Celebrating Soil, the Foundation of it All
It’s hard to overstate the importance of what lies beneath our feet. Healthy soil is the foundation of clean water, nutritious food, strong economies, and thriving communities. It supports a farmer’s bottom line and, when cared for, it also plays a critical role in storing carbon and helping to mitigate the climate crisis.
Yet despite all that depends on it, this vital resource is being lost and degraded at alarming rates. The value of soil is often overlooked, and even those who understand its importance are left without the tools and support needed to protect it.
To change that, OEFFA and the Ohio Soil Health Initiative (OSHI) envisioned, launched, and advocated for an officially designated Ohio Soil Health Week, which became a reality on July 1, 2025, when Governor DeWine signed the Agriculture Appreciation Act into law. Now in its second year, the statewide celebration will continue to unite farmers, community members, organizations, policymakers, and legislators.
Together, we’ll show just how powerful and essential Ohio’s soils truly are.
Why We Must Save Our Soil
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States, once said, “The nation that destroys its soil, destroys itself.” This has never been more salient.
About 40 percent of the world’s soils are degraded, and as much as 90 percent could be degraded by mid-century. Every year, the U.S. loses 6.9 billion tons of fertile soil to erosion and poor land management. In the Midwest alone, over the past 160 years, we’ve lost 57.6 billion metric tons of topsoil—a staggering amount that began disappearing with the rise of modern agriculture.
When we protect and restore our soils, the benefits ripple outward. Healthy soils act like sponges, absorbing and storing water during droughts and soaking up excess during floods. This natural filtration reduces runoff and improves water quality. When soil health isn’t prioritized, we see “dollars being washed away down the Mississippi River,” said Dr. Jim Ippolito, Rattan Lal Endowed Professor of Soil Health and Soil Fertility at The Ohio State University.
Dr. Ippolito was one of multiple stewards interviewed for our Soil Stories video series. He and the other interviewees advocate for and share the many benefits of good soil health practices, which include increased soil organic matter, extended growing seasons, improved biodiversity, better yields, enhanced weed and pest resilience, and a deeper connection to the Earth, to name a few.
This Year’s Celebration
Last year, over 700 folks around the state came together to honor soil. With its official designation, we’re hoping that this year’s celebration will reach more audiences. This year, from Sunday, November 9 to Saturday, November 15, you will have ample opportunity to learn about healthy soil—and the role you can play in protecting it—at one of these in-person or virtual events.
- Sunday, November 9: Soil Development Under Prairie Landscapes & Sustainable Agriculture—Great Council State Park, Greene Co.
- Monday, November 10: Green Lunch – The Impact of Soils on Farms, Forests, & Streams—Athens Public Library, Athens Co.
- Wednesday, November 12: Soil Health Week in Montgomery County—The Foodbank, Inc., Montgomery Co.
- Wednesday, November 12: OEFFA Ohio Soil Health Week Tour—Brandt Family Farm, Fairfield Co.
- Wednesday, November 12: Soil Properties & Web Soil Survey—Lucas Soil and Water Conservation District Office, Lucas Co.
- Thursday, November 13: Soil Health and Grain Quality Webinar—Zoom, Virtual
- Friday, November 14: Soil Health Symposium Hosted by Antioch College Micro Farm and Learning Hub—Antioch Farm, Greene Co.
- Friday, November 14: City Folk’s Farm Shop: Growing Healthy Ground Together—City Folk’s Farm Shop, Franklin Co.
- Friday, November 14: OEFFA Policy and Pints—Bookhouse Brewing, Cuyahoga Co.
- Saturday, November 15: Build Your Own Living Compost Workshop with Tour of Farm Star—Farm Star, Meigs Co.
Ohio Soil Health Week Is Official! How We Got Here
In 2023, OEFFA’s Policy team and OSHI worked with legislators to seek funding for a Soil Health Pilot Program in the Ohio budget. While the funding didn’t come through, the effort sparked strong relationships and momentum that have carried into this year. Our Policy team has also been working on other soil health-related legislation, like the Healthy Soils Task Force bill, introduced in the 134th and 135th General Assemblies.
In 2024, OEFFA and OSHI collaborated closely with Ohio Senator Tim Schaffer, who introduced an amendment to House Bill 162 establishing Ohio Soil Health Week. While H.B. 162 passed the Ohio legislature, it didn’t make it to the Governor’s desk for a signature during the lame duck period.
The amendment was reintroduced in 2025 as part of House Bill 65, the Agriculture Appreciation Act, by Ohio Representatives Roy Klopfenstein and Bob Peterson. It was signed into law on July 1 and subsequently took effect on October 1. We celebrate this legislative milestone and recognize it as foundational to future soil health legislation in Ohio.
Honoring a Champion of Healthy Soils
Ohio Soil Health Week will spotlight the importance of soil and honor one of its most passionate advocates: the late David Brandt.
Before his passing, David worked with OEFFA to advance soil health education and policy, testifying before the Ohio Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee and urging legislative support after the devastating Illinois dust storm that took place in 2023. His legacy continues to inspire the movement he helped build.
Ohio Soil Health Week takes place during the second full week of November in honor of David Brandt, whose birthday falls that week.
How You Can Get Involved
During Ohio Soil Health Week and beyond, we invite you to:
- Attend an Ohio Soil Health Week event
- Learn about the crucial role soil plays in our ecosystems
- Advocate for policies that support healthy soils in Ohio
- Connect with OEFFA and partners across the state
Together, we can protect and celebrate the very resource that sustains us. Learn more at ohiosoilhealthweek.com. Interested in getting involved with the Ohio Soil Health Initiative and OEFFA’s soil health policy efforts? Reach out to Grassroots Organizer, Lauren Hirtle, to learn more: lauren@oeffa.org.