Martin Family Farms

05/25/2026

Thank you to all those that have sacrificed for our freedom!

05/20/2026

05/17/2026

05/12/2026

Beautiful ending to a great day planting corn 🌽🌽🌽

05/10/2026

The most versatile tool on the farm. Don't leave home without it.

05/08/2026

Have had our fair share of rain the last 10 days, but we have also been blessed with scenes like these that Chad Radtke took overlooking one of our fields.

05/04/2026

Soil Facts

Why it matters (the “soil glue” idea)
Glomalin acts like a natural adhesive that binds tiny soil particles (sand, silt, clay) into larger, stable clumps called soil aggregates. These aggregates are crucial because they:
Improve soil structure (better crumbly texture instead of compacted dirt)
Increase water infiltration and retention
Reduce erosion (soil doesn’t wash or blow away as easily)
Enhance root growth and oxygen flow
Store carbon for long periods (important for climate regulation)
Where does it come from?
Glomalin is produced by fungi in the phylum Glomeromycota, specifically the mycorrhizal fungi that colonize plant roots. As these fungal hyphae grow through soil, they secrete glomalin and also leave it behind when they die.
Key characteristics
Sticky and resilient: It’s tough to break down, which helps soil stay stable over time
Long-lived: Can persist in soil for decades
Carbon-rich: A significant contributor to soil organic carbon pools

Why farmers and ecologists care?
Healthy levels of glomalin are a sign of living, biologically active soil. Practices that support it include:
Reduced tillage (less disturbance = more fungal networks)
Cover crops
Diverse plant systems
Avoiding excessive chemical disturbance
Heavy tillage or soil disruption tends to break fungal networks, reducing glomalin production and weakening soil structure.

04/26/2026

Beautiful day to plant corn. The field conditions are as good as it gets.

04/26/2026

The best memories on the farm are made on the ride home at the end of the day.

12/24/2025

Merry Christmas and Happy New year from all of us at Martin Family Farms!