 |
|
 Sign up for E-mail updates on Soil Health
Soil is a living and life-giving natural resource.
As world population and food production demands rise, keeping our soil healthy and productive is of paramount importance. By farming using soil health principles and systems that include no-till, cover cropping and diverse rotations, more and more farmers are actually increasing their soil’s organic matter and improving microbial activity. As a result, farmers are sequestering more carbon, increasing water infiltration, improving wildlife and pollinator habitat—all while harvesting better profits and often better yields.
The resources on this soil health section of our site are designed to help visitors understand the basics and benefits of soil health—and to learn about Soil Health Management Systems from farmers who are using those systems.
|
New: Soil Health Web PSA
Noted astronomer urges viewers to unlock the secrets in the soil
Dr. Laura Danly of California’s Griffith Observatory is helping USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service promote its “healthy soils” campaign. But why is an astronomer talking about soil, rather than the stars? “Studying Earth is just like studying the planets. Earth is a planet, and it’s the most amazing planet we know. It’s the only one we know that has life on it, so it’s a natural for me to want to talk about Earth and share some important messages with people about how we can make Earth healthier,” Danly says. Watch the video (2:20)
Lone Star voices for soil health
In this seven-minute video produced by the NRCS, farmers and conservationists from NRCS, ARS and conservation districts discuss some of the driving forces influencing the growing soil health movement in Texas. “Farming isn’t like baking a cake where you follow the recipe,” says Falls City, Texas farmer Pete Mutz. “Mother Nature changes things so you have got to be able to change with it. It’s pretty simple once you step back and look at the big picture.” Watch the video
Resources for landowners
Landowners: Get the ‘scoop’ on soil health investment basics
Landowners and farmers across the nation increasingly realize that healthy soils are the key to fostering more productive, profitable and sustainable farms—for healthy, sustainable, long-term returns. This Soil Health Information Starter Kit will provide you with the basics and benefits of soil health, and ideas on how you can work with your farmer to build soil equity by using soil health management systems that include cover crops, diverse rotations and no-till practices. Click here to order your free kit today, send an email request to nrcsdistributioncenter@ia.usda.gov or call 1-888-526-3227. Or click here to download an electronic version of the kit.
Soil Health Across the Nation
A growing number of America’s farmers are using soil health management systems to improve the health and function of their soil—and we’re working hand-in-hand with these producers through our technical and financial assistance programs and services to help ensure their success. Click here to use the interactive map and find out what’s happening in your state regarding soil health and learn more about some of the farmers who are unlocking the secrets in the soil.
Featured profile in soil health
Zack Yanta & Zachary Yanta II, Runge, TX
Learn More
Other fun features
Bon appetite! Cow-cam provides bovine view of cover crop grazing
Ever wonder what a cow would eat when dining at a cover crop “salad bar?” Thanks to this under-“cover” cow-cam, now you can. Watch the video. (3:02) Be sure to keep watching the video to its conclusion to see the story’s surprise happy ending.
