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Soil Health Framework

About the MDARD Soil Health Task Force

The MDARD Soil Health Task Force (SHTF) was formed in late 2024 to address the challenges and opportunities of implementing soil health management practices in Michigan agriculture. This task force consists of individuals with expertise in sustainable agriculture and soil health, including growers, crop advisors, researchers, and agribusiness representatives. Through a collaborative process, the group has worked to provide critical insight into how MDARD can facilitate the adoption of soil health practices across the state while meeting the needs of Michigan farmers and communities. 

Goals of the Soil Health Framework for Michigan Row Crops

This framework is designed to provide an overview of principles that row crop farmers in Michigan can adopt to improve the health of their soils. Each section in Part Two discusses a distinct soil health principle, with practical approaches to practice implementation and descriptions of additional benefits. 

With this guide, the Michigan Soil Health Task Force hopes to achieve the following:

  • Communicate the principles of soil health to growers, landowners, and advisors
  • Provide soil health management context and options for row crop farms in Michigan
  • Present a path toward soil health improvements that meets growers where they are

Our intent is to make soil health practices more approachable, meaningful, and valuable for row crop farms in Michigan. 

How to cite this information
Michigan Soil Health Task Force. (2026) Soil health framework for Michigan row crops. Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development