Farmers invited to join national study on farming practices and soil health
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EmailFarmers and ranchers are invited to participate in a free soil health evaluation and contribute to research supporting profitable, resilient and sustainable agriculture.
Farmers and ranchers across the U.S. have an opportunity to contribute to a national research effort examining how real-world farming practices influence soil health and agricultural resilience. Through this study, participants will complete a short survey on their farm management practices and submit a soil sample for free analysis. In return, farmers will receive a soil health report and compensation for their time, while helping researchers better understand how different systems impact soil health and agricultural resilience.
This project is part of the Ag Resilience Coordinated Agricultural Project (RCAP), a multi-state collaboration of researchers, educators and farmers working to identify farming practices that improve the resilience of agricultural systems across the United States. The initiative focuses on diverse systems, including row crops, forages, livestock, fruits, vegetables and more, to evaluate how management decisions influence both soil health and farm performance. Participating farmers contribute real-world data on their practices, soils and decision-making, allowing researchers to better understand how agricultural systems respond to challenges such as extreme weather and market fluctuations.
Across the U.S., many agricultural systems are dominated by annual cropping systems that can be vulnerable to soil loss, nutrient runoff and environmental stress. Research from the RCAP network highlights the potential of more diverse systems, particularly those incorporating perennial crops, forage integration and livestock to improve soil health and increase resilience at the field and farm scale. These systems emphasize diversity, perenniality and nutrient cycling, which can help farms better withstand disruptions while maintaining productivity. Participating in this study helps expand the national dataset needed to evaluate these systems and translate findings into practical recommendations for farmers and agricultural professionals.
Farmers who choose to participate will complete a questionnaire about their recent management practices, yields and inputs, and collect a soil sample using a provided kit with prepaid shipping. All information will remain confidential, and results will be reported in aggregate to protect individual operations. In addition to receiving a free soil health analysis, participants will receive a gift card compensation and contribute to a growing national network of farmers helping shape future research, outreach and decision-support tools aimed at improving farm profitability, environmental quality and long-term agricultural sustainability.
This effort is made possible by researchers and Extension specialists working to connect science with on-farm decision-making. This work is supported by AFRI Sustainable Agricultural Systems Coordinated Agricultural Project (SAS-CAP) grant no. 2021-68012-35917 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
For more information about the RCAP Farmer Survey, contact Kim Cassida with Michigan State University Extension at cassida@msu.edu.
Additional information about this project and related resources:
