Host Richard Hentschel talks with Russ Higgins, Ag Educator for the University of Illinois. Soil health is becoming much more important more research has been going on in recent years. Keeping micro flora and soil insect populations high is helping keep yields high and nutrient movement slow in the soil profile. No-till has been increasing based on this research. Nutrient load in the farm fields is also very critical for good yields. Farmers balance fertilizer applications when the plants can best utilize them. When the land receives excessive rainfall, a portion of nutrient load can end up in field tiles and potential lost. Over 10 million Dollars has been used to research how to keep that nutrient load in the fields. Cover crops, buffer strips and other perennials crops are very effective in managing this potential loss.