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Jim Johnson, soils and crops consultant, reviews one of his favorite grass cover crops: Browntop Millet.

This annual report bears witness to the legacy of a man who survived the Dust Bowl and planted a seed that has reaped generations of healthier land and more productive farmers and ranchers. Within these pages are stories of men and women who are the standard-bearers of a fundamental truth that unity and boldness can shape history. They share an unflinching courage to explore, a daily devotion to rolled-up sleeves and a tenacious belief that countless small steps finally make the impossible possible.

Within the Noble Research Institute core values exist three simple words: "Never fear challenges." We will not let the threat of failure or the perceived size of a task deter us from venturing into the unknown. This perspective changes how we approach problems and unleashes our ability to solve them.

The 2019 annual report offers a glimpse into the journey of ranchers on the road of regenerative agriculture, the process of rebuilding degraded soils using practices based on ecological principles.

Challenges facing agriculture include land productivity in the face of climate variability, profitability and debt, and the declining population of farmers and ranchers.

Many soil health measures require laboratory analysis. However, there are a few indicators a person can look and smell for right in the field.

As we continue to stargaze, dreaming of the great mysteries above us, we have another historic exploration opportunity. One that is closer. One that requires us to look down, not up. In the 15th century, Leonardo da Vinci said, "We know more about the movement of the celestial bodies than the soil underfoot." More than 500 years later, this fact remains true.