How Alive Does It Look?
We as farmers are tending to nature for the purpose of helping promote the cycling of the life energy in plants and animals. This life energy is a force bigger than us. Inside a seed is the initial energy and blueprint for a fully developed plant and its fruit or seed. The preparation of the place where a seed is planted is something to consider.
Thinking of all the acres or gardens we have observed and how the crop or garden crops were growing, there shows us a variety of conditions and how vibrant or not so vibrant those plants were growing. "See what you are looking at" is an expression well suited for this. Does that system look dull and less green, or is it healthy green and vibrant? When we get out into the crop and dig down to see the roots, even more so do we have a sense of the health or energy level it's operating. Various tests can be done to rate plants on a scale of how alive they are (healthy). Ultimately, we have been given senses that pick up on this very well as we observe more and more scenarios gaining accuracy through experience. Grandpa or Dad often have seen many crops.
There is a diamond level standard of soil health to aim and work towards. It is stunning to see an excellent healthy soil system. In more diverse rotations, especially ones having hay in for a few years. Also cover crop, but more than just after corn or beans late in the season. Growing a biomass/organic matter and biology feeding crop is very helpful to build soil. This results in more life and energy in soils. Certainly good strong levels of calcium help this as well, as Growers Mineral, Corp. has promoted for decades. As national soil organic matter levels are at an all time low, we have lots of potential to improve this targeting 3-6% and expecting it to take a few years balancing costs, this will reward the American farmer well. His crops will handle drought much better and the increased health/ energy of that plant will produce a much better tasting product.
As the season begins, I wish you well and encourage you to ponder this thought and observe various systems or rotations to build soil. There are some excellent examples out there. Much can be accomplished with a little seed, lime, and Growers Mineral Solutions. Now let's get growing!
This is an excerpt from the Summer Growers Solution (2026) written by James Schiltz, CCA, Technical Agronomist.
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