Study Shows Insect Farming Byproduct Boosts Soil Health, Reduces Crop Damage

Jan 30, 2026

By John Lovett

With insect farming projected to produce millions of tons of insects in the coming years, Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station researchers offer evidence that the insect farming byproduct called “frass” can improve soil health and reduce insect damage in soybean crops.

Insect frass includes manure, as well as the insects’ molted skin and any leftover insect food. In addition to poultry feed, insects are grown as feed for fish, emerging markets in swine and pet food, as well as human food in energy bars.

“For every 1 pound of insect meal, you get up to four times more frass, so the question came up whether it could be used as a soil amendment,” said Helen Amorim, lead author of the study and a research scientist with the experiment station in the department of crop, soil and environmental sciences. Amorim is also part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service in the Poultry Production and Product Safety Research Unit in Fayetteville. The experiment station is the research arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Their study on black soldier fly frass as a soil amendment in soybean and switchgrass field trials showed that frass worked as well as chicken litter, even when applied in lower amounts.

Source : uada.edu

Video: You Be The Judge: Evaluating 8 Breeding Rams!

It's time for some honest feedback here at Ewetopia Farms! Today, we’re showing you all eight rams we used for breeding this year. Instead of just presenting them, we thought it would be fun to create a “Ram Report Card” — where we point out both their strengths and areas for improvement.

But here’s the twist: you be the judge! In the comments, let us know what you like about each ram and what you think could be improved. No ram is ever perfect, but every one of them brings something valuable to the flock. By sharing perspectives, we all learn more about what to look for in good breeding stock.

At Ewetopia Farms, we raise registered Suffolk and Polled Dorset sheep, focusing on high-quality genetics, structure, and friendly temperaments. Evaluating breeding rams is part of the bigger picture of building stronger flocks — and we’re excited to share the process with you.

If you enjoy seeing how we evaluate our animals, follow along by subscribing to our channel. We share daily insights into the joys and challenges of sheep farming here in Canada.