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News & Events
Virtual fences can make a real difference
By Stan Wise PIERRE, SD – Moving livestock is an inescapable part of a rancher’s life, and it can be labor intensive, especially if a producer uses a rotational grazing system designed to improve rangeland and soil health. But what if it doesn’t have to be? Enter...
Regenerative ag can grow the bottom line
By Stan Wise PIERRE, SD – As regenerative agriculture gains traction as a hot topic, one question dominates the farming community: Does it pay? Simply put, yes, it does. Regenerative ag is an approach to land management that focuses on improving soil health,...
Awards, new board member announced at Soil Health Conference
PIERRE, SD – The Ninth Annual Soil Health Conference, Jan. 15-16 at the Ramkota Hotel and Event Center in Watertown, SD, saw approximately 500 attendees, including over a hundred students. The South Dakota Soil Health Coalition was thrilled to offer this opportunity...
[post_title] => Balancing Bugs and Blooms [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => balancing-bugs-and-blooms [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2025-04-11 15:51:24 [post_modified_gmt] => 2025-04-11 20:51:24 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://www.sdsoilhealthcoalition.org/?post_type=tribe_events&p=512177 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => tribe_events [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw [event_date] => 2025-05-13 12:30:00 ) [1] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 512179 [post_author] => 22 [post_date] => 2025-04-11 15:55:33 [post_date_gmt] => 2025-04-11 20:55:33 [post_content] => [post_title] => Spring Climate Outlook and Gardening in a Drought [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => spring-climate-outlook-and-gardening-in-a-drought [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2025-04-11 15:55:33 [post_modified_gmt] => 2025-04-11 20:55:33 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://www.sdsoilhealthcoalition.org/?post_type=tribe_events&p=512179 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => tribe_events [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw [event_date] => 2025-05-15 12:30:00 ) [2] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 512201 [post_author] => 22 [post_date] => 2025-04-28 12:05:39 [post_date_gmt] => 2025-04-28 17:05:39 [post_content] => When: May 30-31, 2025 Where: Totton Ranch, Chamberlain, SD - Watch, photograph and record bird species, livestock and wildlife
- Hear presentations from land owners and conservation experts
- Learn the connections between birds and livestock
- Enjoy two days on the beautiful South Dakota prairie
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)
Registration Open for Two Soil Health Schools!
The 2025 West River Soil Health School will be held June 25-26 in Caputa, SD, and the 2025 Soil Health School will be held September 3-5 in Huron, SD. Each of these two schools will feature outstanding instructors consisting of industry professionals, researchers, and experienced producers. The days will be split between classroom discussions and field exercises designed to help you improve your land and your profit margins through regenerative agriculture practices. Visit our events page to learn more about these excellent learning opportunities!
News & Events
Virtual fences can make a real difference
By Stan Wise PIERRE, SD – Moving livestock is an inescapable part of a rancher’s life, and it can be labor intensive, especially if a producer uses a rotational grazing system designed to improve rangeland and soil health. But what if it doesn’t have to be? Enter...
Regenerative ag can grow the bottom line
By Stan Wise PIERRE, SD – As regenerative agriculture gains traction as a hot topic, one question dominates the farming community: Does it pay? Simply put, yes, it does. Regenerative ag is an approach to land management that focuses on improving soil health,...
Awards, new board member announced at Soil Health Conference
PIERRE, SD – The Ninth Annual Soil Health Conference, Jan. 15-16 at the Ramkota Hotel and Event Center in Watertown, SD, saw approximately 500 attendees, including over a hundred students. The South Dakota Soil Health Coalition was thrilled to offer this opportunity...