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Wisconsin Soil

As world population and food production demands rise, keeping our soil healthy and productive is of paramount importance. These resources are designed to help you understand the basics and benefits of soil health and learn about Soil Health Management Systems from farmers who use them.

WI Antigo Silt Loam logo

Soil is the hidden, secret friend, which is the root domain of lively darkness and silence.

Francis D. Hole

Wisconsin Soil Resources

Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG)
Cover crop residue in field.

Technical guides are the primary scientific references for NRCS. This guide contains technical information about the conservation of soil, water, air, and related plant and animal resources specifically for Wisconsin.

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Wisconsin Soil Data Mart
Hands holding soil that has been analyzed using data.
Interactive maps, dynamic reports, and dynamic links to the soils database, specifically for Wisconsin.

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Soil Health
Only the arms and hands of a person kneeling in a field with soil in both hands for evaluation
Soil is not an inert growing medium – it is a living and life-giving natural resource. It is teaming with billions of bacteria, fungi, and other microbes that are the foundation of an elegant symbiotic ecosystem.

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Soil Education
Soil educator showing crowd at a demo farm field day the roots of a corn stalk
Learn more about soil science and soil health through educational video resources.

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Technical Soil Services
Personal shoveling dirt
Technical soil services (TSS) are the professional application of soils information, including free assistance to partner agencies, public and private, for-profit and non-profit organizations, and the general public by the TSS branch of the NRCS.

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Soil Survey
WI farm Aerial view
Wisconsin is divided into three Land Resource Regions (LRRs) which are geographically associated Major Land Resource Areas (MLRAs) that share a common land use, elevation and topography, climate, water, soils, and vegetation.

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The Wisconsin State Soil
Clod of healthy soil
Antigo Silt Loam was named the official state soil of Wisconsin by the State Legislature in 1983, a declaration intended to remind us of the importance of our soil resources.

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Land & Soil Judging
FFA Students evaluating a soil pit dug next to a corn field for a land evaluation competition
Resources for Soil Study and Land Evaluation Judging Competitions.

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Natural Resource Concern

For more than 80 years, the NRCS has been a pioneer in conservation, working with landowners, local and state governments, and other federal agencies to maintain healthy and productive working landscapes.

America’s vitality is rooted in the soil

Today, landowners across the country are partnering with NRCS to prevent soil erosion and degradation, and improve soil health.

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Jennifer Smith

State Soil Scientist, Acting Soil Health Specialist

Michael England

Assistant State Soil Scientist

Craig Surman

State GIS Coordinator

Tyler Raeder

Wetland Compliance Coordinator

Wisconsin NRCS Homepage