Rainfall is Cash: Why Nebraska Irrigators Are Turning to "Soil Armor"
At the dryland Rogers Memorial Farm at Lincoln, switching to no-till and cover crops boosted water infiltration from 1 inch per hour to 6-plus inches per hour. The result: More water in the soil, leading to consistently higher yields.
‘Yes, but how much rain did you keep?’
Improved productivity and profitability follow as soil health improves, making production systems more resilient while reducing risks to the environment. This became the focus of my Extension programs and why I’m working with the Nebraska Soil Health Coalition (NHSC) to help producers adopt practices to improve soil health.
Regenerative Agriculture: 4 Reasons Why a Back-to-Basics Approach to Farming is Growing in Nebraska
Regenerative agriculture is gaining real momentum in Nebraska as producers search for ways to stay profitable in a very tough economic environment.
Farmers are facing a significant financial squeeze in 2025–2026, driven by high production costs, low commodity prices, and rising debt. At the same time, a growing number of ag producers and rural communities are recognizing another urgent priority: protecting the soil and water beneath our feet.
My Window View as a Young Nebraska Producer
As I travel the countryside near Geneva and my farm this winter, I’ve noticed something familiar but increasingly striking: an ever-increasing abundance of harvested corn acres. As a row crop farmer, I don’t just see residue — I see opportunity. By grazing corn stalks, I’m turning what’s left in the field into cash while reducing nutrient costs for my next crop. In this article, I will share my grazing practices, walk through the economics and explore how we can improve our land. But first, it helps to step back and remember the system that built the deep, productive soils we farm today.