March 19, 2019 • Page 11 shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com Salute to Agriculture Agriculture and the Economy Soil Management Healthy soil is the foundation of farming. And South Dakota growers are out in front in terms of managing for sustainability. Conservation tillage adds organic matter to the soil and reduces erosion. No-till, strip-till and other reduced tillage techniques have been more widely adopted by South Dakota farmers. Another practice, crop rotation, helps with fertility conservation, weed control, and disruption of disease and insect cycles. Farmers also use cover or forage crops to reduce erosion and increase organic matter in the soil. A four-year Iowa State University study showed an increase of up to 10 percent in corn yields when farmers used erosion-slowing cover crops. Different cover crops add various nutrients to the soil and can be adjusted depending on soil quality. Dwayne Beck, manager of South Dakota State University’s Dakota Lakes Research Farm near Pierre, says the combination of no-till, crop rotation and cover/forage crop use has provided many advantages, including: • Using up to 30 percent less irrigation water • Soil with high organic matter holds more water, which means it does not become saturated as quickly or dry out as quickly as soil with less organic matter • Crop residue from no-till helps hold soil particles, nutrients and pesticides in the field • Depending on residue amounts, no-till cuts soil erosion by up to 90 percent • Weeds can be controlled with less herbicide • Diverse rotations reduce weeds, disease and insect pressure, and spread the workload • More profitable and stable farming Beck says, “Cover crops create a canopy that in turn yields a microclimate idea for microbes that break down stubble. As a result, organic matter increases, and soils are warmer and drier at the surface. Corn planters don’t have to struggle through dense residue and weed management is a big benefit. Taken together with intensive rotation, no-till becomes a comprehensive program.” South Dakota Corn.com Though it’s easy to look at the tech industry and think this increasingly influential sector is what makes the world go round, something closer to the very core of the Earth may be what’s driving your economy. The agricultural sector plays a strategic role in a nation’s economic development and prosperity. From the earliest days, agriculture has been heralded as playing a crucial role in North American culture. Farmers who grow produce and raise livestock for meats and other products have long exemplified what it means to work hard and take initiatives to be self-sufficient. The symbiotic nature of agriculture and the economy is noticeable when examining the ups and downs of each. This is because food production and the potential of agriculture extends beyond the fields and local food stands. These resources impact supply chains and other markets. A strong agriculture base influences other employment sectors like food manufacturing, biotechnology, hospitality, machinery building, and much more, while a weak agriculture can adversely affect those sectors. While it can be difficult for residents of developed nations to visualize agriculture’s effect, one only needs to turn to impoverished and developing nations to see just how big an impact agriculture can have on an economy. Agriculture provides food and raw materials, eventually creating demand for goods produced in non-agricultural sectors. Also, food provides nutrition that can serve as the foundation of a healthy nation. Earning a living in agriculture strengthens purchasing power, which fuels other markets. Eventually, farming can pave the way for development, including roads, markets, shipping services, exporting, and many other sectors. Agriculture is an important economic building block. An especially important sector, the agricultural industry, when supported, can contribute greatly to sustained economic growth. MetroCreativeConnection Farm Equipment Repair Service Cuka Repair Ag & Truck Matthew Cuka, Mechanic 29675 427th Ave., Scotland, SD 57059 • cuka454@yahoo.com Cell (605)464-0096 • (605)583-2301 • (605)583-2516 On The Cutting Edge Of Seed Genetics (800) 359-4094 • premiumbesttransport@gmail.com America’s Farmers, ranchers and growers are some of our nation’s greatest assets. Not only do we rely on agriculture for our food, feed, fiber, and fuel, our agriculture producers preserve our environment, and help drive our national economy. YANKTON SEED HOUSE •Corn • Soybeans • Alfalfa •Earth Carpet • Forage Seed • Pasture Mixes •Wildflowers •Wild Game & Wild Flower Mixes •Cover Crops • Native Grass • Small Grains Hours of Operation: Always Open Please give us a call so we can show you how you can maximize your revenue on the available acres you maintain. Phone: Local: (605) 351-9651 www.yanktonseedhouse.com JOIN US IN SAYING, “Thank You.”