Soil Health Institute

Amid incredible fashion shows and powerful Olympics presentations, it can be all too easy to overlook the fact that most of what we create at Ralph Lauren starts with a tiny seed in the ground. This week, we had the chance to see where it truly all begins — visiting family farms in North Carolina that are driving regenerative practices across thousands of acres of American cotton. This work is part of our Ralph Lauren Corporate Foundation investment in the Soil Health Institute’s US Regenerative Cotton Fund — an effort that centers soil health to create positive economic, environmental and health outcomes for farmers and the world. Thank you to the expert, passionate team of scientists at SHI and the wonderful farmers (and the very coolest ginner ENFIELD COTTON GIN INC) who shared their stories with us. We are so proud to support this work and invite you to learn more here: https://lnkd.in/ejQC2GGY.

Attending the Textile Exchange Conference next week in Pasadena, California, or virtually? Research Soil Scientist and Program Director Dr. Dianna Bagnall will be on a panel with industry experts in the session “Financial Mechanisms to Support Material Producers” that will delve into challenges faced by producers, offering insights into the decision-making processes as well as costs and risks associated with different management strategies. Through case studies, the session will highlight mechanisms that are being successfully implemented to support growers.

In case you missed the webinar, the recording of Corn and Cover Crops is now available! Illinois farmer Frank Rademacher, a conservation agronomist with The Nature Conservancy, walks through management considerations for cover crops step by step, from species selection to corn planting. The webinar was presented by the Farmers for Soil Health education team, composed of members of the University of Missouri Center for Regenerative Agriculture and the Soil Health Institute. https://lnkd.in/ejfrSt_H

Growers are provided with soil sampling services, tools, and educational resources to help improve soil health through our partnership with Soil Health Institute as part of the Climate Smart Cotton Program. Learn more about SHI at the link below. https://lnkd.in/ddzB_EV9 #TrustUSCotton #SoilHealthInstitute #ClimateSmart #SustainableAgriculture

Wondering what some of our U.S. Regenerative Cotton Fund Soil Health Educators have been up to recently?  👉 At The National Heirloom Exposition in Ventura, California, attendees were able to swing by the SHI booth to chat with Jessica Kelton about the importance of soil health. She demonstrated our free app, Slakes, which measures aggregate stability —perfect for those in attendance who are just starting their soil health journey! She also highlighted USRCF’s work and shared information on SHI's internship program with prospective students. 👉 Attendees of A Greener World’s auditor training in Raleigh, North Carolina, heard Jared Conner speak on SHI’s efforts in soil health benchmarking, economics, and education. He discussed in-field indicators of soil health that can be measured using simple tools and your senses!

Shoutout to Soil Health Educator Erin Gundy, who volunteered as a pit monitor at the ASA, CSSA, SSSA Region 5 Soil Judging Contest hosted by Kansas State University Department of Agronomy. Undergraduate students worked individually and in teams to describe soil profiles that were judged by local Natural Resources Conservation Service soil scientists who awarded points based on accuracy. Students showcased their skills in hopes of qualifying for the National Collegiate Soils Contest, hosted by University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. By judging soils, students gain experience reading landscapes, describing soil profiles, and making use and suitability interpretations. The contest was held near the Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Refuge. The area is home to the Kansas state soil, Harney silt loam, as well as soils that are high in calcium carbonate, salt, sodium, gypsum, and smectitic clay.

Join us November 4 at 11 A.M. EST for a webinar where we'll share our findings on the economic impact of soil health management systems (SHMS) on five cotton farms in North Carolina! Learn how cotton farmers saved $65/acre and increased net income by $149/acre by implementing SHMS on their farms. These farmers also reported additional ways their crops benefited from #SHMS, including increased resilience to extreme weather. 📅 Mark your calendars and register here: https://lnkd.in/eYTAp85W Check out our fact sheet to see how SHMS are benefiting farmers: https://lnkd.in/eMGi8tdm

We recently introduced Dr. Bill Robertson of Arkansas as one of our USRCF Technical Specialists. At a recent Agricultural Council of Arkansas meeting, Dr. Robertson joined a talk on incorporating cover crops into a row crop rotation: https://lnkd.in/eHQyjFGR Learn more about the resources discussed at the meeting, from mentorship to funding, in this article: https://lnkd.in/epPNKA8e

At the Global Symposium on Soil Information and Data in Nanjing, China, Soil Microbiome Scientist and Program Director Dr. Elizabeth Rieke gave a keynote presentation highlighting Slakes, our free smartphone app for measuring aggregate stability. The hybrid event cohosted by the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and the Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, convened over 500 in-person and 2,000 virtual attendees. Scientists, policy makers, and practitioners discussed cutting-edge techniques to measure, monitor, and manage soil data at a global scale.

Join us on a five-year project supporting potato growers in Wisconsin and Maine! We’re seeking a Soil Health Educator to support adoption of regenerative agriculture practices. Application review begins October 11. Full details: https://lnkd.in/emVbku3C