Healthy soils start with knowing what is happening below the surface. Producers, agronomists and agriculture professionals can sharpen their observation, measurement and management skills this August during a hands-on soil health assessment training.
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln Soil Health Program Team is hosting a hands-on soil health assessment training — From Field Sampling to Soil Health Scores — followed by a cover crop demo tour, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Thursday, August 20, 2026, at Rogers Memorial Farm. This in-person training is designed for producers with or without an RCPP/RPP contract, agronomists, Certified Crop Advisors, and other agricultural professionals seeking practical soil health assessment skills.
Participants will work through the full soil health assessment process, from sampling design to interpreting soil health scores for management decisions using real field conditions.
During this training, participants will learn how to:
- Design efficient soil sampling plans by identifying representative sampling locations (by soil type, management and resource concern).
- Conduct on-site soil health assessments and soil sampling following nationwide guidelines (e.g., NRCS CEMA 216 and Technical Note 450).
- Record and organize field data and prepare soil samples for lab analysis.
- Calculate and interpret soil health indicators and connect field observations.
- Apply results to inform conservation planning and management decisions.
Source : unl.edu