News

Program improves soil health and bottom line

Hoosier farmers are learning how to better manage nitrogen in their fields with personalized data from on-farm research.

Meg Leader coordinator for INfield Advantage says the program helps farmers improve both productivity and soil health.

“So that every pound of nitrogen they put on their field is going into their crop and less of it is going into water supply and effecting water quality downstream,” she says.

She tells Brownfield the program also helps farmers thrive when margins are tight.

“Every dollar they spend – they’re going to get more profit and if they’re increasing their bottom line that’s money going into their pocket whether they’re turning it around and using it improve their operation or just improving the fact that budgets are tight,” she says.

Leader says INfield Advantage has grown from having 15 farmers enrolled in 2010 to more than 400 today.

INfield Advantage is run by Indiana Soybean Alliance, Indiana Corn Marketing Council, the Indiana State Department is Agriculture, Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation District, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services, Purdue Extension, and Indiana Conservation Partnership

Audio: Meg Leader, INfield Advantage