New Tool Estimates Potential Long-Term Costs & Benefits of Adopting Soil Health Practices

Michelle Perez shares more about the American Farmland Trust’s resource to help farmers and producers plan soil health improvements.

SILVER SPRINGS, Md. (RFD-TV) — Farmers continue to seek ways to improve soil health while maintaining profitability, and new tools are emerging to help guide those decisions. American Farmland Trust has released an online tool designed to estimate the long-term costs and benefits of adopting soil health practices.

Michelle Perez with the American Farmland Trust joined us on Friday’s Market Day Report to discuss their new tool and the impact of soil health management strategies.

In her interview with RFD-TV News, Perez explained the basics of soil health, distinguishing between poor and good soil conditions. She highlighted how practices such as cover crops, no-till farming, and nutrient management can improve soil structure, water retention, and overall productivity.

Perez also discussed the economic benefits of adopting these practices, noting that improvements in soil health can increase crop yields and reduce input costs, delivering both environmental and financial returns for farmers. Finally, she introduced the new predictive soil health economic calculator, explaining how it works, which crops it applies to, and how farmers can use it to make informed decisions about implementing soil health practices on their operations.

To learn more, visit: www.farmlandinfo.org

Related Stories
AFBF economist Faith Parum breaks down the potential impact of the proposed policy change to allow year-round sales of E15 biofuel.
Learn the conditions farmers must meet to qualify for this new three-year tax deferral on farmland sales, how much it could save, and other details to consider.
Bass Pro Anglers Jacob Wall and Bobby Lane will fish together in the Summit Cup after facing elimination in the Challenge Cup Knockout Round.
RFD-TV farm legal expert Roger McEowen digs into the details on how to make your rural property dreams a reality — and avoid a living nightmare.
Jeramy Stephens with National Land Realty shares tips for fall and winter to guide landowners and farmers.
RealAg Radio host Shaun Haney shares insights from a recent study, discusses EV market access in Canada, and highlights other market opportunities top of mind for Canadian producers.
Iowa Ag Secretary Naig recaps discussions surrounding a potential federal aid package for farmers and shares insights on producer sentiment in the Heartland.
Dr. Jeffrey Gold, President of the University of Nebraska, joined RFD-TV to discuss coping strategies for those aching joints.

Marion is a digital content manager for RFD-TV and The Cowboy Channel. She started working for Rural Media Group in May 2022, adding a decade of experience in the digital side of broadcast media and some cooking experience to the team.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Reed Marcum started hosting a toy drive in 2015. Since then, he has distributed thousands of toys across his home state of Oklahoma and in Texas and Arkansas. Now serving in the Army, Reed’s family and local 4-H chapter are running the event.
RFD-TV Farm Legal and Tax Expert Roger McEowen explains the basics of Low-Risk Credit in Farming, and how an understanding of the farm credit landscape lets producers tactfully approach debt.
Mike Steenhoek, with the Soy Transportation Commission, shares his outlook on current grain stocks and transportation lines amid bumper crops filling bins across the United States.
Renewable Fuels Association President & CEO Geoff Cooper explains their call for reciprocal duties on Chinese ag imports after China failed to meet past promises on ethanol production.
American soybean and corn leaders, along with Canada’s AgriFood sector, testified before the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office in support of the trade pact between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.
The FAO Food Price Index for November fell by more than 1 percent in November, marking the third straight month of declines.
Agriculture Shows
From soil to harvest. Top Crop is an all-new series about four of the best farmers in the world—Dan Luepkes, of Oregan, Illinois; Cory Atley, of Cedarville, Ohio; Shelby Fite, of Jackson Center, Ohio; Russell Hedrick, of Hickory, North Carolina—reveals what it takes for them to make a profitable crop. It all starts with good soil, patience, and a strong planter setup.
Champions of Rural America is a half-hour dive into the legislative priorities for Rural America. Join us as we interview members of the Congressional Western Caucus to learn about efforts in Washington to preserve agriculture and tackles the most important topics in the ag industry on Champions of Rural America!
Featuring members of Congress, federal and state officials, ag and food leaders, farmers, and roundtable panelists for debates and discussions.
The goal of “Where the Food Comes From” is as simple as its name implies — host Chip Carter takes you along on the journey of where our food comes from — and we don’t just mean to the supermarket (though that’s part of the big picture!). But beyond where it comes from, how it gets there, and all the links in the chain that make that happen.
Join markets specialist Scott Shellady, better known as the Cow Guy, as he covers the market-close, breaking down headlines that drive the commodities and equities markets with commentary from respected industry heavyweights.