As farmers in Iowa and around the country take on the challenge of improving water quality and reducing soil loss, they are increasing their focus on im­­proving soil health. Many farmers are finding that they can improve soil health over time by planting cover crops, reducing tillage and managing nutrients.  

But can healthier soils also improve a farmer’s bottom line? A new study offers intriguing evidence that it can.

The study, conducted by the American Farmland Trust (AFT), is working to quantify the monetary value of farmers’ efforts to improve soil health. The study combined a partial budget analysis with environmental assessment tools to help farm­­ers det­­ermine if adopting these...