Logan County

NDSU research in 2025 (“What is the Worth of an Inch of Topsoil,” Naeem Kalwar, NDSU Langdon REC) determined topsoil loss in the winter of 2024-25 resulted in nutrient losses costing $6,682.95 per acre to replace only five nutrients of the ten that were lost based on applying commercial fertilizer for a 0-6 inch deep soil sample per acre at 2025 fertilizer prices. Based upon this information, nutrient loss with every inch of topsoil per acre costs $1,113.81 to replace the five nutrients. Farmers are better off not tilling soils after harvest and letting volunteer crop plants thrive. Crop stubble will hold the topsoil together and capture more snow for improved soil moisture availability for 2027 crops. Volunteer crop growth will add organic material to the soils.