The idea that good/great Illinois soils don't need anything other than what is currently done is pretty short sighted.

There is a rest stop on I-80 west of Des Moines with a very striking display about how the depth of Iowa topsoils has changed in the past 150 years or so it has been farmed.

Research work such as Joel's and others will hopefully help us avoid committing the same tragic loss of productive soils we all ultimately depend on over the next 150 years and beyond so we can continue to "feed the world" as you say.

Joel keep up the good work. It is never popular to try something different than the current "normal" methods.

Jim at Dawn