Soil Farmers: Why the Process Matters for Soil Improvement

The Tendency to Focus on End Products

We all have a tendency to focus on the end product in the work we do. With greater automation and more demands on our time, along with becoming more of an instant gratification culture, we have a tendency to neglect the process.

Years ago much of the work people did was a reward in and of itself. There was joy in the crafting of a thing. The artist may have the final work in mind, but must immerse himself in every step along the way in order to perfect it. It would benefit us all if we would step back a little and focus more on our processes. And by “all”, the farmer is included.

Setting the Land on a Regenerative Path

Ultimately, in order to set the land on a regenerative path, the soil needs to be improved. In situations where the farmer tills and sprays with insecticides and herbicides regularly, this becomes impossible. There are three main reasons why.

Every situation is different, but these practices create conditions that work against real soil improvement over time.

Why Bare Ground Is Always Degenerative

Bare ground is always degenerative. When there’s no cover on the ground, the soil will blow away with the wind, wash away with the rain, get baked by the sun and freezes easier and more deeply.

This is the first mechanism that prevents building healthy soil. Without addressing it, the foundation keeps eroding.

The Effects of Insecticides, Herbicides, and Synthetic Fertilizers

Insecticides aren’t very discriminative. The spray that kills the pests also kills the beneficials, both above the soil and below it. And, of course, the same can be said of herbicides, especially as they related to some of the beneficial ecology of healthy soil.

When these are taking place extensively, there’s simply little-to-no life in the soil. This is often overcome with spraying or spreading synthetic fertilizers, resulting in a healthier looking crop. But this is part of that process we mentioned earlier.

Questions the Process Raises

It brings up some good questions. Does the benefit of using synthetic fertilizers outweigh the cost? Are there downsides to the health of the crop when synthetic fertilizers are used? How does it affect the nutrients?

Consider also the cost and the wear and tear on equipment. Is there equipment that isn’t needed if there’s no synthetic fertilizer used? How about fuel costs? How is time management affected? How does the fertilizer affect the soil? How does it affect the soil biology?