Javascript is required to use this website.

How to avoid soil compaction during harvest

By Hans Klopp, SDSU Extension Soil Health Field Specialist
Sep 18, 2025
Sep 18, 2025

Soil compaction.jpg — Tracks are left from a sprayer that drove through a field when wet.
Submitted photo

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

By Hans Klopp, SDSU Extension Soil Health Field Specialist

This year in South Dakota, many areas have received high amounts of rainfall during the summer. This has led to portions of fields being wet, particularly in the northeastern part of the state.

kAm$@:=D E92E 2C6 2 =:EE=6 5CJ6C E92? 7:6=5 42A24:EJ 2C6 >@C6 DFD46AE:3=6 E@ 4@>A24E:@? E92? D@:=D E92E 2C6 5CJ6C @C H6EE6C] w@H6G6C[ D@:=D E92E 2C6 H6EE6C E92? 7:6=5 42A24:EJ 92G6 2 =@H6C =@25 362C:?8 42A24:EJ E92? 5CJ6C D@:=D] %9:D :D H9J 566A E:C6 EC24<D 2AA62C H96? 5C:G:?8 @G6C H6E D@:=]k^Am

kAm(96? D@:= :D 5CJ[ E96C6 :D =:EE=6 7C:4E:@? 36EH66? D@:= A2CE:4=6D H9:49 =:>:ED 9@H >F49 E96 D@:= 42? 36 A24<65] pD D@:= H2E6C 4@?E6?E :?4C62D6D :E C65F46D 7C:4E:@? 36EH66? D@:= A2CE:4=6D 2?5 :?4C62D6D 9@H >F49 D@:= 42? 36 4@>A24E65] (96? D@:= :D H6EE6C E92? 7:6=5 42A24:EJ[ H2E6C 86ED :? E96 H2J 2?5 =:>:ED 9@H >F49 :E 42? 36 4@>A24E65]k^Am

kAmr@>A24E:@? 42? 568C256 D@:= 962=E9 3J C65F4:?8 D@:= A@C6 DA246 2?5 56DEC@J:?8 D@:= 288C682E6D] w2G:?8 =6DD 288C682E6D 2?5 >24C@A@C6D :? E96 D@:= 42? =625 E@ C65F465 H2E6C :?7:=EC2E:@? 2?5 26C2E:@? 2?5 A@@C D@:= 5C2:?286] %9:D 42? 42FD6 :?4C62D65 D@:= 6C@D:@? 2?5 C65F465 D@:= 3:@=@8:42= 24E:G:EJ] $@:= 4@>A24E:@? 42? =625 E@ C65F465 4C@A J:6=5D @7 FA E@ `_\a_T @G6C E96 =@?8 E6C> W$@?56C6886C U2>Aj !7:DE6C[ $] a_a`X]k^Am

k9bm|@?:E@C D@:= >@:DEFC6 4@?E6?Ek^9bm

kAmx56?E:7J:?8 9@H H6E E96 D@:= :D 367@C6 6?E6C:?8 E96 7:6=5 H:E9 6BF:A>6?E :D 2 <6J DE6A E@ 2G@:5 4@>A24E:@?]k^Am

kAmp? 62DJ H2J E@ :56?E:7J E9:D :D E@ H2=< :?E@ E96 7:6=5 H:E9 2 D9@G6= @C D@:= AC@36 2?5 =@@< 2E E96 D@:= 3J DE:4<:?8 E96 AC@36 @C D9@G6= :?E@ E96 8C@F?5] x7 D@:= ?62C E96 DFC7246 766=D A=2DE:4 @C >@:DE E96 7:6=5 D9@F=5 ?@E 36 5C:G6? @?] x7 E96 D@:= :D 5CJ ?62C E96 DFC7246[ :E :D ~z E@ 5C:G6 6BF:A>6?E @? E96 7:6=5] p=D@[ :7 E96C6 :D DE2?5:?8 H2E6C :? E96 7:6=5 E96 4C@A D9@F=5 ?@E 36 92CG6DE65]k^Am

kAm|2?J 7:6=5D :? $@FE9 s2<@E2 92G6 56AC6DD:@?2= 2C62D 2?5 @C G2CJ:?8 D@:=D H96C6 D@>6 DA@ED >2J 5CJ @FE 72DE6C E92? @E96CD] %9:D 4C62E6D 5:77:4F=EJ H96? 92CG6DE:?8 E96D6 7:6=5D] x7 4@>A24E:@? :D 2 4@?46C? :? 2 7:6=5 H2:E:?8 E@ 92CG6DE E96 A@CE:@? @7 E96 7:6=5 E92E :D H6E F?E:= :E 5C:6D @FE >2J 36 2 8@@5 :562]k^Am

