Farmer-led, Farmer Focused.
Dave Beard – Frankfort, Indiana
Mission: The Soil Health Partnership promotes the adoption of soil health practices for economic and environmental benefit.
By building a peer-to-peer network, the Soil Health Partnership partnered with farmers to explore the economic and environmental benefits and risks of soil health practices. SHP collected on-farm data to evaluate the impacts of soil health practices on the soil, the environment, and the farmer’s bottom line.
On-Farm Engagement
SHP Farmers worked alongside our experienced, regional Field Managers to conduct field trials comparing soil health practices to the historical field management.
Data & Science
Measuring soil macronutrients, micronutrients and other health indicators, SHP built an in-depth data set to learn more about the relationship between soil health practices, soil health management systems, environmental quality and quantity, and farm economics.
Communication & Outreach
Insights gained from on-farm trials provide farmers tools to make the best decisions for their farm. The in-person and online SHP communities collaborated to spark adoption of soil health practices that benefit the plant, farmers and consumers.
A True Collaboration.
SHP brought together diverse partners to work toward common goals. We partnered with organizations at the federal, state, and county levels. These organizations included state government, commodity associations, nonprofits, foundations, and private companies.
The Soil Health Partnership was established in 2014 as a result of The Nature Conservancy, Bayer, the Environmental Defense Fund, and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) having a shared vision of developing a farmer-led research network that could measure the impacts of implementing soil health practices on working farms. True to our vision of being led by farmers - and existing to serve farmers - SHP was a program of NCGA under the Stewardship Action team and served as their flagship sustainability program.
Our partnership
leveraged a
range of expertise.
Farmer Advisory Committee
The Farmer Advisory Committee provided input to SHP on its program design, ensuring tangible value to both farmers and agriculture. The committee discussed topics such as data reports, data analysis, and communication for farmers.
Science Advisory Committee
The Science Advisory Committee (SAC) provided expert input to key SHP stakeholders regarding scientific issues related to SHP’s on-farm research, associated analysis, and communication of research findings. The SAC advised SHP’s research design, development and refinement of research protocols, data analysis, communication of scientific findings, data privacy and security, and overall science strategy. This committee ensured SHP maintained high levels of scientific integrity.
Steering Committee
The Steering Committee provided strategic guidance to SHP by advising overall direction and supporting overall development.
Founded in 1957, the National Corn Growers Association represents nearly 40,000 dues-paying corn farmers nationwide and the interests of more than 300,000 growers who contribute through corn checkoff programs in their states. NCGA and its 50 affiliated state associations and checkoff organizations work together to create and increase opportunities for their members and their industry. SHP is administered under NCGA.