When farmers truly care about their soil, will they continue to use soil management practices that lose 2 pounds of topsoil for each pound of corn that is produced, as is currently the case in the state of Iowa?
When farmers truly care about their soil (and their neighbors), will they continue to apply excessive nitrogen fertilizer that pollutes groundwater and drinking water sources?
Many farmers do care, deeply.
Many more profess to care, but their actions testify the hollowness of their words.
We can only begin to make progress when we stop lying to ourselves.
We do ourselves and everyone else a disservice by insisting “This is the way it needs to be to grow your cheap food. We got this.”, and continuing to engage in the same behavior that got us here.
How have your management practices changed to improve soil health?