Soil Health Stories | CropWatch

Soil Health Stories is a new monthly series featuring Nebraska farmers and ranchers who are testing innovative practices and sharing lessons to inspire others. Each month, find a new story with practical steps to improve soil health, curb erosion, and make smarter use of water on Nebraska farms and ranches.

Collage showing a farmer, grazing cattle, young calves and an old tractor, with a quote about healthy soil and family stewardship.

Hank McGowan — A UNL Alum Turning Soil into a Living System

“We used to say this ground shouldn’t be farmed.” Five years later, Hank’s fields are proving that mindset wrong. Hear how Hank rebuilt his soil in this installment of Soil Health Stories.

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A collage of four images showing soil health farmers Paula and Tom Peterson from Waverly, Nebraska — the couple standing together in a cover crop field, a tractor cutting hay, a green soybean field, and cattle grazing on pasture.

Paula and Tom Peterson — Stewarding the Land for Generations

For Paula and Tom Peterson, farming is about more than crops — it’s about legacy. From no-till practices to precision tools, their focus on soil health has strengthened not just their land, but the future they’re building for their family.

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Farmer Brian Brhel holding a clump of soil, with cattle grazing cover crops and a field of tall cover crops alongside a quote about applying soil health principles on his farm.

Balancing Soil Health and Cash Flow: Lessons from Regenerative Farmer Brian Brhel

Kicking off our new Soil Health Stories series, Nebraska farmer Brian Brhel shares how he integrates cover crops and cattle to build healthier soils — and why the real question isn’t if the principles work, but how to make them work on your farm.

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