In the latest Regional Agriculture Pain Point Report (RAPPR) from Grand Farm, soil health showed up as one of the top concerns for farmers in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota, and it’s easy to see why. With millions of acres of cropland and pasture in the region, how we treat our soil has a huge impact on both today’s harvest and the future of farming.
But the challenges growers face today are far from simple. Years of tillage, compaction, and nutrient depletion have taken their toll
All of this adds up to some pretty big hurdles for farmers. It’s not just about the dirt in the field, it’s about the day-to-day challenges that make it tough to keep soil healthy while still running a successful operation. The RAPPR breaks down a few of the biggest pain points farmers are facing right now.
Key Pain Points Identified in the RAPPR:
- Nutrient depletion is forcing growers to rely more heavily on fertilizers.
- Erosion and runoff from wind, water, and other farming practices are accelerating soil loss.
- Livestock integration and cover crop adoption are limited by infrastructure, labor, and short growing seasons.
- Confusion around what “soil health” even means is making it hard to know where to start or what matters.
The Opportunity for Innovation
Despite these challenges, the Regional Agriculture Pain Point Report also highlights a silver lining: there’s tremendous potential for innovation in this space. From better tools for soil testing and nutrient mapping to platforms that help farmers tap into carbon markets, there are exciting possibilities, and for corn and soybean growers especially, there’s real potential. Whereas, tapping into that starts with making soil health practices more profitable and aligned with the way growers already work. And thanks to tools like the Regional Agriculture Pain Point Report, there’s a roadmap for building solutions that start from the ground up.
Partner Spotlight
Grand Farm is fortunate to partner with organizations and startups like IMIO, Pivot Bio, Earnest Agriculture, and Lilac Agriculture that are already pushing boundaries in soil biology, making it easier for growers to adopt practices that are practical and profitable.
You can find more information and download your own copy of the RAPPR here: Growers – Grand Farm
