ECONOMIC & ECOLOGICAL BENEFITS
of Soil Health

A three-year comprehensive study to determine the impact of soil health practices on Redwood County farmlands.

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Real World Effects

See for yourself how two local farmers are improving soil health, yields, and efficiency through conservation.

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Soil health study on Minnesota crop farmland

Objective

Redwood SWCD staff partnered with industry professionals to determine the environmental and economical impact of conservation practices on working farms within Redwood County. 

Cover Crops on Minnesota fields to improve soil health Redwood County Soil and Water Conservation District

Process

Baseline testing was completed on sites prior to the implementation of any soil health practices, with ongoing data collection conducted through the summer of 2025.

Findings

Data from this three-year study are now available as downloadable .csv files containing detailed readings for all monitored sites and time periods.

Soil Health Practices include:

  • Cover Crops

  • Vertical Till

  • Ridge Till

  • No Till

  • Strip Till

  • Small Grains

Soil Health Study Parameters

Farm sites were selected within the project watershed based on willingness, scale, and ability to split acreage in half to complete demonstration.

1,037
acres

using conventional farming practices

1,888
acres

using soil health best practices

Initial assessments were conducted on all tracts of land enrolled in the project to establish baseline conditions of the soil. Soil Health testing included:

  • Grid Sampling

  • Infiltration

  • Visual Evaluation of Soil Structure (VESS)

  • Soil Stability

  • Residue Percentage

  • Penetration

  • Soil Temperature

  • Bulk Density

  • Soil Life

  • Roots

  • Haney Soil Test

  • Phospholipid Fatty Acid (PLFA) Test

Economic Data

In addition to environmental factors, economic data is also being compiled as a part of this study to determine the financial impact of soil health practices. Examples of the costs being measured include:

  • Labor

  • Equipment

  • Fuel

  • Seed

  • Fertilizer and Pesticides

  • Insurance

  • Average Yield per Acre

Ready to implement conservation practices on your land?

Get in touch with the knowledgable staff at the Redwood Soil and Water Conservation District to learn more.

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Made possible by a grant from the

Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF)