As the entire world celebrates Earth Day, it's a good time to focus on the importance of soil health. 

Jane Hardisty,  Indiana State Conservationist noted that when individuals question the relevance of soil health, they should ask themselves if they like to eat, and if it is important to care for their land.

During the 2014 Midwest Women in Agriculture Conference, Hardisty stated that landowner's have a  responsibility to know general facts and information about soil health, and why it is so vital for the future.

She said that in order to meet food needs in the next 40 years, farmers will have to produce an amount of food greather than the total that has been produced in the last 500 years combined. It is critical this food production is done in a way that does not deplete our natural resources.

Hardisty asked, “How are we going to protect our wonderful treasure of soil and water?” 

The answer to her question, she noted, is the Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS), which helps private landowners make sound conservation decisions.

NRCS can help individuals implement better soil health conservation practices on farmland.