MID-YEAR UPDATE

Nebraska Soil Health Coalition                                                                                                                                                                        

July 7, 2025

Dear Friend,

It has been almost a year since we contacted you to announce our new 501©3 non-profit organization (est. 2023) — the Nebraska Soil Health Coalition (NSHC), nesoilhealth.org.  We are the first national hub-based model that is affiliated with a State Community Foundation.  The NSHC is a producer-driven, independent, non-profit organization working with an array of Nebraska groups to promote soil health practices that provide multiple benefits for the soil, crops, and the environment. Our purpose is to advance producer education, outreach, and the adoption of soil health principles to build more resilient farms, ranches, and communities across Nebraska.

Our hub model has three main components and four metrics: the Stakeholder Visioning Group (SVG), Producer Learning Community (PLC), and the Demonstration and Education Sites.  The soil health hub concept stimulates coordination, collaboration, and communication among producers and the rural-urban settings.  We build upon existing efforts to create a shared vision that is locally and regionally responsive. 


Since 2024, NSHC has made substantial and steady progress tied to our metrics:

  • Davis Behle was hired as our Network Director. He previously worked in sales and education for Green Cover and has experience in farming, ranching and building solid relationships.

  • Hub 1 is in year two in south central Nebraska. Livestock, diversifying crop rotation, and the blend of irrigation and dryland are among the main considerations of producers, the lending community, and agricultural business.

  • Hub 2 is beginning in 15 counties in southwest Nebraska. Hubs 3-5 are being determined through strategic planning with partners.

  • We completed 20 soil health economics producer interviews with the Soil Health Institute; partially overlapping with 30 socio-behavioral interviews with Julie Snorek. 

  • Our funding is steadily progressing to support our national model with the Nebraska Community Foundation.

Next steps in 2025 include:

  • Applying the ROI of soil health to enhance communities and opportunities. This enhances peer-to-peer relationships through tiered education tied to monetizing soil health and supporting producers through various means.

  • Developing the SVG to meet local-based priorities with water quality, markets, and human health.

  • Delving deeper into the role of livestock, various crop rotations, and steps to financially and technically support producers for sustained success.

  • Linking the PLC’s and working with partners who impact many financial decisions.

  • Expanding the interviews to build comprehensive analyses and present “Stories of Success.”

Thank you for your involvement. We look forward to working together to advance soil health in Nebraska!

Sincerely, 

Davis Behle, Nebraska Soil Health Coalition Network Director

Tom Hoegemeyer, Chair 

Mike McDonald, Treasurer 

Craig Derickson, Secretary