Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Classroom training

Focus Teams

Effectively and efficiently delivers soil and ecological site knowledge to the user community.

Focus Teams logo

Overview

The Soil and Plant Science Division (SPSD) has implemented a focus team concept to effectively and efficiently deliver soil and ecological site information to the user community while maintaining the high quality of the data and information. The 15 focus teams are composed of subject matter experts from within and outside the SPSD. The geographic diversity of the team members assures dissemination of knowledge, skills, and abilities across the SPSD.

Contact: David Lindbo, Director, Soil and Plant Science Division, USDA-NRCS, Washington, DC

Focus Teams

Charges

  1. Act as liaisons across the SPSD and the NCSS.
     
  2. Provide leadership, guidance, and coordination with their specified area of activity.
     
  3. Serve as a repository of information in specified area of activity.
     
  4. Coordinate with other teams to ensure continuity of activities, training, and information exchange.
     
  5. Supplement and enhance activities of regional and local board of advisors (BOA) and management teams (MGT).
     
  6. Provide a national perspective to regions and teams.
     
  7. Report directly to Steering Team.
     
  8. Develop and maintain website.

Members

Steering Team

  • David Hoover, Director, NSSC, USDA-NRCS, Lincoln, Nebraska
  • Eva Muller, Northwest Regional Director, USDA-NRCS, Bozeman, Montana
  • Kamara Holmes, Soil Scientist, USDA-NRCS, Greensboro, North Carolina
  • Debbie Surabian, National Leader, Soil Survey Standards, USDA-NRCS, Tolland, Connecticut
  • Wade Bott, State Soil Scientist, USDA-NRCS, Bismarck, North Dakota
  • Larry Laing, U.S. Forest Service, Washington, DC
  • Mickey Ransom, Professor, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas
  • Joey Shaw, Professor, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama
  • David Kingsbury, Associate Director, Soil Services and Information, USDA-NRCS, Washington, DC
  • Chris Tecklenburg, North Central Regional Director, USDA-NRCS, Salina, Kansas

Contact Soils

Please contact us if you see something that needs to be updated, if you have any questions, or if you need accessibility assistance.

Find Your Local Service Center

USDA Service Centers are locations where you can connect with Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, or Rural Development employees for your business needs. Enter your state and county below to find your local service center and agency offices. If this locator does not work in your browser, please visit offices.usda.gov.