Hoorman Soil Health Services

Upcoming Events

9th Annual National Strip-Tillage Conference
Iowa City, Iowa
Wednesday July 27th , 1:00-3:30 PM
Pre-Conference Session:
James J. Hoorman

Boosting the Bottom Line with Mineral Nutrition and Humates
Micronutrients and humates are critical to soil fertility and plant nutrition but their effects are not widely well-understood, say Jim Hoorman. In fact, the independent soil health specialist says, most plant diseases and insect infestations can be corrected with proper attention to nutrient balance. Likewise, the intelligent application of humates can increase the efficiency of applied nutrients.

In this special workshop, Hoorman will discuss the role of micronutrients and humates in the soil and their relationship to disease, insects, and nutrient cycling. He’ll also address how using sugars and energized water can help increase nutrient and herbicide efficiency and how paying attention to these often over-looked components can boost the bottom line.

RSVP Required: Cost is $99.
National Strip Tillage Conference Registration

How Crop Rotation and Management Practices Affect Soil Life
Iowa City, Iowa
Thursday July 28th , 11:00 AM
With 2019 No-Till Innovator of the Year and Soil Health Specialist
Jim Hoorman

To further expand your educational opportunities and chances to learn practical, proven strategies in use by today's leading strip-till experts, we've added a new Strip-Till Classroom to the 2022 conference program!

Microbes in the soil are directly tied to nutrient recycling and keeping soils healthy and productive. Modern cropping rotations and management practices, in which live plants and active roots are often present for less than a third of the year, influence soil microbes.

Join 2019 No-Till Innovator of the Year and Soil Health Specialist Jim Hoorman as he discusses how the different types of soil organisms interact and how an expanded crop rotation can help soil life flourish, leading to greater productivity and resilience.

Download the program today to learn more about Hoorman's newly added session as well as the other speakers you'll learn from at this summer's National Strip-Tillage Conference!

OUR STORY

Jim and Marlene Hoorman reside in Hancock County, Ohio south of Findlay at Jenera, Ohio on a 40-acre farm. They have a 19-year old son, Jonathan who is attending The Ohio State University as a Sophomore majoring in Ag Business and Economics with a minor in Agronomy. Jim has been working in agriculture and farming since he was 13 years old, first picking strawberries then working for Kleman Brother’s Farm as a hired hand. Corn, Soybeans, Wheat, Hay, Tomatoes, Sugar Beets, Cucumbers and Sweet corn were major commodities along with hogs and cattle.

Using Cover Crops as an IPM Tool for Managing Hard-to-Control Weeds

Managing Hard-to-Control Weeds

While herbicides provided an opportunity to expand many important soil conservation practices, overuse of glyphosate and the evolution of glyphosateresistant weeds poses one the greatest threats to conservation tillage as it has forced some farmers to revert to conventional tillage for effective weed control.

Weeds in Cover Crops: Context and Management Considerations

Weeds in Cover Crops

Cover crops are increasingly being adopted to provide multiple ecosystem services such as improving soil health, managing nutrients, and decreasing soil erosion. It is not uncommon for weeds to emerge in and become a part of a cover crop plant community.

Soil Nutrients
Fact Sheet

Soil Nutrients

The availability of soil nutrients is dependent on three factors. One is the chemical form that it can be taken up by the plant. Two is the proximity to actively absorbing plant root. Three is the soil nutrient in a soluble form that can be absorbed by plant roots. Most plant roots require moist soil and water to absorb soluble nutrients.