Nebraska’s history is deeply intertwined with its soil. The fertile earth, first cultivated by Indigenous peoples thousands of years ago, is one of the state’s most treasured assets. This soil, foundational to Nebraska’s agricultural heritage, will also shape its future. In a state where prosperity is rooted in the land, what happens beneath our feet determines our collective well-being.
Unfortunately, experts say Nebraska’s soil is suffering a severe loss of organic matter, negatively affecting yield stability, net income, and resiliency. But it’s not inevitable or irreversible. The Nebraska Soil Health Coalition Fund (NSHCF) is convening producers, landowners, consultants, and other ag stakeholders in a movement to restore Nebraska’s soil and create thriving rural communities.
“The hope and positivity are clear,” said Mike McDonald, NSHCF advisory committee member. “People from all walks of life want to do better for the next generation. Through partnerships, such as the one with NCF, we are determining the ‘why’ to truly make a positive difference.”
Members define soil health as the capacity of the soil to function as a dynamic living ecosystem that nourishes plants, sustains animals and people, and improves the environment. The Coalition’s mission is to encourage producers to adopt sustainable approaches that adhere to soil health principles. In pursuit of this goal, the group is creating regional Soil Health Hubs that convene government agencies, educational institutions, producers, and landowners in a single unified effort to address soil health.
Through education, the Coalition plans to show how regenerative agriculture can improve water quality, lower costs, increase yields, and improve producers’ quality of life. Rural community health and vibrancy are the group’s foremost priorities, but the NSHCF is also working on developing the next generation of soil health practitioners.
The Dan Gillespie Soil Health Fund (DGSHF) is also hard at work in encouraging producers to introduce regenerative farming practices. DGSHF grants have supported organizations like No Till on the Plains, UNL Extension, and Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District. The Fund is also focused on educating the next generation of farmers and has awarded grants to Northeast Community College’s agronomy program; City Sprouts, which supports urban students with interests in agricultural careers; the Battle Creek FFA chapter; and Central City High School to benefit a student’s scientific research program on soil health.
The Nebraska Soil Health Coalition and Gillespie funds are among NCF’s ongoing efforts to champion sustainability in Nebraska. The coming decades will bring new challenges to our state, and the work of NCF partners like the Platte River Resilience Fund, the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program, the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum, and the Rainwater Basin Joint Venture Fund can prepare Nebraskans to better protect our vast natural resources through future uncertainty.
Local foods in schools programs are thriving in many places across Nebraska. The Titan Beef Boosters Club for Thayer Central Schools in Hebron was one of the first programs to serve locally raised beef in school lunches. A banner in the cafeteria highlights local producers. Students see their own names on the banner along with names of friends and family. FFA students are growing lettuce in the cafeteria using tower gardens, and a local farmer provides many of the vegetables.
Natural resources are essential to ensuring healthy hometowns and a future where Nebraskans are empowered to thrive and pursue their dreams. From our soil to our water to our abundant local food, Nebraskans have the assets necessary to face challenges head-on. It’s up to us to safeguard them for future generations.
