New developments in soil management are changing agriculture for the better.  It's National Soil Conservation Week and the perfect time to focus on all of these new developments in the industry.  Glen Shaw, Executive Director of the Soils Conservation Council of Canada says farmers are very aware of sustainable soil management today. "Soil management techniques, such as reduced tillage farming systems have revolutionized cropping systems."  Instead of tilling fields, crops are planted with a soil-protecting residue cover over the previous crop to prevent erosion.  

The Soil Conservation Council's main concern is whether enough crop residue is returned to the soil to maintain the high levels of erosion control. "Also to make sure there is enough residue on the surface to keep the soil from eroding or blowing in times of drought. With climate variability its more of challenge than ever for farmers to protect their soil from soil erosion," Shaw explains.

However farmers are doing a great job of using the new technologies to keep their soil healthy.  "Soil conservation is so much more than erosion control today," says Shaw.  "Food producers see their farms as part of a broad food production systems directly linked with issues such as greenhouse emissions, carbon sequestration, water quality, air quality and bio-diversity."  

"A lot of people that don't live on the farm anymore don't recognize that farmers are doing such a good job of protecting their soil." Shaw says National Soil Conservation Week is an opportunity to really focus on continuing the success in soil management, and bringing attention to it.  Shaw says they want to remind farmers and ranchers of what well managed soil means to everyone.