One group is discovering that converting CRP land back into cropland has both its positives and its negatives.

Ag Reporter Sarah Gustin takes you back to an experiment plot to check on the 2nd year's progress.

"Turning idle land back to productive soil

(Rocky Bateman / SCD Supervisor) "We are trying to take a more green approach. We are hoping and we are succeeding in growing crops here without diesel fuel and iron." The Morton County Soil Conservation District is in it's second year of using no-till cropping methods to turn CRP land back into cropland

This ground was in CRP for more than 2 decades

You would think the second year would be easier than the first...but Bateman says that's not the case. (Rocky Bateman / SCD Supervisor) "There was nothing here last year, so we could come in and do a burndown, a chemical treatment to try and kill the grasses and just plant our crops. This year we had to look at issues of proper rotations and did we get the control we were looking for on the grasses so we had some things we had to come back and rethink." (Sarah Gustin / KX News) "Bateman says last year wildlife was one of their main concerns. This year it is easy to see that wire worms caused quite a bit of damage." (Rocky Bateman / SCD Supervisor) "Wire worms are naturally occuring in grasslands. So when we went to a cropping rotation they were still there. They reared their ugly little heads this year and did a lot of damage. But that is what one of the things we are looking for. What type of negative things can happen when you start cropping on CRP land." Despite a few pesky critters and grass control being a bigger problem things are looking better than last year... both above and below the soil. (Michelle Doyle / SCD) "Some of the differences I have seen is the infiltration rates have increased, so we are making better use of the water that does fall, the rainfall that we do get and the soil is just more pilable, especially after those cover crops." The broadleaf crops like sunflowers are excelling. The Corn looks good too

But for the wheat it has been more of a struggle

(Rocky Bateman / SCD Supervisor) "This year it is about the same thing. We are seeing problems in the cool season grasses again. The warm season grasses like the corn, sorghum, they are doing well." Bateman says he expects the experiment to last about another 3 years

South of Almont for KX news, I am Sarah Gustin."


If you would like to see this experiment for yourself you can attend a Soil Health Field Day next Thursday from 6:30 to 9.

You can contact the Morton County Soil Conservation District for directions and details. watch the video | save this article / add to your favorites list