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The Time to Check for Erosion is Now

Most erosion occurs prior to canopy closure in the months of April, May, and June, so this is a good time to inspect fields and take action if excessive erosion is observed.

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Updated:

April 1, 2026

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An ephemeral gully, sediment deposition, and crop residue movement in a field are evidences of excessive soil erosion that require action. Photo credit: Sjoerd Duiker

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Controlling erosion is paramount to maintain soil productivity, especially in a state like Pennsylvania, where 60% of our cropland is HEL (Highly Erodible Land). Additionally, Soil Conservation or Erosion and Sediment Control Plans are required by law for Pennsylvania farmers. But the effectiveness of our conservation efforts needs to be checked annually. A Wisconsin study showed that 40% of runoff and 80% of erosion occurred in April, May, and June, which is likely to be very similar to Pennsylvania. So these coming months are going to be the most vulnerable to soil loss by erosion, and a good time to inspect your fields to see if conservation efforts are sufficient.

These are the things to look for:

concentrated flow areas
waterway outlets
in-field erosion
eroded streambanks.

Before going to the field, print out an aerial photo of the fields and mark on it areas that show severe signs of erosion that need attention with red, and areas showing moderate signs of erosion with yellow. Note where conservation practices are effective in controlling erosion. The rationale behind walkovers is to determine what is causing runoff and erosion, at what time of the year erosion occurs, and then develop a plan with priorities to address the 'red' areas and possibly the 'yellow' areas.

Things to look for are poor soil health, resulting from lack of soil cover, weak soil structure, low organic matter, lack of biological activity, and compaction leading to sealed soil surfaces, small channels and gullies in the field, crops that are washed out or buried, and corn or soybean stalks collecting in or around the field. Possible solutions that may be considered are to reduce or eliminate soil tillage, plant cover crops, or use conservation practices such as contour planting, breaking up slopes by planting strips of different crops, leaving more crop residue, and buffer strips or terraces. Check if grassed waterways are still functional. Soil buildup inside or along the edge of the waterway may cause gully formation along its edge. The waterway may have been destroyed due to tillage or herbicide applications, or a gully may have formed at the outlet. In those cases, repair the grassed waterway. Work with your neighbors or township supervisors if water entering a field from a neighboring area, road, or culvert causes damage.

Finally, if streambank erosion is observed, request assistance from your local Soil and Water Conservation District.

Now is the time to check your fields for erosion and determine a course of action to eliminate it.