The conference convenes every other year on the even-numbered year to discuss and develop solutions to issues of national concern to the National Cooperative Soil Survey.

Participants of the National Cooperative Soil Survey (NCSS) include representatives from the 1862 land-grant universities, experiment stations, NRCS, USFS, NPS, BLM, BIA, EPA, USFWS, National Association of State Conservation Agencies (NASCA), National Association of Consulting Soil Scientists, the 1890 land-grant universities, and western tribal colleges. Other interested foreign and domestic groups, such as lead scientists from Canada, Mexico, Asia, Africa, Europe, and Australia are invited to participate as users of soil surveys. We also welcome students and their contributions to the future of soil survey.