Soil Health in the High Plains
FARMS:
Farmers Advancing Regenerative Management Systems
About us
The FARMS Project is complete – thanks so much to everyone who participated and contributed! It was a fantastic journey with all of you.
A successful soil health management system is one which improves soil health while maintaining profitability.
The FARMS Project supported producers who are building comprehensive soil health management systems on their land in the High Plains of CO, NE, and KS.
Led by Farmers
Long-term soil health practitioners provided guidance and mentorship to early starters as they tackled soil health in the High Plains. In addition, most of the project staff are family farmers or ranchers.
Contextual
Soil health is rarely achieved through isolated methods, but rather through a producer’s integration and adaptation of a suite of practices to their local context.
Systems-based
The project encouraged and cultivated systems thinking over isolated practice implementation.
Incentive payments
The project encouraged Comprehensive Soil Health Management Planning and provided acre-based payments for new conservation practices
Local mentorship
Facilitated mentoring relationships with more experienced producers and professional technical assistants.
Comprehensive analysis
Soil health testing, nutrient density testing, economic assessment, and social surveys.
FARMS Project Results and Outcomes
General Project Updates
Final FARMS Report
An overview of the methods, results, and takeaways from the FARMS project.
Full Technical Report
A comprehensive look at the FARMS project results and learnings.
Year 2 Presentation
Given at the Soil and Water Conservation Society meeting.
Denver CO, Aug 2022
In the News:
FARMS Spotlight
Colorado Department of Agriculture newsletter
Case studies
Pasture Cropping in Kernza in Central Kansas
Economic and management issues
Diverse Cropping Under Ogallala Irrigation
Having an irrigated circle doesn't mean I should farm like I'm in Illinois.
Practice guides from FARMS producers' experiences
Interseeding / Companion Cropping
Management and seed options, and results so far.
Grazing on Cropground
Infrastructure, management, and advice
Compost
Options and ideas for large-acreage operations
Social dynamics
1 Page Summary
Interviews and Social Network Analysis
Key Takeaways (Yr 3)
Interviews analysis by Helios
Full Report, Social Science
Interviews and Social Network Analysis
Key Takeaways (Yr 1)
Interviews analysis by Helios
Soil Health
On-Farm Soil Health Practices Affected Potential Soil and Organic Carbon Losses by Wind Erosion (30MB)
Presentation given at the American Society of Agronomy, November 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland
Aggregates and Infiltration
Presentation given at the final FARMS Field Day Aug 2023 in Bladen, NE
Other
Econ: Profitability & Breakevens
From FARMS' 2016-2022 management data
Econ Data
Email us if you'd like to discuss getting access to anonymized, aggregated econ data from FARMS
Nutrient Density Report
Grains grown in soil health management systems and grains grown in the prevalent production system of the area were evaluated for mineral content over a three-year period from 2020 - 2022.
Soil Health Planning Toolkit
Soil Evaluation Tool (SET)
In-field soil evaluation guide, with additional support for how to use the results to guide management decisions
Comprehensive Soil Health Management Plan (CSHMP)
Document that guides you through the creation of a soil health plan
CSHMP Instructions
Document that guides you through the creation of a soil health plan
