Soil Quality / Soil Health Card

State Examples

The cards listed below were developed by farmers or homeowners along with various organizations in each state. To post your card here, contact the Soil Quality Webmaster.

Connecticut

Soil Quality and Site Assessment Cards (January 2002)
Instruction Packet (PDF, 140KB) and Soil Quality Cards (PDF, 130KB)
Printing suggestion:  Print the four pages of the Instruction Packet on one 11" X 17" sheet. Fold the sheet in half to create a folder to hold the two cards.

These cards were developed for use by community gardeners in Connecticut. One card is to assess the site and the other is to assess the soil quality on the site. For more information contact: Marjorie Faber, Assistant State Soil Scientist, USDA NRCS, (860) 871-4040, email: margie.faber@ct.usda.gov.

Georgia

Soil Quality Card for Georgia (February 2002) (PDF, 70KB)

The Soil Quality Card for Georgia was developed by Georgia farmers, the Georgia Conservation Tillage Alliance, Inc., and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. It was field tested by members of these groups. For more information contact: Jim Dangler, State Conservation Agronomist, USDA NRCS, (706) 546-2115, email: james.dangler@ga.usda.gov.

Illinois

Northeastern Illinois Soil Quality Card (March 1999) (PDF, 50KB)

For more information contact: Ellen Phillips, Countryside Extension Center, (708) 352-0109, email: phillipse@mail.aces.uiuc.edu; or contact: Roger Windhorn, Geologist, USDA NRCS, (217) 398-5280, email: roger.windhorn@il.usda.gov.

Indiana

NRCS staff adapted the Oregon card for use as a training tool in Indiana. For more information contact: Barry Fisher, Conservation Agronomist, USDA NRCS, (317) 290-3200 ext 350, email: barry.fisher@in.usda.gov.

Maryland

Maryland Soil Quality Assessment Book (December 1997) (PDF, 140KB)

For more information contact: William Cowherd, Assistant State Soil Scientist, USDA NRCS, (443) 482-2913, email: james.brown@md.usda.gov.

Montana/North Dakota

Mon-Dak Soil Quality Score Card (December 1998) (PDF, 95KB)

Farmers from Montana and North Dakota developed this card in 1998. Since then, farmers in local areas have met to modify the Mon-Dak card to suit their local needs. In Montana contact: Patrick Hensleigh, USDA NRCS, (406) 587-6837, email: patrick.hensleigh@mt.usda.gov. In North Dakota contact: Jon Stika, Area Resource Soil Scientist, USDA NRCS, phone (701) 225-5113, email: jon.stika@nd.usda.gov. 

Nebraska

Nebraska Soil Quality Card (2000) (PDF, 125KB)

The card was developed by Nebraska Farmers, Natural Resources Districts, Nebraska Cooperative Extension, and soils staff from NRCS. For more information contact: Corey Brubaker, State Conservation Agronomist, USDA NRCS, (402) 437-4164, email: corey.brubaker@ne.usda.gov.

North Dakota

Soil Health Guide for Eastern North Dakota (Spring 1999) (PDF, 130KB)

For more information contact: Hal Weiser, Soil Health Specialist, USDA NRCS, (701) 252-1460, email: hal.weiser@nd.usda.gov.

Ohio

Ohio Soil Health Card (February 1999) (PDF, 176KB)

For more information contact: Mark Scarpitti, State Agronomist, USDA NRCS, (614) 469-6932, email: mark.scarpitti@oh.usda.gov. Order from Ohio State University Centers at Piketon, 1864 Shyville Rd., Piketon, OH, 45661, (740) 289-2071.

Oregon

Willamette Valley Soil Quality Card (PDF, 96KB) and Willamette Valley Soil Quality Card Guide (June 1998) (PDF, 124KB)

The Guide provides background information about soils and how to use and interpret each question in the Card.  It also suggests additional procedures for more rigorous on-farm tests. Preview and order these documents from the Oregon State University web site or by calling (541) 737-2513 or writing to Extension & Station Communications, Oregon State University, 422 Kerr Administration, Corvallis, OR 97331-2119.

 Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Soil Quality Assessment (2000) (PDF, 35KB)

For more information contact: Mark Goodson, State Agronomist, USDA NRCS, (717) 237-2146, email: mark.goodson@pa.usda.gov.