Soil Science in the News...

Soil Mapping in the News...

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Oklahoma State University's Soil Judging Team Qualifies for Nationals

The Oklahoma State University Soil Judging Team is going to compete at the National Soil Judging Contest in Springfield, MO in the spring of 2009 (date TBD).  

Members of the team (pictured above, l to r):

Coach - Brian Carter
Member - Eric Shaw
Member - Jason Ray
Member - Brian Williams
Member - Alicia Norton 
Assistant Coach - Travis Conley

Read the FULL STORY by clicking HERE.

Soil scientists report new measures and models for determining soil health

A new article (free download from the Soil Science Society of America Journal or SSSAJ until December 19th, 2008) details how researchers are measuring and modeling the health of our soils.

A news synopsis from newswise.com of the article is available by clicking HERE

The abstract of the research article is available by clicking HERE

The full text of the article (free until Dec. 19th, 2008) is available by clicking HERE

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Soil Scientist participates in Envirothon

A soil scientist in Canada stays involved with his community, and the local high schools, by participating in Envirothon, North America's largest environmental education competition.

The event was held in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, on November 7, 2008. Delmar Holmstrom, the soil scientist, was quoted in the article as being "encouraged about the future" after having seen how the high school students performed in the event.

Click HERE to read the entire story

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Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Soil Scientist involved with a controversial land use management issue in Nevada

The Upper Las Vegas Wash Conservation Transfer Area in Southern Nevada has reached a critical juncture for developers, city planners, and conservation groups. A soil scientist from Utah State University, Dr. Janis Boetinger, is involved and has coauthored a final report up for review.

Read the report in its entirety HERE.

Then, if you have a chance, read the article in the local Las Vegas newspaper on the report by clicking HERE.

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Tuesday, November 18, 2008

National Geographic Article Features Two Soil Scientists

It's been a few months since the issue came out, but it's worth repeating that the National Geographic September Issue features two soil scientists in a very positive and impactful light.

The cover article entitled, "Our Good Earth - The future rests on the soil beneath our feet", by Charles C. Mann, raises a number of important environmental challenges directly related to saving our soil, and how soil scientists are helping.


Rattan Lal, the prominent soil scientist from Ohio State University, is featured in the beginning of the article spreading cautious optimism on how its possible to restore degraded soils, yet he tempers the optimism with the dire circumstances we are under if we don't care for our most precious resource, soil.


Wim Sombroek, the pre-eminent former soil scientist, director of ISRIC (International Soil Reference and Information Centre, and secretary general of the International Society of Soil Science (now International Union of Soil Sciences), who passed away in 2003, is quoted on his days growing up in the Netherlands on small plots of plaggen soils. Mann also mentions Sombroek's fascination with terra preta (a particular type of black soil found in Brazil human formed with the unique addition of charcoal) and how he was one of the first to study this type of soil in the Amazon.


Enjoy the article in its entirety by clicking HERE.


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Sunday, November 16, 2008

Soil mapping critical to a project in Utah

Crews working on a new airport site in Utah depend on accurate soil mapping to get the job done.

Read MORE by clicking HERE.


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Saturday, November 15, 2008

Governor of MT, a trained soil scientist, possibly being considered for Secretary of Energy

Montana's governor, Brian Schweitzer, has a master of science degree in soil science from Montana State University.

He is mentioned as a good candidate for Secretary of Energy in the new Obama Administration.

Read MORE by clicking HERE.

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Michel Ransom, professor of soil science at Kansas State University, was recently recognized for his outstanding educational contributions. Read MORE by clicking HERE.

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Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Soil scientist in Brazil noted for his work @ Emprapa

Edson Lobato, a soil scientist at Emprapa, Brazil's Ag Research Agency, is featured in an article published in the Christian Science Monitor this month.
Check out the full story HERE by Sara Miller Llana.


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Tuesday, November 11, 2008

New manager of Nevada Test Site is a soil scientist

The 10th manager of the National Nuclear Security Administration Nevada Site Office, which manages all programs at the Nevada Test Site, has been named today.

Stephen A. Mellington succeeds Gerald L. Talbot Jr., said Darwin Morgan, a spokesman for the National Nuclear Security Administration.

Click HERE to read more...


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Soil scientist weighs in on new hybrid tree

Gary Banuelos, a plant and soil scientist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agriculture Research Service in Parlier, CA said he is slightly skeptical of the tree's ability to survive the west side's poor soil and water conditions...

Click HERE to read the entire article...

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