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NRCS employees look at soil structure in an alfalfa field near Broadview, Montana.

Soil Health - Montana

A Montana-focused look at the soil health topic.

Healthy soil gives us clean air and water, bountiful crops and forests, productive grazing lands, diverse wildlife, and beautiful landscapes. Learn more about soil health.

Read about how Montana farmers and ranchers have been building soil health: Montana soil health success stories

Montana Soil Health Week April 1-7, 2024

graphic that says Montana soil health week

Join in the celebration of Montana’s first ever Soil Health Week!

The weeklong celebration is designed to raise awareness about how healthy soils can increase crop yields, strengthen food security, create greater climate resiliency, and improve nutrition. Soil Health Day and Week highlights the work of everyone stewarding soil health across Montana.

In 2023, the Montana Legislature passed a bipartisan resolution designating the first week of April as Montana Soil Health Week and the first Wednesday in April as Montana Soil Health Day.

Get more information from the official MACD Montana Soil Health Week website.

Wheat harvest underway with stripper header leaves tall standing residue.

Making The Switch: Adopting a Stripper Header and Disc Drill

In this video, hear from multiple producers as to why they made the switch and adopted a stripper header and disc drill for harvesting and seeding on their land.

Soil and Soil Health Videos - Made in Montana

Soil Your Undies Challenge!

Have you ever wondered if there is an easy and fun way to check the health of your soil? There is! Participate in the Soil Your Undies Challenge this Spring and Summer! Learn more about the Soil Your Undies Challenge.

Soil health gauge

Montana Soil Health Strategic Action Plan

In early 2020, a Soil Health Strategy Action Team was convened by Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) leadership in Montana. Thirteen team members from diverse geographic areas of the state representing the disciplines of range, agronomy, soils, engineering, biology, and public affairs came together with the task of developing a soil health strategy and vision tailored to meet the needs of NRCS Montana. The expected outcome of this effort was to elevate delivery of Soil Health Principles across Montana in conjunction with program delivery through Montana Focused Conservation. The plan was updated in 2024.


Montana Soil Health Publications

cabbages growing in garden mulch

Soil health isn't just for farmers and ranchers! Gardeners in Montana can use five simple principles to improve soil health which decreases water and fertilizer use and, most importantly, makes your food more nutritious. 

Hayden Ranch, Fallon County, Montana

Rangeland health and soil health are interdependent. This publication describes the keys to better soil, plant, animal, and financial health on Montana rangelands.

View all Montana soil health publications

Wheat harvest with stripper header leaves tall standing residue.

NRCS Montana interviewed six dryland grain producers to compare the ownership and operating costs of disc drills and stripper headers with hoe drills and auger/draper headers. This report summarizes results.