A farm could produce an impressive harvest while degrading its soil and exhausting its water. We therefore look beyond yield — to earthworms, water infiltration, bird populations, root depth, erosion and whether the farm requires fewer purchased inputs year on year.
What We Can Measure
Soil organic matter.
Soil carbon.
Water infiltration.
Water use.
Crop production.
Livestock performance.
Input costs.
Financial returns.
What We Can Observe
Are there more earthworms?
Are soils remaining covered?
Is water infiltrating rather than running away?
Are trees healthier?
Are young trees regenerating?
Are birds returning?
Are pollinators abundant?
Are roots penetrating deeper?
Does the soil remain moist for longer?
Is erosion declining?
“Ultimately we return to a simple question: Is this landscape healthier than it was before? If the answer continues to be yes, stewardship is moving in the right direction.”