k9bm|:?:>:K6 9@H >F49 @7 7:6=5 :D EC277:4<65k^9bm

kAm|F49 @7 E96 4@>A24E:@? 42FD65 3J 2 =@25 @44FCD @? E96 7:CDE A2DD E92E @44FCD H96? 2 =@25 :D 5C:G6? @G6C 2? 2C62] x7 6BF:A>6?E :? 255:E:@? E@ 2 4@>3:?6 :D 5C:G6? E9C@F89 2 7:6=5 E96 6BF:A>6?E D9@F=5 7@==@H :? E96 4@>3:?6’D EC24<] (96? F?=@25:?8 E96 4@>3:?6 :?E@ ECF4<D E96 D2>6 =@42E:@? :? E96 7:6=5 D9@F=5 36 FD65]k^Am

kAm(96? 49@AA:?8 D:=286[ E96 ECF4< D9@F=5 7@==@H :? E96 49@AA6C EC24<D :7 A@DD:3=6] r@>3:?6D D9@F=5 36 F?=@2565 :?E@ ECF4<D @C 8C2:? 42CED 2E E96 D2>6 =@42E:@? :? E96 7:6=5 E@ 564C62D6 9@H >F49 @7 E96 7:6=5 :D 4@>A24E65] {@25:?8 8C2:? ECF4<D 3J E96 7:6=5 2446DD A@:?E H@F=5 36 E96 36DE :562 E@ =:>:E 9@H >F49 EC277:4 5C:G6D :?E@ E96 7:6=5]k^Am

k9bmw2G6 AC@A6C 2:C AC6DDFC6 :? E96 E:C6Dk^9bm

kAmw2G:?8 E96 4@CC64E 2:C AC6DDFC6 :? E:C6D 42? C65F46 9@H >F49 7@C46 :D 2AA=:65 E@ E96 D@:=]k^Am

kAmw2G:?8 E@@ >F49 AC6DDFC6 :? E:C6 C65F46D E96 A6C46?E286 @7 E96 E:C6 E92E E@F496D E96 8C@F?5] %9:D =625D E@ 8C62E6C 4@>A24E:@? @44FCC:?8 7C@> E96 6BF:A>6?E] (96? E96C6 :D =@H6C 2:C AC6DDFC6 :? E96 E:C6 E96 =@25 :D DAC625 @FE 24C@DD 2 =2C86C 2C62 H9:49 C65F46D 9@H >F49 4@>A24E:@? @44FCD] w@H6G6C[ E96 2:C AC6DDFC6 :? E96 E:C6 D9@F=5 ?@E 36 C65F465 E@ E96 A@:?E H96C6 6I46DD:G6 D:56H2== H62C @44FCD]k^Am

k9bm$AC625 =@25 @G6C 2 =2C86C 2C62k^9bm

People are also reading…

Good cattle and a giving nature: Late cowboy to receive hall of fame honors
County school’s Easter parties created lasting memories
Meristem focuses on reducing crop input costs for farmers
Rural America at its finest: fire relief efforts in Nebraska show best of humanity
Proposals aim to improve pool of rural veterinarians
Virtual fence shows potential for producers
Nebraska ranchers reel from fire losses
Rail merger would hurt farmers
Divine intent of creation respected
Geopolitical issues influencing soybean market
Study reveals how bull buyers use key genetic information
Farmers visit Mexico ahead of USMCA talks
Defend Digestive Function to Protect Profitability
Seed, weeds and satellites at Commodity Classic
Social media talk burns my britches

kAmpD E96 H6:89E @G6C 2? 2C62 :?4C62D6D[ E96C6 :D 2 =2C86C 7@C46 2AA=:65 E@ E96 D@:= DFC7246]k^Am

kAm~?6 >6E9@5 FD65 E@ C65F46 E96 7@C46 2AA=:65 @G6C 2? 2C62 :D E@ :?DE2== EC24<D @? 92CG6DE:?8 6BF:A>6?E] %C24<D 96=A E@ DAC625 E96 =@25 @7 E96 28C:4F=EFC2= @G6C 2 =2C86C 2C62] p=D@[ FD:?8 5F2= E:C6D @C =2C86C @C H:56C E:C6D 42? DAC625 E96 H6:89E @7 E96 EC24E@C @G6C 2 =2C86C 2C62]k^Am

