Laser Leveling And Soil Amendment
Stewardship Programs
Laser Leveling
The Laser Leveling Program shares the cost of leveling the soil on fields in order to minimize the impact of water erosion. Laser leveling is beneficial because it:
- Eliminates low spots and pooling in fields; ponds of water can cause soil compaction and salinity
- Minimizes surface water runoff and erosion that can carry away soil particles
- Maximizes productivity by allowing fields to dry out earlier; this allows farmers earlier access for planting, making it more likely that a cover crop can be planted once the cash crop is harvested
Farming has come a long way since horses and ploughs furrowed the fields of Delta. Today, geographical positioning system (GPS) receivers, geographical information system (GIS) software and data, stationary laser emitters, and ploughs with laser receivers are used to contour fields.
Soil Amendment
The Soil Amendment Stewardship Program cost-shares the application of lime and gypsum to farm fields. Soils used to grow food crops will eventually become acidic over time. Acidic soil prevents plants from absorbing nutrients and consequently stunts the growth of crop plants. Farmers can apply lime to their soil to prevent the soil from becoming too acidic. Applying lime benefits farming and wildlife by increasing the productivity of soils, thereby maintaining the viability of local food production.