will thrive on Brandenburg's fields in the long term. She has founded a network of farmers who are promoting the cultivation of chickpeas with support from the scientific community.