Soil loss and erosion can occur by rainfall or wind. Kim Melton, the soil health coordinator for the Red River Basin Commission, emphasizes that soil loss by wind erosion is farmers' and soil conservationists' number one resource concern because crop fields are so flat throughout the region.

The movement of soil off cropland and the landscape by wind or rain means critical nutrients and soil organic matter are also being lost. Building up, maintaining, and keeping soil organic matter (SOM) in the soil through cover crops and crop rotations is particularly important for preventing erosion and retaining moisture. One percent of SOM equates to about an additional 14 days of moisture for crops.

Farmers want soil to be a sponge. Similarly, farmers keep the soil covered and armored to prevent "snirt" (that is, snow plus dirt) from sullying road banks and rural views during the winter months. 

To learn more about Kim's work and the Red River Basin Commission, please visit https://www.redriverbasincommission.org/. For more information about the Supply Chain Soil Health Partnership and its goals to improve the food value chain from the soil up, please visit https://www.redriverbasincommission.org/soil-health-partnership 

If you are interested in working trees and incorporating agroforestry on your farm, please visit the U.S. Forest Services' s National Agroforestry Center for free publications and factsheets at https://www.fs.usda.gov/nac/resources/publications/index.php

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As always, we encourage you to cooperate with other farmers, graziers, and gardeners for peer-to-peer learning. We can all be 4 The Soil, for the future! Here is how with four principles: 

1) Keep the soil covered -- Cover crops are our friends;
2) Minimize soil disturbance -- Be gentle, take it easy;
3) Maximize living roots year-round -- Keep roots growing; and
4) Energize with diversity -- Thrive with diversity.

If you are interested in art and framing the 4 The Soil posters for your office or home, the 16” by 20” posters are available for purchase and printing as single posters or a set of five posters. Additional, 4 The Soil gear and swag is available for purchase at https://4-the-soil.printify.me/

If you have questions about soil and water conservation practices, soil health principles, and starting your journey to restore the life in your soil, call or visit a USDA Service Center, a Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District office, or your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office.  

4 the Soil: A Conversation is made possible with funding support from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and The Agua Fund. Partners include USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service; Virginia Cooperative Extension; Virginia State University; Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation; and other members of the Virginia Soil Health Coalition.

Disclaimer: Views expressed on this podcast are those of each individual guest.

To download a copy of this, or any other show, visit the website 4thesoil.org. Music used during today’s program is courtesy of the Flip Charts. All rights reserved. 4 the Soil: A Conversation is produced by On the Farm Radio in collaboration with Virginia Tech's School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia State University, and the Virginia Soil Health Coalition. The host and co-hosts are Jeff Ishee, Mary Sketch Bryant, and Eric Bendfeldt.