kAm$AC625:?8 E96 H6:89E @7 E96 6BF:A>6?E @G6C 2 =2C86C 2C62 42? >:?:>:K6 E96 2>@F?E @7 4@>A24E:@? E92E @44FCD]k^Am

k9bm|6E9@5D E@ C6>@G6 2?5 >:E:82E6 D@:= 4@>A24E:@? C:D<Dk^9bm

kAm~?46 D@:= 364@>6D 4@>A24E65 E96C6 2C6 D@>6 >6E9@5D 2G2:=23=6 E@ 562= H:E9 4@>A24E:@?]k^Am

kAm~?6 >6E9@5 :D DEC2E68:4 E:==286 E@ =@@D6? FA E96 D@:=] %9:D :D AC@323=J E96 >@DE 4@>>@? AC24E:46 FD65] %:==286 D9@F=5 36 5@?6 E92E 8@6D 36=@H E96 4@>A24E65 =2J6C E@ 2==@H H2E6C E@ :?7:=EC2E6 E9C@F89 E96 4@>A24E65 =2J6C 2?5 :?4C62D6 E96 D@:= A@C@D:EJ]k^Am

kAmx7 E:==286 :D 5@?6 E@ >:E:82E6 D@:= 4@>A24E:@? :E D9@F=5 36 5@?6 H96? D@:= :D 5CJ] %:==286 42? 4C62E6 4@>A24E65 =2J6CD 566A6C :? E96 D@:= :7 5@?6 H96? E96 D@:= :D E@@ H6E] w@H6G6C[ E9:D AC24E:46 :D 2 E6>A@C2CJ 7:I 2?5 5@6D ?@E C65F46 E96 D@:= 4@>A24E:@? A@E6?E:2=]k^Am

kAm%:==286 255D @IJ86? E@ E96 D@:=[ H9:49 :?4C62D6D E96 C2E6 E92E @C82?:4 >2EE6C :D 3C@<6? 5@H?] $@:=D H:E9 =@H6C @C82?:4 >2EE6C 4@?E6?E 2C6 >@C6 DFD46AE:3=6 E@ 4@>A24E:@? E92? @?6D H:E9 9:896C @C82?:4 >2EE6C 4@?E6?E]k^Am

kAm&D:?8 D@:= 962=E9 AC24E:46D DF49 2D 4@G6C 4C@AA:?8[ ?@ E:==286[ C6E2:?:?8 C6D:5F6D[ >F=E:A=6 4C@A C@E2E:@?D 2?5 255:E:@? @7 @C82?:4 2>6?5>6?ED DF49 2D >2?FC6D :D 2?@E96C AC24E:46 E92E C65F46 4@>A24E:@? C:D< 2?5 >:E:82E6 4@>A24E:@? C:D<D] z66A:?8 4C@A C6D:5F6D :? E96 7:6=5 H:== 96=A E@ AC@E64E E96 DFC7246 7C@> 4@>A24E:@?[ :?4C62D6 D@:= @C82?:4 >2EE6C 4@?E6?E 2?5 96=A E@ 4C62E6 D@:= DECF4EFC6]k^Am

kAm&D:?8 ?@ E:==286 H:== 96=A E@ :?4C62D6 D@:= @C82?:4 >2EE6C[ H9:49 42? 96=A E@ 4C62E6 D@:= DECF4EFC6 2?5 A@C@D:EJ] w@H6G6C[ FD:?8 ?@ E:==286 2=@?6 @? 4@>A24E65 8C@F?5 >2J 92G6 =@H 4C@A J:6=5D 7@C E96 7:CDE 76H J62CD F?E:= DECF4EFC6 42? 36 4C62E65 2?5 @C82?:4 >2EE6C 368:?D E@ :?4C62D6] xE H@F=5 36 36DE E@ 4@>3:?6 ?@ E:==286 H:E9 2 4@G6C 4C@A 2?5 2 >F=E:A=6 4C@A C@E2E:@? @? 4@>A24E65 8C@F?5]k^Am

kAm!=2?E:?8 4@G6C 4C@AD :D 2 8@@5 AC24E:46 E92E 42? 96=A E@ 3C62< FA 4@>A24E:@?] r@G6C 4C@AD 42? 4C62E6 D@:= A@C6D[ :?4C62D6 D@:= @C82?:4 >2EE6C 4@?E6?E 2?5 AC@G:56 4@G6C @? D@:= DFC7246 E@ AC@E64E E96 D@:=]k^Am

