Each year, as October comes to a close, I receive calls from producers asking about the best time to analyze soil biology using the Soil Health Assessment (SHA) or Phospholipid Fatty Acid (PLFA) test packages. These tests provide key insights into soil microbial activity and overall soil health: SHA measures microbial biomass, water-extractable carbon and...Read More

The Role of BacteriaFeeding soil microbes includes feeding fungi and bacteria present within the soil. Bacteria are single-celled organisms that are generally 4/100,000 of an inch wide and long. A teaspoon of healthy soil can contain between 100 million and 1 billion bacteria. Because of their abundance, bacteria play important roles in the way soil...Read More