By Abdullahi Lukman
Farmers and ranchers are increasingly viewing themselves as land managers, focusing not only on crop production but also on protecting soil health, supporting wildlife and maintaining productive landscapes for future generations.
Agricultural experts say a conservation-minded approach can improve both aboveground and belowground biodiversity. Jonathan Kerman, an agronomic adviser at Ward Laboratory, stressed that healthy wildlife and plant communities depend on diverse life beneath the soil.
Albert Tomechko, president and founder of Vitalize Seed, said building a healthy ecosystem starts with a conservation mindset. He said the broader goal is to create diverse landscapes that remain productive while providing habitat for wildlife.
Experts recommend several practices to achieve these objectives. No-till or reduced tillage, combined with maintaining living roots in the soil, can help preserve soil structure and support insect populations. Planting diverse cover-crop mixtures can also strengthen microbial activity, increase insect diversity and provide habitat for birds.
Land managers are also encouraged to create diversity beyond individual fields by maintaining native vegetation, shrubs and trees across their properties. Such connected habitats can support a wider range of species and contribute to a stronger food web.
Kerman noted that combining cover crops with pollinator strips can benefit both soil health and wildlife by supporting microbial activity below ground while encouraging insects and birds above ground.
However, experts caution that attracting wildlife does not mean eliminating all insects considered pests. Grasshoppers, for example, can contribute to a balanced ecosystem when present in moderate numbers but become destructive when populations grow excessively.
Kerman said birds can play an important role in naturally controlling insect populations. Providing suitable habitats, including nesting areas, can therefore help farmers use wildlife as part of an integrated approach to pest management.
The U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service also recognizes birds as valuable natural pest controllers.
Monitoring biodiversity can help land managers measure the success of their conservation efforts. Soil tests, including phospholipid fatty acid analysis, can provide information about organisms living below ground, while regular observations of plants, insects, birds and other wildlife can help assess conditions above ground.
For modern land managers, agricultural success is increasingly being measured by more than crop yields and financial returns.
Maintaining healthy, productive land capable of supporting both agriculture and wildlife for generations is becoming an equally important measure of success.