kAmx7 AC@5F46CD 2C6 ;FDE A=2?E:?8 4@C? 2?5 D@J362?D 4@G6C 4C@A D6=64E:@? :D =:>:E65 E@ H:?E6C\92C5J 4@G6C 4C@A DA64:6D DF49 2D H:?E6C CJ6] !=2?E:?8 2 >F=E:A=6 4C@A C@E2E:@? :?4=F5:?8 4C@AD DF49 2D @2ED[ H962E @C CJ6 AC@G:56D 2 8@@5 @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ :?4=F56 4@G6C 4C@AD H:E9 2 G2C:6EJ @7 C@@E DECF4EFC6D 2?5 56AE9D E@ 96=A E@ 3C62< FA 4@>A24E:@?] %9:D H:== 2==@H E96 :?4=FD:@? @7 566A\C@@E65 DA64:6D DF49 2D C25:D9 2?5 DF?7=@H6CD H:E9 DA64:6D E92E 92G6 D92==@H6C C@@E:?8 DJDE6>D DF49 2D @2ED @C CJ6] !=2?E:?8 2 >F=E:A=6 4C@A C@E2E:@? H:== 2==@H E96 :?4=FD:@? @7 4C@AD H:E9 2 G2C:6EJ @7 C@@E:?8 DECF4EFC6D 2?5 2==@H :?4=FD:@? @7 2 G2C:6EJ @7 4@G6C 4C@A DA64:6D] %9:D AC24E:46 2=D@ H:== :?4C62D6 D@:= @C82?:4 >2EE6C 4@?E6?E 2?5 288C682E:@?]k^Am

kAmp55:E:@? @7 @C82?:4 2>6?5>6?ED DF49 2D >2?FC6 42? :?4C62D6 D@:= @C82?:4 >2EE6C 4@?E6?E H9:49 H:== 96=A E@ 4C62E6 D@:= DECF4EFC6 2?5 E96 :?4C62D6 E96 D@:=D 23:=:EJ E@ 3F776C 282:?DE 4@>A24E:@?] p=D@[ 2== E96D6 D@:= 962=E9 AC24E:46D D9@F=5 96=A E@ :?4C62D6 D@:= 3:@=@8J H9:49 42? 96=A E@ 4C62E6 A@C6D 2?5 288C682E6D]k^Am

k9bm$F>>2CJk^9bm

kAm$@:= 4@>A24E:@? 42? 568C256 D@:= 962=E9 2?5 =625 E@ C65F465 4C@A J:6=5D] !C24E:46D E92E E@ 2G@:5 4@>A24E:@? :?4=F56 DE2J:?8 @FE @7 E96 7:6=5 H96? H6E[ >:?:>:K:?8 E96 2>@F?E @7 7:6=5 E92E 6BF:A>6?E 5C:G6D @G6C[ 92G:?8 AC@A6C E:C6 AC6DDFC6D[ 2?5 DAC625:?8 E96 H6:89E @G6C 2 =2C86C 2C62]k^Am

kAm%@ >:E:82E6 E96 67764ED @7 4@>A24E:@? DEC2E68:4 E:==286 42? 36 5@?6 2=@?8 H:E9 AC24E:46D E@ :>AC@G6 D@:= 962=E9] pG@:5:?8 7:6=5 @A6C2E:@?D H96? E96 D@:= :D H6E 2=@?8 H:E9 C65F4:?8 E96 2>@F?E @7 7:6=5 E92E :D 5C:G6? @G6C 3J 6BF:A>6?E :D E96 36DE AC24E:46 E@ 2G@:5 J:6=5 =@DD 2?5 568C252E:@? E@ D@:= 962=E9 7C@> 6BF:A>6?E 5FC:?8 92CG6DE]k^Am

Be the first to know

Get local news delivered to your inbox!

* I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.

Related to this story

Marketplace

Find the equipment you're looking for

Tractors
Combines
Harvesters
Planting
Misc Equipment
Hay Equipment
Trailers
Trucks
Livestock
Seed
Feed/Hay

Take advantage of these
exclusive benefits:

How to avoid soil compaction during harvest

Marketplace

Topics

Breaking News

Take advantage of these exclusive benefits:

People are also reading…

Be the first to know

Related to this story

Marketplace

Find the equipment you're looking for

Topics

Breaking News

Take advantage of these
exclusive benefits: