A new USDA project called Probing Our Country's Soil Health, an initiative designed to collect over 13,000 soil samples nationwide, aims to create a free and user-friendly tool for farmers to benchmark the soil health of their fields.

The online tool, called Soil Health Assessment Protocol and Evaluation (or SHAPE), would also provide insights of management practices that may boost yields when enhancing soil health.

“Right now, we know that we have knowledge gaps in soil health information across the country," says Kristen Veum, USDA soil scientist. "For the project, we will collect on-farm data across all 50 states to then create a tool that will provide this regionally relevant and meaningful interpretation for every farmer across America.”

To participate in the project, growers must sign up for a 1-hour Zoom Meeting where a facilitator will lead them through a management survey for 2-3 fields. Growers will receive a $150 check as compensation for their time on the virtual meeting. They must then grant access to their fields for hand-probe soil sampling from 2-3 sites from each field. Fields must be 10 acres or more. 

For participation, growers will receive a free personalized soil health report of their fields, valued at about $1,200 per field, and a copy of a book called "Probing Our Country's Soil Health."  

Click here to schedule a meeting time with a facilitator.