Soil and Water
Conservation Program
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Soil Science
Soils impact all aspects of our lives. Soils
resources provide us with air, water, food and
shelter. Protection of topsoil is vital to sustain agricultural production and ensure clean water, but topsoil is only one part of understanding our soils. Just as individual people have different strengths and weaknesses, soils also have inherent properties that affect their suitability for different uses. Our soil scientists are working to update Missouri soil surveys, detailed reports of the soils in an area with maps that show where different soils occur. Descriptions of the soils are listed with tables identifying commonly found properties and features. Soil scientists also provide technical soils assistance on agricultural lands to districts, landowners, agencies and others. Updated soils information is absolutely necessary in order to provide the sound science needed to make effective soils resource management decisions. The mission of the soil science section is to develop and promote science-based soils resource data and information for the conservation, responsible use and protection of Missouri's soil and water resources on agricultural lands.
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) Soil Survey Updates
Soils data and information is being updated by MLRA's. MLRA's are geographically associated land resource units, usually encompassing several thousand acres, characterized by a particular pattern of soils, geology, climate, water resources and land use. A unit can be one continuous area or several separate nearby areas. MLRA map of Missouri
For a brief tutorial on how to make and print your own soils map visit http://soils.missouri.edu/data/tutorial.doc.
To access and print soils information for your area visit http://www.soils.missouri.edu.
Soils Assistance Services
Soils assistance is provided to landowners through local
soil and water conservation districts and to other natural 
resources agencies on agricultural lands. Services provided include:
On-site soils investigations for ponds, wetlands, lagoons and conservation practices.
High intensity soils mapping for agricultural planning such as prescription farming, determining field soils variability, intensive grazing systems design and forest management.
Map product assistance including soils suitability maps (pasture, hayland and forest suitabilities), hydric soils, prime farmland, phosphorus index, soils productivity ratings and many others.
Soils education assistance such as FFA soil judging competitions and training, Intro to Soils and Soil Survey Training Courses, Web-based GIS training and applications, teacher workshops and conservation field days.
For basic soil science information visit http://soils.missouri.edu/soilstut/index.html.
