Soil
Healthy soil is the foundation for long-term success for all farms and ranches. Whether organic or conventional, raising livestock or crops, your operation will benefit when you continually improve your soil’s health. ATTRA’s soil resources can help you prevent soil erosion, increase soil organic matter and water holding capacity, manage soil fertility, and improve the profitability of your farm.
Unhealthy soil doesn’t absorb much water. Healthy soil acts like a sponge, capable of holding hundreds of thousands of gallons of water in an acre. Regenerative farming practices enable the soil to capture rainfall that otherwise might disappear as runoff. Economically, these practices can increase crop and forage production, drought resilience, access to lucrative new markets, and therefore profitability. Environmentally, they can improve soil health and biodiversity.
Soil for Water
Soil for Water supports an expanding network of farmers and ranchers who are taking steps to catch and hold more water in the soil. The Soil for Water project grew out of the western megadrought, which is putting a strain on agricultural producers across the country.
The free and voluntary program combines the use of appropriate technology, peer-to-peer learning, and adaptive management to encourage the adoption of regenerative agricultural practices. The Soil for Water project is about building lasting infrastructure and connecting dynamic agricultural producers that will make farms, ranches, and communities more resilient in the face of persistent drought and other natural disasters.
![Ellie Fleshman of Fleshman Farms in Teton County Montana USDA NRCS Flickr CC Ellie Fleshman of Fleshman Farms in Teton County Montana USDA NRCS Flickr CC](https://attra.ncat.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Ellie-Fleshman-of-Fleshman-Farms-in-Teton-County-Montana-USDA-NRCS-Flickr-CC-845x684.jpg)
Featured Topics
ATTRA’s Soil Resources
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![healthy soil](https://attra.ncat.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/healthy-soil-260x185.jpg)
![cattle grazing diverse forage copy](https://attra.ncat.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/cattle-grazing-divrse-forage-copy-260x185.jpg)
![](https://attra.ncat.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/soil-health-academy-350x197-1-260x185.jpg)
Soil Health Academy: More than Just a Soil Health Workshop
![](https://attra.ncat.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/podcast-254-photo-260x185.png)
Episode 254. Meet NCAT. Luz Ballesteros Gonzalez Connects Food, Agriculture, Community, and Health
Luz Ballesteros Gonzalez and Robert Maggiani
![](https://attra.ncat.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/IMG_0562-260x185.jpg)
Farmers and Ranchers Are Neither the Cause Nor the Solution to Climate Disruption
![](https://attra.ncat.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/250th-podcast-photo-260x185.png)
Episode 250. Practical Steps for Reducing Synthetic Fertilizer Use
Emilie Ritter Saunders, Nina Prater and Lee Rinehart
![A farmer walks through his field](https://attra.ncat.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/S4W-Film-Farmer-in-Field-1-260x185.jpg)
New Toolkit: How to Reduce Synthetic Fertilizer Use
![healthy soil](https://attra.ncat.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/healthy-soil-260x185.jpg)
Assessing Soil Health on Grazing Lands Using a Shovel and a Knife
By Justin Morris, NCAT Regenerative Grazing Specialist
![You can assess soil health with your senses and simple tools](https://attra.ncat.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Good-tilth.md_-260x185.jpg)
How to Assess Soil Health on Grazing Lands Using a Shovel and a Knife
![Hands holding healthy soil](https://attra.ncat.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/48935484668_b4391f79b5_k-260x185.jpg)
Watch: NCAT Releases Soil Health 101 Series
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Episode 243. Cover Crops and Their Impact on Soil Health, Crop Productivity
Mike Lewis and Shawn Lucas
![You can assess soil health with your senses and simple tools](https://attra.ncat.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Good-tilth.md_-260x185.jpg)
Soil Health 101: Principles for Livestock Production
![](https://attra.ncat.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/ep-241-photo-260x185.png)
Episode 241. NCAT’s Soil for Water Project to Connect a Community of Regenerators
NCAT Communications Director Emilie Ritter Saunders and NCAT Regenerative Grazing Specialist Linda Poole
![Soil for Water Atlas](https://attra.ncat.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/New-Atlas-260x185.jpg)
Introducing the Regenerator’s Atlas of America
![Soil for Water Film](https://attra.ncat.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Soil-for-Water-Film-Promo-Still1-260x185.png)