The Soil Health Partnership Project

Project Overview

The ultimate goal of the Soil Health Partnership is to measure and communicate the economic and environmental benefits of different soil management strategies and provide a set of regionally specific, data driven recommendations that farmers can use to improve the productivity and sustainability of their farms.

Each college hosts a test plot on its college farm, whether it be through cover crop trials, nutrient management studies or no till/strip till management. Each college shares the data with SHP and utilizes the research project to demonstrate the value of these practices to students who are involved at all stages of implementation, collection and analysis of data. The member colleges also host field days to disseminate information to local area producers and business partners.

Project Details

In order to achieve their mission, the Soil Health Project is:

Recruiting a network of demonstration farms that will serve as showcases for other farmers to investigate innovative soil management practices, including reduced tillage systems, cover crops and advanced nutrient management.

Establishing research protocols that will allow us to measure the connection between a diverse range of soil management practices and soil health.

Publishing findings and recommendations that highlight the economic and environmental benefits of healthy soil.

Supporting networking and technical assistance that will help growers and their advisors make decisions that will result in positive changes for the profitability of their operation and the sustainability of the soil.

The Soil Health Partnership Project

Project Details

Member College