Soil health is common ground.

Soil is Ohio’s most valuable natural resource and is every farmer, rancher, and land steward’s greatest legacy. Although soil is essential to our communities, economy, climate, nutrition, and farm production, there’s little awareness of the importance of soil health.

Agriculture is central to Ohio’s economy, and our soils are at the base of it all. In the face of Ohio’s unique challenges, good soil health practices can improve water quality while also helping farmers and ranchers with long-term profitability and resilience.

Farmers are already having to adapt to more frequent extreme weather events. Many are interested in improving soil health to help hold more water during droughts and improve infiltration during heavy rain events. Building healthy soils takes time, and making investments now will reduce the need for outside fertility and water quality mitigation in the future.

Ohio’s soils deserve a celebration.

November 9-15, 2025

Ohio Soil Health Week occurs annually every second full week in November, honoring the late David Brandt, a sustainable agriculture trailblazer and the “Godfather of Soil Health,” whose birthday falls that week. The week will feature a variety of events hosted by multiple organizations and individuals around Ohio—all celebrating soil health. 

We invite anyone interested in organizing an Ohio Soil Health Week event to complete this form.

In 2024, Ohio State Senator Tim Schaffer introduced Ohio Soil Health Week as an amendment to HB 162. The legislation passed the Senate, but did not make it to the Governor for a signature during the lame duck session. This year, the designation of Ohio Soil Health Week was included in HB 65, the Agriculture Appreciation Act, which was signed into law on July 1, 2025, officially designating the second full week in November as Ohio Soil Health Week.

Celebrating soil means we’re supporting Ohio’s farmers, our water, and our future.

Ohio Soil Health Week is an effort of the Ohio Soil Health Initiative (OSHI), a coalition organized by the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA).

Last year’s celebration of Ohio Soil Health Week brought in more than 724 attendees at 19 events hosted by 25 statewide partners. We came together to tour farms, attend rallies, hear from legislators and scientists, join webinars, watch films, view soil-related art, and much more. Join us for this year’s events!

The Inaugural Celebration

  • Soil Health Rally

    Athens County, OH

  • Martin Hollow Heritage Farm Tour

    Brown County, OH

  • Healthy Soil Festival

    Hamilton County, OH

  • 2024 BIPOC Farm Tour Circuit

    Montgomery County, OH

  • An Art Exhibition Celebrating Soils

    Franklin County, OH

  • Celebrating Soil Health in the Miami Valley

    Miami County, OH

  • Soil Health Rally

    Athens County, OH

  • Martin Hollow Heritage Farm Tour

    Brown County, OH

  • Soil Health Rally

    Athens County, OH