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Fresh Dirt: Scoop #2
This week: Chonies, Oats and World Soil Day insights.
Gabriella Coughlin
December 08, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes
Dearest Soil Enthusiast,
Welcome back to Fresh Dirt! In this second issue, we’re diving deeper into the gritty details of soil health, cool-season planting strategies, and the global connections that make soil science so exciting. Here’s a sneak peek of what’s in store this week:
Explore the latest tools and resources for managing dryland soils, including updates from NMSU’s Western Soils Project. Whether you’re farming, gardening, or just curious, this resource is a must for anyone in the Southwest.
This week, we’re shining the spotlight on Southwest Soil Health LLC, whose custom planting services and commitment to the five soil health principles are transforming fields across the region. Plus, they let us bury chonies in their fields!
States like Florida are getting a head start on spring by planting oats now. This cool-season crop offers multiple benefits: improving soil health, providing high-quality forage for livestock, and enhancing crop rotations with staples like cotton and hay. While most parts of New Mexico are too cold for planting right now, the southern part of the state and region can take advantage of milder months to keep growing. Affordable, versatile, and soil-boosting—oats are a win-win for any operation.
Take a moment to hear from a cotton farmer in Chihuahua, Mexico, as he explains how cotton is harvested and processed before it’s shipped to you for the Soil Your Chonies Challenge.
What did Chonie 1 reveal about microbial life in fallowed fields? Get the full scoop on how even seemingly idle fields hold the potential for healthy soil—and why it matters for food security and desertification.
Thank you for being part of this second volume. Let’s keep digging, learning, and growing smarter soils together!
With a heart full of dirt,
Gabriella Coughlin
The Fresh Dirt Newsletter
"Digging Deeper, Growing Smarter—One Shovel at a Time."
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