Extension, Cooperative
Soil Health Nexus Provides Research and Extension/Outreach Resources Related to Soil Health and Water
Document Type
Article
Date of this Version
11-13-2019
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Citation
Johnson, L. (2019) Soil Health Nexus Provides Research and Extension/Outreach Resources Related to Soil Health and Water [Abstract]. ASA, CSSA and SSSA International Annual Meetings (2019), San Antonio, TX. https://scisoc.confex.com/scisoc/2019am/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/118493
Abstract
The Soil Health Nexus is a regional, university-led team that is increasing access to research-based soil health knowledge, extension and resources. Members are primarily representatives from Land Grant Universities across the North Central Region of the United States, representatives from the North Central Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program, InterTribal Ag Council, the National Soil Health Partnership, and NRCS. With funding from the North Central Region Water Network in 2015, the team initially started as two separate groups, the Soil Health Nexus and the Manure and Soil Health (MaSH) teams. The now-consolidated team provides research and extension/outreach resources related to soil health and water. The team has representatives from all 12 North Central Region states and will provide long-term organizational support for soil health research and education. To date, the Nexus has developed research, outreach, and resource priorities; produced new extension publications synthesizing and interpreting the latest science on linkages between manure management, soil health, and water quality; developed the a website for soil health communications, which can be found at soilhealthnexus.org. On the website, the team is currently compiling a soil health toolbox filled with resources for those wanting to learn about or to teach soil health topics. Such topics include on-farm soil health research and using manure to improve soil health. The team also hosts professional development opportunities including in-person events and webinars. To maintain and build on the momentum generated by the Nexus, the team wants to continue to grow participation among land-grant researchers, Extension educators, and other partners to ensure access to locally relevant soil health information across the region; maintain and grow our inventory of research, training, and educational resources; and develop regional research projects and publications to promote conservation systems that will lead to the improvement of soil and water quality.