New report examines socio-economic benefits of soil health for New Mexico farms and ranches
Report charts millennia old traditions and new strategies, analyses soil health benefits and samples on-farm measurements used to track progress.
Keep Soil Covered
Here in New Mexico, maximizing soil cover is one of the most important steps toward achieving a healthy soil. Part one in our mini-series on the soil health principles by NM State Agronomist Mark Kopecky!
Minimizing Disturbance
Agriculture itself is sometimes referred to as “disturbance ecology,” because to grow most of our food and fiber crops, we need to alter the natural soil environment through disturbance of some sort. Learn more about the second soil health principle from Mark Kopecky, NM State Agronomist.
Maximizing Living Roots
Join NM State Agronomist Mark Kopecky in learning about the amazing interactions between roots that are actually growing and soil organisms!
Maximizing Biodiversity
We know that there are more living organisms in a single spoonful of soil than there are people on earth, and we’re learning more all the time about how important these organisms are in maintaining a healthy soil.
Integrating Animals
Grazing results in ecological benefits beyond what’s possible without livestock, and it’s also an important economic component to soil health systems for all ranchers and many farmers.
Soil Care is Climate Repair
Watch siblings Alex (12), Adrian (12) and Athena (10) explain the connection between healthy soil and climate change mitigation!