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News & Events
Wintertime is decision time
By Stan Wise PIERRE, SD – It’s often said that the best time to start improving your land was 20 years ago, but the second-best time is right now. That statement might be harder for ranchers to swallow with winter on their doorstep, nothing growing in their pastures,...
Research ties healthy soil biology to a host of benefits
By Stan Wise PIERRE, SD – Agricultural producers often base their land management decisions on the living things they can see above the ground – crops, livestock, forage, weeds, insects, wildlife, etc. However, new research is showing they should also consider life...
Student video and essay contests now open
As part of the 2024 Soil Health Conference, the South Dakota Soil Health Coalition has announced two exciting contests for students in South Dakota. The student video and essay contests have been designed to give students the opportunity to learn more about soil...
- Dr. Dan Undersander - Alfalfa leaf loss effect on yield and quality
- Rebecca Kern-Lunbery - NIRS evaluation of grass in rotations
- Brady Wulf/Justin Fruechte - Alternative forages in grain rotations
- Dr. Peter Sexton- Fitting soil health into forage production NPFA Business Meeting
Agenda
- 11:30a m - Registration Begins
- 12:00 pm - Lunch
- 12:30 pm - Alfalfa Leaf Loss Effect on Yield and Quality; Dr. Dan Undersander - Professor Emeritus, University of WI Madison
- 2:00 pm - NIRS Evaluation of Grass in Rotations; Rebecca Kern-Lunbery - Feed Testing Product Manager &Strategist, Ward Labs
- 2:30 pm - Break
- 2:40 pm - Alternative Forages in Grain Rotations; Brady Wulf - Forage Producer, Starbuck, MN, Justin Fruechte - Ag Product Expert, Renovo Seed
- 3:10 pm - Fitting Soil Health into Forage Production; Dr. Peter Sexton - Farm Manager, SDSU Southeast Research Farm
- 4:00 pm - NPFA Business Meeting
- 4:30 pm - Adjourn
Agenda
[post_title] => Ag Horizons Conference [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => ag-horizons-conference-4 [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2023-11-09 18:47:26 [post_modified_gmt] => 2023-11-10 00:47:26 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://www.sdsoilhealthcoalition.org/?post_type=tribe_events&p=510932 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => tribe_events [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw [event_date] => 2023-12-05 07:30:00 ) [2] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 510385 [post_author] => 22 [post_date] => 2023-01-30 18:09:56 [post_date_gmt] => 2023-01-31 00:09:56 [post_content] => The SD Soil Health Coalition Board of Directors will meet to discuss and vote on Coalition business. Members and others are encouraged to join the meeting. Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89785286144?pwd=QVozUGdBQjBybC9FRlkvNTRrRW9PQT09 Meeting ID: 897 8528 6144 Passcode: 787965 One tap mobile +16699006833,,89785286144# US (San Jose) +17193594580,,89785286144# US Dial by your location +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 719 359 4580 US +1 253 205 0468 US +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 669 444 9171 US +1 564 217 2000 US +1 646 931 3860 US +1 689 278 1000 US +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 305 224 1968 US +1 309 205 3325 US +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 360 209 5623 US +1 386 347 5053 US +1 507 473 4847 US Meeting ID: 897 8528 6144 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbDEBcKBM3 [post_title] => SDSHC Board Meeting [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => sdshc-board-meeting-22 [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2023-01-30 18:09:56 [post_modified_gmt] => 2023-01-31 00:09:56 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://www.sdsoilhealthcoalition.org/?post_type=tribe_events&p=510385 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => tribe_events [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw [event_date] => 2023-12-14 09:00:00 ) ) 
Physical Properties
Chemical Properties
Biological Properties
Soil Health Concerns
Five Principles of Soil Health
Soil Health Assessment Card
The South Dakota Soil Health Coalition is working to create a Soil Health Assessment Card which agricultural producers of all types, ranchers, gardeners, and others can take into the field to assess their current level of soil health. Click on the button above to download the current version of the card, keeping in mind that it is an initial version and changes will be made as it is fully finalized.
Included below are images and descriptions which will assist you in identifying some of the soil health indicators included on the Soil Health Assessment Card. These helpful descriptions and photos are currently under final development. Check back regularly for updates to these resources!
A Spanish version of the card is now available and can be downloaded by accessing this link! ¡Ya está disponible una versión en español de la tarjeta y se puede descargar accediendo a este enlace!
Soil Health Indicators: Images & Descriptions
Use these images to help evaluate various levels of soil cover. Look straight down at the field as was done with these pictures and ask yourself what percent of the ground is covered with residue. Although the pictures show small grain residue on tilled ground, the same concept would apply regardless of crop/cover crop and tillage/no-tillage system.
Biological Activity – Earthworms: Earthworms are one of the easiest indicators to observe. However, they may not be present if the soil is too dry. In addition to worms, look for signs of worms such as holes (left photo) or their casts (right photo) in the form of little piles of soil, mineral particles or organic matter on or in the soil. Take a shovel-full of soil and break it apart carefully looking for earthworms or signs of earthworms.
Biological Activity – Fungal hyphae, etc.: Fungal hyphae will appear as white to light tan threads (left photo) or masses (right photo). Also, look for things that move like mites, springtails, millipedes, roundworms, beetles and termites.
Soil Structure– Crumbly soil (left photo) has developed over time by not tilling and subsequent biological activity. It will have pores and channels allowing air and water to move in the soil. Tilled soil may resemble this after the disturbance but will soon look more like the platty soil (right photo). Hard soil layers restrict air and water along with root growth.
(Photos utilized on this page courtesy of the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service)
2024 Soil Health Conference Registration Open!
The 2024 Soil Health School will be held Jan. 23-24 at the Best Western Ramkota Hotel in Rapid City, SD! Keynote speakers include Jay Fuhrer, Jerry Hatfield, Glenn Elzinga, and Zach Smith. There will be many other speakers, breakout sessions, and opportunties to network and socialize! Join us and be a part of our 2024 Soil Health Conference!
News & Events
Wintertime is decision time
By Stan Wise PIERRE, SD – It’s often said that the best time to start improving your land was 20 years ago, but the second-best time is right now. That statement might be harder for ranchers to swallow with winter on their doorstep, nothing growing in their pastures,...
Research ties healthy soil biology to a host of benefits
By Stan Wise PIERRE, SD – Agricultural producers often base their land management decisions on the living things they can see above the ground – crops, livestock, forage, weeds, insects, wildlife, etc. However, new research is showing they should also consider life...
Student video and essay contests now open
As part of the 2024 Soil Health Conference, the South Dakota Soil Health Coalition has announced two exciting contests for students in South Dakota. The student video and essay contests have been designed to give students the opportunity to learn more about soil...