Aaron Lee M. Daigh, hydrologist and soil physicist in the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture and president of the Soil Science Society of America, helped host a Congressional Soils Caucus at the Longworth House Office Building in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 2. The bipartisan caucus provided a forum for members of Congress to learn about soil health updates from leading soil science experts.
“We should not expect elected officials to independently keep up with soil science updates, just as scientists cannot be experts on policymaking,” Daigh said. “The SSSA is specifically positioned to represent the soil science community in events like this."
Daigh says the congressional caucus is intended to give members of Congress and their staff a scientific foundation when considering policies related to agricultural research priorities and working lands. Such decisions — including those involving agricultural research, soil health and federal farm programs — have a direct impact on Nebraska producers. In 2025, Nebraska had approximately 44,100 farm operations managing 43.9 million acres, including more than 10 million acres of corn and nearly five million acres of soybeans.
Three primary speakers presented at the caucus. Cristine Morgan, chief scientific officer of the Soil Health Institute, covered what soil health means, what characteristics are measured and how to interpret the results; Newell Kitchen, soil scientist and agronomist at AGES, explained how farmers have begun to see soil stewardship tied to the generational livelihood of their farms instead of just another management practice.
Daigh then addressed what is and is not known about how soil health connects to food quality and human health, as well as the effects it has on agricultural resilience and the vitality of rural communities. He closed the presentations by noting that while plant breeding and genetics were a major driver in the increase in crop yields over the last century, the soil environment is a critical component in allowing a crop to achieve its genetic potential.
“Soil health isn’t just about trying to squeeze out additional yield,” Daigh said. “It’s keeping crop production and food quality steady each year and setting environmental boundaries for how cropping systems operate.”
Daigh, Morgan and Kitchen were joined by Reps. Jim Costa (D–CA.) and Brad Finstad (R–MN.), caucus co-chairs, who shared their connections to their family farms and the importance of soils and soil health to national security.
Daigh said the briefing drew an engaged reception and was encouraged to see several representatives ask specific questions and take part in lively discussion after the formal presentations.
“Scientists benefit from questions being asked policymakers and producers, because those questions often reveal where our knowledge is either insufficient or hasn’t been communicated well,” Daigh said. “That is the real value of this caucus; it creates a place where conversations can occur before an urgent decision is on the table.”
The next Congressional Soils Caucus will be held in December.
