Farmers facing soil compaction challenges after tough planting, growing or harvest seasons have several strategies to restore soil health and prepare for the next crop year.
Preventing potential yield losses due to compacted soil should be a priority as Iowa farmers head into the 2025 planting season.

While the 2024 harvest was relatively dry across most of the state, lingering compaction issues remain from heavy equipment, tillage pan formation and surface crusting following a wet spring.

Aaron Daigh, associate professor of agronomy and horticulture at the University of Nebraska, shared strategies to protect and rebuild compacted soils during an Iowa Learning Farms webinar Feb. 12.
 
Daigh emphasized that soil compaction isn’t just a short-term problem — it can persist for years. Addressing it early can help mitigate planting and growing challenges.

“I thought today would be a...