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Success and long-term viability for most agricultural enterprises ultimately hinges on the health of their soil. This is true for beef operations in the Southern Great Plains to row crop farms in the Midwest.

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

Soil color and structure, the presence of biological activity like earthworms and dung beetles, rooting resistance, and soil smell can help farmers and ranchers determine the health of their soils.

The Noble Research Institute is screening natural diversity for root traits in crop and pasture species. With new knowledge, breeding programs can release cultivars with improved root systems.

Wayne Honeycutt, Ph.D., Soil Health Institute president and CEO, says Bill Buckner, retiring president and CEO of the Noble Research Institute, has significantly contributed to the surge of national and international interest in soil health.

Before you overseed a perennial pasture with an annual crop, determine your goals, what type of perennial crop you have and your planting method.

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.

Generally speaking, a 1% increase in organic matter corresponds to an increase in soil water-holding capacity by about 20,000 gallons of water per acre.