Still Average

We farm a little over 2000 dryland acres in Northeast Colorado. Precipitation for the year has ranged between 5-7” which is less than half of average. Our early crops didn’t do well do to the heat but that is why we have so many crops in rotation, 15 different crops this year. The interesting part is the “warm” weather crops are doing well for the conditions. We are anticipating at least average yields for millet, sunflowers and dry beans and above average for corn . The use of soil health has made our land much more resilient, the crops can hold on until the next little rain comes If it’s a big rain, like 2” in an hour, our soils just suck it all in. No run off, no soil erosion, no water quality issues. Soil health is more than water management, it has also reduced our fertilizer and herbicide usage significantly and as we get further into it the better it’s going to get. Soil health is vital to survival in the climate extremes and there needs to be more farmers learning and adapting the principles.