Today is World Soil Day. The observance dates back to its original recognition in 2002 by the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS). This year, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is observing today as World Soil Day. As the FAO website states, “Soil is a finite natural resource. On a human time-scale it is non-renewable. However, despite the essential role that soil plays for human livelihoods, worldwide there is increasing degradation of soil resources due to inappropriate management practices, population pressures driving unsustainable intensification and inadequate governance over this essential resource." As the only national conservation organization dedicated to protecting farmland, promoting sound farming practices, and keeping farmers on the land, American Farmland Trust views farmland protection and conservation of soil as going hand in hand. Healthy soil helps farmers remain economically profitable while also protecting the environment. That in turn helps farmers remain productive and on their land. Healthy soil also builds resilience to disasters such as extreme flooding or drought, both of which can result in ecological disasters when soil is managed poorly. But conservation pays off and given the right incentives and programs through the federal farm bill as well as state and local programs, farmers in the U.S. have learned how to protect the landscape and manage soil properly. So on World Soil Day, remember that we owe our very existence to those few precious inches of living and life-giving topsoil.

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About the Author: Jeremy Peters is Director of Federal Policy at American Farmland Trust.