The Soil Health Partnership, an alliance to improve soil health, is celebrating two years of progress. Created by the National Corn Growers Association, the Soil Health Partnership aims to measure and communicate the economic and environmental benefits of different soil management strategies. The Partnership provides regionally-specific, data‑driven recommendations that farmers can use to improve the productivity and sustainability of their farms.
A key aspect of the Partnership is the Science Advisory Council, which advises the Partnership about the identification, measurement, and evaluation of best practices that can improve soil health while boosting yields and improving environmental outcomes. The Science Advisory Council is made up of government and university experts, as well as environmental groups.
The work of the Soil Health Partnership consists of the following:
- Recruit a network of demonstration farms to serve as showcases for other farmers to investigate innovative soil management practices, including reduced tillage systems, cover crops and advanced nutrient management;
- Establish research protocols to measure the connection between a diverse range of soil management practices and soil health;
- Publish findings and recommendations that highlight the economic and environmental benefits of healthy soil;
- Support networking and technical assistance that will help growers and their advisors make decisions that will result in positive changes for the profitability of their operation and the sustainability of the soil.