What is Soil Health?

Soil health may be a term you have heard before, but it can often be confusing to know what it actually means. Basically, the term refers to the condition of the soil in which crops grow in. The soil health is judged on the soil’s ability to support the ecosystem surrounding it, whether that it crops, animals, humans, or all three. Healthy soil is essential for not only productive farming, but also sustainable farming. Most traditional farming practices do not focus on soil health, which is part of what makes them unsustainable. Other types of farming, such as regenerative agriculture and organic farming, use practices that promote soil health, making them more sustainable. Things such as crop rotation, using cover crops, and incorporating biodiversity on the land all promotes soil health and allows the soil to complete its natural life cycle. Overall, soil health is essential to keep farming efficient and sustainable!