As more Kansas farmers consider practices like no-till and cover crops, a common question remains -- do soil health practices pay off?
Research recently presented by Kansas State University agricultural policy specialist Jennifer Ifft at a soil health field day suggests the answer may depend less on how many practices are adopted, and more on how well those practices fit a farm's unique conditions -- especially location.
The findings stem from the master's thesis research of Delide Joseph, now a doctoral student in agricultural economics at Kansas State University. Working with the Kansas Farm Management Association, Joseph evaluated the relationship between regenerative soil health practices and farm profitability across Kansas operations. Ifft provided leadership for the project and developed the producer survey used in the research, while Joseph conducted much of the analysis and worked with an agronomy doctoral student to develop the soil health scoring system used in the study.
"We found that farms with higher soil health scores tended to be more profitable," said Ifft.
"But," she said, "the key takeaway is that practices need to make sense for your area and your operation."
Among the practices gaining traction across the state, no-till remains one of the most widely adopted. Ifft said many producers are also experimenting with cover crops; although implementation often begins on a limited number of acres rather than across an entire farm.
"There is a lot of interest in these practices," Ifft said. "Many producers are trying cover crops and other soil health strategies, but often they're starting small and learning what works before expanding."
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