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Feb 16, 2022 · Deep Soil Mixing – the intermixing of in-situ soil with binder to increase the strength and stiffness of the improved soil - is generally grouped into dry and wet mixing methods. For the dry mixing method, the binder (e.g. cement) is introduced without water as powder into the ground and directly mixed with the soil and pore water.
- Setting Goals
- Social Capital
- Economic Viability
- The Role of Perennials
- Growing Annuals For Profit
- Incorporating Grains
- Integrating Livestock
- Farmscaping For Beneficials
- Soil Fertility, Organic Amendments and Cover Crops
- Equipment and Infrastructure
The first step in whole farm systems design is to set goals for your farm. Goals are fundamental to the success of your farming enterprise as they steer the direction of your farm. Their function in your whole farm should not be underestimated. Goals must be based on your values. Values include such things as friendships, spending time with family,...
Farms, like rural schools, provide a nexus for communities. They offer a venue for social interaction and a set of values and products that bind people together. Many people refer to this as “social capital.” The term “social capital” can be traced back to L.J. Hanifan's 1916 article regarding local support for rural schools, and refers to social c...
Economic viability is fundamental to the whole farm whether or not you are a business or a hobby farm. Either way the farm must be an economically viable pursuit if you are to remain as a farmer. Harvey W. Wiley once wrote: “It is a fundamental error to suppose that farming is neither a business nor a profession. It is a business which requires the...
Perennial crops should be given strong consideration from the outset of any thoughtful farm design process because their virtues are manifold. Perennials: 1. Can increase yields inversely proportional to their maintenance over time. 2. Are generally less represented at farmers markets, in CSAs and other direct-marketing channels. 3. Are more resili...
One of the many benefits of growing annuals is that it provides quick crops for sale to maintain an economically viable whole farm. It provides cash flow that is necessary to reinvest in the farm. The nice aspect of integrating annuals into a whole farm system is that it is an enterprise that a farmer can get started on right away. From seed to pla...
Farmers grow certain crops as an integral part of their farm businesses, but some enterprises are important to the small farm only when part of a longer rotation. Grains are a terrific example of an enterprise that can be integrated into a whole farm system. Small grains gross considerably less in sales compared to vegetables or perennial fruits an...
Consider a whole farm as an agro-ecosystem. Intact and functioning ecosystems contain both flora and fauna, both plants and animals. Plants and animals work together to complete ecosystem processes, such as nutrient cycling, seed dispersal, plant succession, vegetation community dynamics, energy capture and maintaining predator-prey populations. Th...
Many insects, spiders, birds and bats will eat crop pests and weeds. Providing the basic food and shelter for these useful animals can help keep pest species to a minimum. Providing on-farm resources for beneficial organisms is called farmscaping for beneficials (FSB) and is an active component of functional agricultural biodiversity. Functional ag...
A soil management plan that maintains or increases soil organic matter content will improve the profitability and environmental performance of your whole farm over time. The best soil improvement strategy depends on the resources that are locally available, and the techniques that suit your production system. When you sell agricultural products, yo...
It is important to assess your equipment and infrastructure and other physical resources when designing a whole farm. Location, size, expense and need are all things to be considered. It is often a good idea to draw a map of your farm, so you can plan your infrastructure development. Building upon existing infrastructure is a great way to start, an...
Nov 8, 2024 · This article covers the structure, composition, and classification of soils and how these factors affect soil’s role in the global ecosystem. In addition, the two most important phenomena that degrade soils, erosion and pollution, are discussed.
- Garrison Sposito
- Soil is the biologically active and porous medium that has developed in the uppermost layer of Earth’s crust. It serves as the reservoir of water a...
- The grain size of soil particles are categorized into three groups: clay, silt, and sand. Clay measures less than 0.002 mm (0.0008 inch) in diamete...
- The evolution of soils and their properties is called soil formation, and according to pedologists, five fundamental soil formation processes influ...
- Soils have a unique structural characteristic that distinguishes them from mere earth materials: a vertical sequence of layers produced by the comb...
Promote sustainable management of soil resources. Encourage investment, technical cooperation, policy, education awareness and extension in soils. Promote targeted soil research and development focusing on identified gaps and priorities. Enhance the quantity and quality of soil data and information.
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The Soil Association recognises that a whole farm approach is a key factor in supporting a shift towards more sustainable farming – building resilience to economic and climate shocks while delivering public goods, reducing GHG emissions, increasing carbon sequestration and enhancing biodiversity.
This strategy is a long-term framework to guide collaborative soil health research, investments and activities until 2030. The strategy's vision is: Healthy agricultural soils contribute to a vibrant agricultural sector, productive economy, sustainable environment and thriving society.
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Jun 6, 2024 · The report explores many themes and presents recommendations to understand soil health, build soil-based incentives and initiatives, and promote soil health and agricultural and forestry land preservation for a better future.
