While your focus might be what is going on above ground, local farmers are just as concerned with what is going on below it. Practices like cover crops and no-till planting are part of the reason why Peninsula Pride Farms members were able to reduce sediment loss by more than 37,500 tons and develop healthier soil for future plantings. TO help put an emphasis on the practices, soil health has been consistent theme at the Conservation Conversation Peninsula Pride Farms hosts at area farms each month. 

At the organization’s Conservation Conversation earlier this month, Paul Cornette of Cornette Dairy in Luxemburg showcased how planting 10 different species of plants could provide significant benefits to the soil.

Soil health will be on the agenda again on Tuesday when Peninsula Pride Farms hosts its next Conservation Conversation at Heim’s Hillcrest Dairy in Algoma. The discussion will concentrate on alfalfa terminated after the third crop, followed by the application of 10,000 gallons of sludge, and the planting of oats and triticale forage to be harvested in late fall.