Transcript Nurturing Changes in Conservation Systems over the next 5

Economics of Soil and Tillage
Building a Culture of Conservation
Farmer to Farmer: Iowan to Iowan
ISU Extension: Agronomy
Science.nationalgeographic.com
Total Soil Erosion per Cropland Acre
NRCS Estimated Soil Erosion per acre
12
10
8
IA
6
US
4
2
0
1982
1987
1992
1997
2003
U.S. Erosion
Iowa’s Share:
139,000,000 Tons
Average:
5.4 Tons/acre
WATER EROSION – BUTLER COUNTY
THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER
ROOT RIVER AFTER 2” RAIN
Partial Budget
Yield Comparison of Corn and Soybean
250
150
100
Corn
Soybean
Bushels per Acre
200
50
0
No Till Subsoil No Till
Jensen
Ridge
Moore
No Till
CP&SF No/Strip CP&SF
Hunter
Statewide No-Till average: 174bu/acre Corn
Vaske
WATER EROSION – WINNESHIEK COUNTY
WATER EROSION – CHICKASAW COUNTY
NRCS Estimate
What is the value of the lost soil functioning?
“there was still a decrease in
yield not corrected by the
higher amount of N fertilizer
added”
Fenton (2005) Erosional impact on organic matter content and productivity
of selected Iowa soils.
Stover Removal
WIND EROSION – HANCOCK COUNTY
Stover Removal
Erosion Estimate
Sediment Detachment
6
CP & SF
No/Strip Till
1
CP & SF
2
Ridge Till
3
Subsoil
4
No Till
Tons per Acre
5
0
Jensen
Moore
Hunter
Vaske
Other Revenue Opportunities
• .6 Tons CO2/year
Value of 1 ton = $3.80 to $7.50
Additional Profit = $2.28 to $4.50
• Requires commitment ~5 years
• Strip Till Included
• Current Programs:
• Iowa Farm Bureau
• National Farmer’s Union
Economics of No Till
We have a problem
 Partial budgeting
 Soil has Value ($6-10)
 Stover has value
 Practices can prevent erosion – saving $$
 Do conservation, get paid

Questions?
Andy Herringshaw
Bremer Co.
Floyd Co.