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SD Leopold Conservation Award Seeks Applicants

SD Leopold Conservation Award Seeks Applicants

Sand County Foundation Applications are being accepted for the 2026 South Dakota Leopold Conservation Award®. The $10,000 award honors ranchers, farmers, and forestland owners who go above and beyond in their management of soil health, water quality, and wildlife...

Fall harvest reveals wildlife benefits of soil health

Fall harvest reveals wildlife benefits of soil health

By Janelle Atyeo for South Dakota Soil Health Coalition PIERRE, SD – Judging by the number of pheasants stirred up from his fields during corn harvest, Craig Stehly was anticipating a bountiful hunting season. He attributes that to the weather, a good hatch this...

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Join us for a Rogue Food, farming, finance, and… rodeo! During the nationally acclaimed Black Hills Rodeo, add on multiple days of learning about food, farming, and finance with our first ever Great Plains Rogue event. February 5th, 6th, and 7th

Location-Main event venue

First Baptist Church 707 St. Patrick St. Rapid City, SD 57701 Thursday – VIP dinner for VIP ticket holders Friday – Arrive at 8.30 and event starts at 9.00 Enjoy talks on food, farming, and finance starting at 9.00 until 4.00, with lunch included from 12.00-1.30. Friday night – Black Hills Rodeo (for those who bought a ticket to both or purchase your own ticket separately) from 6.30-10.00! Saturday morning – 8.30am come back to for a morning of talks and lunch Saturday afternoon – Farm tour at Dry Creek Farm and Ranch with Shawn and Kirsty Freeland For more information visit: https://roguefoodconference.com/rapid-city-sd-rogue/
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  • Barry Fisher: 39 Years with NRCS and now operating Fisher Soil Health LLC
  • Matt Powers: Author, Educator and Entrepreneur on Permaculture and Regenerative Gardening and Farming!
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  • Call: 605-996-1564 or Text 605-530-5390
  • Email: heidi.rients@usda.gov
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Physical Properties

Chemical Properties

Biological Properties

Soil Health Concerns

Five Principles of Soil Health

Soil Health Assessment Card

Download Now

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)

Registration Open for 2026 Soil Health Conference!

The 2026 Soil Health Conference will be held Jan. 13-14 in Aberdeen, SD. Don't miss this outstanding opportunity to learn more about soil health land management practices! In addition to the keynote speakers, this conference will feature breakout sessions, discussion panels, award presentations, demonstrations, vendor booths, student contests, and more! This is a chance to network with experienced sustainable agriculture producers and experts and brainstorm solutions for your land management challenges!

LEARN MORE AND REGISTER

News & Events

VIEW ALL News & Events

SD Leopold Conservation Award Seeks Applicants

SD Leopold Conservation Award Seeks Applicants

Sand County Foundation Applications are being accepted for the 2026 South Dakota Leopold Conservation Award®. The $10,000 award honors ranchers, farmers, and forestland owners who go above and beyond in their management of soil health, water quality, and wildlife...

Fall harvest reveals wildlife benefits of soil health

Fall harvest reveals wildlife benefits of soil health

By Janelle Atyeo for South Dakota Soil Health Coalition PIERRE, SD – Judging by the number of pheasants stirred up from his fields during corn harvest, Craig Stehly was anticipating a bountiful hunting season. He attributes that to the weather, a good hatch this...