Intensifying soil health knowledge and implementation of urban agriculture

The South Dakota Soil Health Coalition was awarded a $647,931.80 Cooperative Agreement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) under the Conservation Reserve Program (CFDA 10.069) on September 29, 2023. This funding will enable the Coalition to intensify urban agriculture soil health knowledge and expand the implementation of conservation practices across South Dakota until September 2026. As the prime recipient, the Coalition will provide outreach, planning, and implementation services aimed at improving soil quality and nutrient cycling, including delivering producer workshops and tours, offering water quality and soil health education, and planning related outreach events to promote the adoption of agricultural best management practices and meet total maximum daily load regulations for impaired water bodies in the state. The Coalition has also received prior federal grant funding as a prime and sub-recipient for projects focused on improving water quality through the implementation of soil health agricultural best management practices and outreach to producers.