(RALEIGH, N.C.) – U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) hosted the “Back to Our Roots” training from July 28 through July 30, to expand knowledge and application of soil health practices and management systems across cropland, forestland, and pasture. Attendees were NRCS employees from North Carolina (NC), South Carolina, and West Virginia; along with affiliates from NC Wake County Soil & Water and American Farmland Trust.  The training brought a robust team of NRCS instructors from across the region to share their professional experience and expertise: Steve Woodruff, regional agronomist; William Byrum, regional forester; Jackie Reed, resource soil scientist, Tennessee; Isabelle Giuliani, state soil scientist, Florida, and James Rodriguez, state agronomist, NC. The course is meant to empower participants to better assess a producer’s soil composition and make sound recommendations. 

“Being able to see a well-maintained pasture, I can take that back to my area. This will allow me to better advise producers going forward on what they can do for rotational grazing and flash grazing to better sustain their soil,” said Amelia Farrell, natural resources specialist.

The “Back to Our Roots” training consisted of virtual self-paced modules; in-field hands-on exercises; demonstrations; and small group activities. Participants focused on using available field soil health assessments for cropland, forestland, and pasture; preparing for and utilizing laboratory soil health tests in conservation planning; planning conservation practices to address soil health issues identified during assessments; and developing implementation requirements for key soil health practices, including Conservation Practice Standard (CPS) 336 Soil Carbon Amendment and CPS 340 Cover Crop.

“It’s good to get back to the basics in the field, working with colleagues to brush up your skills,” said Ben Gordon, NRCS affiliate from American Farmland Trust. 

The course covered current science on soil health metrics, soil health principles, management strategies to enhance soil health, and key conservation practice design and implementation considerations. All content was designed to convey knowledge, confidence, and expertise to participants supporting NRCS’s mission to promote sustainable land management and conservation. The course also included a session on soil implementation and testing for Conservation Evaluation and Monitoring Activities (CEMA 216 and 217), led by Jackie Reed. CEMA 216 handles standardized soil health testing, while CEMA 217 covers soil and source testing for nutrient management.  Both provide baseline data for federal conservation programs like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). There were also demonstrations of soil health tools, such as rainfall simulators, infiltration kits, and soil sampling strategies.

Soil health is fundamental to productive agriculture, supporting crop yields, improving resilience to drought and disease, and reducing the need for chemical inputs. Healthy soil enhances water infiltration, nutrient cycling, and biological activity, all of which contribute to sustainable farming and environmental stewardship. Regular soil health testing is essential for identifying soil conditions, guiding management decisions, and ensuring that conservation practices are tailored to address specific needs. By integrating soil health assessments and laboratory tests, producers and conservation planners can make informed choices that improve both short-term productivity and long-term sustainability.

“By measuring critical biological, physical and chemical indicators, we can better understand what's happening and what's needed in order to make better management decisions, improve biodiversity as well as water and nutrient dynamics, and track long term progress towards a much more sustainable, resilient, productive land,” said James Rodriguez, NC state agronomist 

For more information about soil health training and resources, visit the official NRCS website at https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/conservation-basics/soil/soil-health. 

For more than 90 years, NRCS has helped farmers, ranchers, and forestland owners make investments in their operations and local communities to improve the quality of our air, water, soil, and wildlife habitat. NRCS uses the latest science and technology to help keep working lands working, boost agricultural economies, and increase the competitiveness of American agriculture. NRCS provides one-on-one technical advice and financial assistance and works with producers to help them reach their goals through voluntary, incentive-based conservation programs. For more information, visit nrcs.usda.gov.   

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