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News & Events
Long-term research reveals advantages of diverse crop rotations
By Stan Wise PIERRE, SD – It can take time for scientists to build new knowledge of biological processes, especially when those processes play out over the course of years. Researchers with the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service North Central...
‘Park the chisel’: First step toward soil health can be simple
By Stan Wise PIERRE, SD – The benefits of improved soil health for agricultural producers and gardeners are numerous and valuable – reduced input costs, improved profitability, drought and flood resilience, reduced erosion, improved water quality, increased wildlife...
Saline Soil Management: More Money With Fewer Crop Acres
By Stan Wise PIERRE, SD – Salinity areas. Trouble spots. White deserts. Regardless of what they’re called, saline soils are a problem for South Dakota. White, salty areas where nothing grows are a common sight in fields across the state. “The amount of salinity that's...
[post_title] => High Tunnel Field Day [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => high-tunnel-field-day [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2023-05-19 11:43:07 [post_modified_gmt] => 2023-05-19 16:43:07 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://www.sdsoilhealthcoalition.org/?post_type=tribe_events&p=510608 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => tribe_events [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw [event_date] => 2023-06-05 16:00:00 ) [1] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 510631 [post_author] => 28 [post_date] => 2023-06-01 12:08:12 [post_date_gmt] => 2023-06-01 17:08:12 [post_content] => Interested in forage rye? Join us on Tuesday, June 6 for an informal plot tour near Wagner, SD. No pre-registration is required. See you there! 
[post_title] => Forage Rye Plot Tour- Wagner, SD [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => forage-rye-plot-tour-wagner-sd [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2023-06-01 12:08:12 [post_modified_gmt] => 2023-06-01 17:08:12 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://www.sdsoilhealthcoalition.org/?post_type=tribe_events&p=510631 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => tribe_events [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw [event_date] => 2023-06-06 13:00:00 ) [2] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 510602 [post_author] => 22 [post_date] => 2023-05-18 20:52:12 [post_date_gmt] => 2023-05-19 01:52:12 [post_content] => SDSU Extension invites women in agriculture to attend a Women on the Range Workshop on June 8 and 9 at The Branding Iron restaurant (19079 US-85, Belle Fourche, SD 57717). The workshop will start at 9 a.m. and end around 5 p.m. on both days. Nicole Masters, a soil health expert and the director of Integrity Soils, will be the main workshop presenter. Attendees will learn how soil health fits into regenerative agriculture, with discussions on soil health indicators, the carbon cycle, plant/microbial interactions, nutrient cycling and visual soil assessments. Registration is required by June 5 using the form at https://extension.sdstate.edu/event/women-range. The cost to attend the workshop is $150 and is limited to 40 people. The registration fee includes lunch and supper on June 8, and breakfast and lunch on June 9. A detailed agenda will be emailed to registered participants prior to the event. [post_title] => Women on the Range [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => women-on-the-range [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2023-05-18 20:52:12 [post_modified_gmt] => 2023-05-19 01:52:12 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://www.sdsoilhealthcoalition.org/?post_type=tribe_events&p=510602 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => tribe_events [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw [event_date] => 2023-06-08 00:00:00 ) ) 
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)
2023 Soil Health School Registration Open!
The 2023 Soil Health School will be held August 28-30 on the farms of Anthony Bly and Bruce Carlson near Garretson, SD! There will be classroom sessions, field excercises, discussion panels, and opportunities to network with researchers, industry professionals, and experienced producers who can help you on your soil health journey! Class size is limited, so learn more and register today!
News & Events
Long-term research reveals advantages of diverse crop rotations
By Stan Wise PIERRE, SD – It can take time for scientists to build new knowledge of biological processes, especially when those processes play out over the course of years. Researchers with the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service North Central...
‘Park the chisel’: First step toward soil health can be simple
By Stan Wise PIERRE, SD – The benefits of improved soil health for agricultural producers and gardeners are numerous and valuable – reduced input costs, improved profitability, drought and flood resilience, reduced erosion, improved water quality, increased wildlife...
Saline Soil Management: More Money With Fewer Crop Acres
By Stan Wise PIERRE, SD – Salinity areas. Trouble spots. White deserts. Regardless of what they’re called, saline soils are a problem for South Dakota. White, salty areas where nothing grows are a common sight in fields across the state. “The amount of salinity that's...