In early September, Peggy and I had the privilege of hanging out with Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt; or at least we posed for a photo with their bronze likenesses. This year, our annual vacation took us to the Northeastern region of the United States. Along the way, we stopped at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Presidential Library in Hyde Park, New York. Peggy and I spent a total of seven awestruck hours touring the library and the FDR home. We agreed it is a “must see” for everyone. Arguably, FDR had one of the most difficult and …
We Can Do Better
The photos below were taken before the warm summer temperatures and ample rainfall kicked crop growth into high gear. The corn is now well over head-high and the soybeans have canopied the soil. But, the tall crops are also masking the recurring issue of soil erosion. And, since the issue is out of sight now, it seems to be out of mind. It will be forgotten. No preventative actions will be taken. And, we will see erosion again next year.In my geography, spring is the time of greatest soil erosion. All of the fall and/or spring tillage …
Soil Should Be the Foundation of Food, Water, and Energy Policy
This is a guest post by Lara Bryant (@larasbryant), Soil Health Fellow at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) in Washington, D.C. "All roads lead back to soil," said Chef Dan Barber, keynote speaker at the Food-Energy-Water- Nexus Conference (FEW) I recently attended.Soil is foundational, literally and figuratively. In matters of food, energy, or water policy, soil should be a part of nearly every discussion, but it usually isn't.This was the theme of a FEW panel that NRDC co-organized along with the Center for Food Safety and …
Sediment – how far is too far?
How far is too far? As a grandpa, this is a subject of great concern. The distance an ornery grandson can travel in just a few seconds is amazing. Sometimes this distance really matters and sometimes it doesn’t. In a busy parking lot, yes, it really matters. In an empty field, it probably doesn’t much matter. But as a responsible Grandpa, I better know how far is too far for the different situations or I will have to deal with the consequences.Likewise, how far is too far for soil to move in the erosion process? Well I guess that depends …
Cost of soil erosion in Iowa, not a pretty picture
Reprinted with permission from The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture By LAURA MILLER, Newsletter editor and JERI NEAL, Ecology Initiative Leader Rick Cruse is getting used to hearing a collective gasp about two-thirds of the way through his presentations these days. Cruse, who directs the Iowa Water Center and is Professor of Agronomy at Iowa State University, has made it his mission to share some startling information about soil erosion in Iowa. His message is two-fold:We’re losing much more soil than we think because not all …
People Like Options
People like options. That is why auto companies successfully sell a variety of makes, in a range of colors. Even for those of us who will eventually choose a red Ford F150 pickup, we want to consider all of our options. The same thing is true about conservation. Farmers need options. They want to be able to choose the conservation practices that best meet their needs. Minnesota passed a law in 2015 requiring farmers to install filters strips to improve water quality; that is, reduce sediment, phosphorous and nitrogen delivery to water bodies. …