The Soil Health Nexus team is dedicated to increasing regional access to soil health research, knowledge, extension, and resources. This webpage serves as a hub for research-based soil health resources throughout the region.
Check back often, as we continue to build out our resources!
All Resources
Grazing Cover Crops In Wisconsin
This YouTube Video showcases watershed farmers working with the Eau Pleine Partnership for Integrated Conservation (EPPIC) to successfully interseed cover crops into silage corn and other examples of their innovative watershed farmers integrating conservation into agriculture to increase profit and soil health.
Grazing Cover Crops and Benefits for Livestock Operations
A YouTube video featuring Illinois farmer Doug Hanson at the National Conference on Cover Crops and Soil Health. This session explored the ways that cover crops can be integrated with livestock operations, including as forage for grazing in between cash crop growing seasons.
Re-Integrating Ruminant Grazing in Row Crop Country
This 2020 University of Minnesota feasibility study explores how integrating ruminant grazing with row‑crop systems can expand continuous living cover and improve farm resilience. It summarizes farmer‑identified barriers, opportunities, and co‑benefits from interviews across Minnesota.
Toolkit for Small Farm Biodiversity
This 2023 toolkit compiles research‑supported practices for building biodiversity on small farms, focusing on soil health, pollinator habitat, beneficial insect support, and integrating small livestock. It provides step‑by‑step guidance for organic matter management, cover crops, perennial plantings, hedgerows, wildflower strips, and other ecological strategies farmers can adopt to create resilient, productive systems.
Chapter 12: Integrating Crops & Livestock
This SARE Building Soil for Better Crops chapter explains how integrating livestock with cropping systems can improve soil health, nutrient cycling, and whole‑farm resilience.
Integrating Livestock & Crops: Improving Soil, Solving Problems, Increasing Income
This 2014 ATTRA report outlines practical ways for farmers to integrate livestock into cropping systems to improve soil health, diversify income, and strengthen whole‑farm resilience. It summarizes grazing strategies, crop rotations, infrastructure needs, and farmer experiences with integrated operations.
Midwest Perennial Forage Working Group
The Midwest Perennial Forage Working Group’s mission is to facilitate increased land use for pasture and perennial forage production in the Upper Midwest and to improve the environmental performance of farming systems while maintaining agricultural production and profitability.
Midwest Grazing Exchange Program
This program connects livestock owners, landowners, and grazing‑focused businesses across the Midwest, providing an online exchange where users can post or search listings for livestock, land, or grazing services. The platform helps match graziers with available acres and supports more regional grazing adoption.
Producer Led Watershed Protection Grants
This Wisconsin DATCP resource outlines the Producer‑Led Watershed Protection Grant Program, which funds farmer‑led groups working on soil and water quality through conservation practices, on‑farm research, and watershed outreach. It summarizes annual funding levels, eligibility requirements, and contacts for technical and fiscal support.
Cranking Up Capacity Podcast
This 2022 Land Stewardship Project podcast episode features farmer Langdon Collom learning how managed grazing builds soil biology and increases a farm’s productive capacity without expanding acreage, showing how improved soil function can support more efficient livestock and crop integration.