Why It Matters
U.S. farmers depend on healthy soil for productive yields yet ongoing erosion results in significant economic and environmental costs. Soil loss drives more than $12 billion annually in farm losses, reduces productivity, and increases input costs. In addition, nutrient runoff into waterways degrades water quality and wildlife habitat. As pressures from extreme weather and land degradation grow, land-grant universities help farmers adopt proven conservation practices that conserve soil, sustain long-term agricultural performance, improve water quality, and strengthen surrounding ecosystems.
→ Key Takeaway
Land-grant universities advance soil management and conservation practices that strengthen farmers’ productivity, protect and restore wildlife habitat, and enhance land resilience.
By the Numbers
Healthy soils underpin agricultural productivity, water quality, wildlife habitat, and landscape resilience.
- U.S. farms manage 880 million acres of land, making soil health a core driver of long-term productivity and farm viability. [nass.usda.gov]
- Working lands in the U.S. lose 1.7 billion tons of soil each year. Soil erosion drives more than $12 billion in annual economic losses to farmers and carries nutrients into rivers, wetlands, and coastal systems. [extension.psu.edu]
- Soil erosion on U.S. cropland averages 4.6 tons of soil per acre each year, increasing input costs and reducing long-term yield potential. [farmdocdai...linois.edu]
- Conservation practices such as cover crops reduces nitrogen losses to waterways by a median of about 48%, supporting water quality and habitat. [sare.org]
A CEO’s Perspective
"Ducks Unlimited (DU) relies on science to guide our conservation efforts and conserve habitat across North America. Similarly, many land-grant universities conduct research that directly applies to our mission and helps advise investments in habitat while also facilitating direct involvement in on-the-ground conservation practices. The challenges and opportunities in conservation have always overlapped substantially with those in agriculture, but as society’s expectations have evolved to include sustainability practices, these priorities are nearing total alignment. In many ways, DU’s outreach to producers is modeled after Extension services."
IN-RICHES
Colorado State University’s Integrated Rocky Mountain-region Innovation Center for Healthy Soil (IN-RICHES) is a transdisciplinary, regional soil health center dedicated to creating systems level change that scales regenerative soil health systems in the Rocky Mountain region and beyond. By integrating science, policy, and community, IN-RICHES advances a holistic understanding of soil health systems through community-engaged research focusing on soil health, soil moisture dynamics, and transitions to regenerative systems.
The new IN-RICHES center at the CSU Spur campus enables expansion to land-grant institutions across five other states along the Rocky Mountain backbone; NM, UT, WY, MT, ID, focusing on soil health from glaciers to grasslands that are particular to the Rocky Mountain region.
PhotoS courtesy of NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY; University of Wisconsin; University of Minnesota.
In the Spotlight: Land-Grant Impacts
- Improving soil surveys
University of Illinois, Iowa State University, Kansas State University, Michigan State University, University of Minnesota, University of Missouri, University of Nebraska, North Dakota State University, Ohio State University, Oregon State University, Purdue University, South Dakota State University.
Supported by Hatch Multistate Capacity Funds. - Researchers aim to fill knowledge gap on Alaska’s agriculture soils
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Supported by Hatch Capacity Funds. - LSU AgCenter unlocks secrets beneath the soil for sweet potato yields, lower fertilizer use
LSU AgCenter
Supported by Hatch Capacity Funds. - Improving the sustainability of soil and water resources through modeling and visualization
Purdue University
Supported by Hatch Capacity Funds. - Soil fertility programming across South Dakota
South Dakota State University
Supported by Smith-Lever (3b&c) Capacity and Hatch Capacity Funds. - New Soilscape web platform offers user-friendly resource for practical soils information
Iowa State University
Supported by Hatch Multistate Capacity and Hatch Capacity Funds. - Advancing earth system modeling through a Soils AI campaign
Central State University
Supported by Evans-Allen Capacity Funds. - The role of plant-soil feedback in the decline of oak seedling regeneration in upland Appalachian forests
Tennessee State University
Supported by McIntire-Stennis Capacity and USDA Competitive Funds. - Soil management practices shape arthropod populations and ecosystem services
University of New Hampshire
Supported by Hatch Capacity Funds. - Restoration in black ash wetlands along Lake Superior’s coast
University of Wisconsin
Supported by Smith-Lever (3b&c) Capacity Funds.
Impacts by Region
Sample Social Media Posts
Soil erosion costs U.S. farmers more than $12 billion each year and can harm water quality and wildlife habitat. Through programs like [program name], [institution] is helping advance soil conservation practices that protect land and livelihoods: [program link]
U.S. farms manage 880 million acres of land, making soil health critical to long-term productivity. Through Cooperative Extension, [institution] is helping farmers adopt conservation practices that build resilient lands: [program link]
1.7 billion tons of soil are lost from U.S. lands each year. At [institution], programs like [program name] help farmers adopt practices like cover crops that protect soil and reduce nutrient loss: [program link]
Farmers rely on healthy soils to grow the food, fiber, and fuel we use every day. [Institution] delivers research-backed strategies that help [state] producers reduce soil loss, improve land resilience, and support long-term farm success.
Healthy soil is the foundation of productive farms, clean water, and thriving ecosystems. [Institution] helps [state] farmers adopt science-based conservation practices that protect soil, improve water quality, and build resilient landscapes for future generations.
Connect with Us
AgIsAmerica
APLU Board on Agriculture Assembly
Tag us @AgIsAmerica or #AgIsAmerica.
Have a story for us to share? Email Kim at agcomms@aplu.org.
Holidays
MONTHS
National Blueberry Month, #NationalBlueberryMonth
National Grilling Month, #NationalGrillingMonth
National Hemp Month, #NationalHempMonth
National Ice Cream Month, #NationalIceCreamMonth
National Peach Month, #NationalPeachMonth
DAYS
July 2: First Morrill Act Signed in 1862, #LandGrantUniversities
July 2: National Wildland Firefighter Day, #NationalWildlandFirefighterDay
July 7: World Chocolate Day, #WorldChocolateDay
July 8: National Raspberry Day, #NationalRaspberryDay
July 16: National Cherry Day, #NationalCherryDay
July 19: National Ice Cream Day, #NationalIceCreamDay
July 22: National Mango Day, #NationalMangoDay
July 23: National Lemon Day, #NationalLemonDay
July 28: World Conservation Day, #WorldConservationDay
July 31: National Avocado Day, #NationalAvocadoDay