The OACD Healthy Soils Project is a voluntary effort to conserve the natural resources of Oklahoma by encouraging agriculture producers to participate in proven conservation practices.
Healthy soil is key to positively impacting all areas of our environment. By implementing soil conservation practices, we can improve water quality, increase the amount of water available for drinking and recreation, sequester carbon, provide cleaner air and improve the habitat for native wildlife and pollinators. Improving soil health increases organic matter in the soil, fosters the microbial life and provides nutrients for crops.
Oklahoma is the second most ecologically diverse state in the United States with 11 different ecoregions. Because of a strong local conservation partnership and natural resource expertise, Oklahoma is a premier pilot site to test soil health projects for the Southern Plains and the United States.
Demonstration Farms
Since 2016, The Healthy Soils Project has established ten demonstration farms. The farms range in size from 45 acres to 120 acres. Demonstration farm locations are selected through a competitive, transparent application process. Farmers will be provided with a conservation mentor, seed for planting cover crops, technical advice from agronomists and testing and monitoring equipment.
Since the days of the Dust Bowl in the 1930s, Oklahoma conservationists have been working at the local level to educate their neighbors about methods to preserve the land. By establishing demonstration farms on local, privately-held lands through a voluntary system, agriculture producers will be able to see firsthand the environmental and economic benefit of engaging in soil health conservation.
Soil Health Demonstration Farm
Producer Spotlight
Project Funders
Seed generously donated by:
Additional private financial resources are needed to provide logistical, technical, educational and outreach support for the project. For more information or to support the Healthy Soils Project, contact Sarah Blaney at sarahblaney@okconservation.org.
Soil Health Resources
NACD Soil Health Webinar
“Linking Soil Biology to Soil Health”
Feb. 22, 2018
Guest Speaker: Jennifer Moore-Kucera is the USDA NRCS West Regional Soil Health Team Leader
NACD Soil Health Research
Research newly released by NACD and Datu Research finds using cover crops and/or no-till can result in an economic return of over $100 per acre.
Free Soil Health Information Starter Kits
Landowners and farmers across the nation increasingly realize that healthy soils are the key to fostering more productive, profitable and sustainable farms—for healthy, sustainable, long-term returns. This Soil Health Information Starter Kit will provide you with the basics and benefits of soil health, and ideas on how you can work with your farmer to build soil equity by using soil health management systems that include cover crops, diverse rotations and no-till practices.
Rainfall Simulator
The mobile rainfall simulator helps demonstrate the benefits of no-till conservation practices for healthy soils. Request your demonstration by contacting Sarah Blaney at sarahblaney@okconservation.org.