Skip to main content
rows in a large corn field

Soil Health Contacts

The Soil Health Division amplifies NRCS’ overall conservation planning and implementation efforts and adds conservation and economic value to the farming and ranching enterprises of NRCS’ customers through the integration of soil health. 

NRCS Soil Health Division

The Soil Health Division amplifies NRCS’ overall conservation planning and implementation efforts and adds conservation and economic value to the farming and ranching enterprises of NRCS’ customers through the integration of soil health. SHD collaborates with the States and the Pacific Islands and Caribbean Areas and their respective Regional Conservationists, National Technology Support Centers, Employee Development Section, and other national centers, Plant Materials Centers, USDA Climate Hubs, National Headquarters Divisions, Deputy Chiefs of all deputy areas, and other internal and external partners, and across disciplines. The SHD focuses its soil health training and technical leadership efforts to help the agency provide comprehensive and effective support on the use of soil health assessments, and the planning and implementation of soil health management systems on our Nation’s working lands, working in coordination with NRCS State and national entities.

Amanda Branham

Director

Latoya Jones

Executive Assistant

Joe J. Williams

East/West Regional Team Leader

Carl Koch

Special Projects Coordinator

Loretta J. Metz

National Program Coordinator

Candiss Williams Anthony

National Soil Health Specialist

Karl Anderson

Soil Health Analyst

Regional Soil Health Specialists

Drexel Atkisson

Acting Regional Soil Health Specialist (Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio)

Joshua Beniston

Regional Soil Health Specialist (Urban Areas)

Vacant

Regional Soil Health Specialist (Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin)

Willie Durham

Regional Soil Health Specialist (Arkansas, East Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee)

Zahangir Kabir

Regional Soil Health Specialist (Arizona, California, Nevada, Indigenous Practices Team)

Mark Kopecky

Regional Soil Health Specialist (Alabama, Caribbean Area, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina)

Nathan Lowder

Regional Soil Health Specialist (Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia)

Elizabeth Marks

Regional Soil Health Specialist (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont)

Nick Sirovatka

Regional Soil Health Specialist (Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Indigenous Practices Team)

Laura Starr

Regional Soil Health Specialist (Alaska, Pacific Islands Area, Washington, Indigenous Practices Team)

Candy Thomas

Regional Soil Health Specialist (Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma)

Marlon Winger

Regional Soil Health Specialist (Colorado, New Mexico, West Texas, Wyoming, Indigenous Practices Team)