Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll Puts Spotlight on Soil Health

Healthy soil can help reduce costs and improve crop yields, according to ISU Extension's data.
Healthy soil can help reduce costs and improve crop yields, according to ISU Extension's data.

The results of the “2015 Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll” were released on March 7, and statistics show that most farmers (93 percent) agree that healthy soil can lead to better crop yields. About 77 percent claimed that it could also reduce vulnerability to drought conditions.

“Research efforts to understand what makes soil healthy have increased in recent years, and conservation groups like the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service have made soil health a central part of their programs for farmers,” said J. Gordon Arbuckle Jr., associate professor of sociology and extension sociologist for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. “Understanding what farmers know and think about soil health can help guide the development of research and extension programs on the topic.”

Approximately 75 percent said that healthy soils could reduce crop input needs, saving more money. However, 84 percent stated that they were concerned about the impact of compaction on soil health. Despite these findings, only 54 percent indicated that they currently have an effective soil health management plan in place.

“Iowa farmers are paying more attention to soil health, and report that they are taking steps to improve it,” Arbuckle continued. “That said, most farmers would like to learn more about how to manage for soil health, and there was a lot of uncertainty about the effectiveness of current management. I think there’s a demand for more research-based information on soil health.”

The Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll, which has been conducted since 1982, can be found online on the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach website.