In the realm of Soil and Crop Science, our department is committed to impactful outreach efforts and the establishment of flagship programs that contribute significantly to the broader community. Through strategic engagement initiatives, we strive to bridge the gap between academia and the wider public, fostering awareness and understanding of critical issues in soil and crop sciences. Our flagship programs serve as beacons of innovation and excellence, exemplifying our dedication to advancing sustainable agricultural practices, environmental stewardship, and the dissemination of cutting-edge research. These endeavors underscore our mission to not only push the boundaries of scientific knowledge within our field but also to share its benefits with the world at large. Notably, a majority of participants in these initiatives are associated with AgriLife Research, TAMU graduate students, and NRCS employees, creating a dynamic and collaborative network for advancing our shared goals.
Soil Survey and Land Resource Workshop
Surface Mine Reclamation Workshop
Lone Star Healthy Streams Program
Soil Survey and Land Resource Workshop
The 62nd annual Soil Survey and Land Resource Workshop will be held February 5-6, 2025. The workshop will feature updates from the Cooperative Soil Survey Group at the state, regional and national levels, special sessions and the perennial favorite student research poster and oral presentation competitions.
Dates and Times:
February 5, 2025 || 8:00 am – 7:00 pm
February 6, 2025 || 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
Location: Best Western Premier Hotel and Conference Center — Bryan, Texas
The Soil Survey and Land Resource Workshop is an annual conference for Texas soil scientists to share updates on research and policy, to discuss past and future priorities, and to communicate with relevant state and federal agencies. The workshop is organized each year by Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension and the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA NRCS) Texas state office, with cooperation from the Professional Soil Scientists Association of Texas (PSSAT).
Agenda coming soon!For direct questions, please contact Dr. Felipe Aburto, [email protected].
2025 Soil Survey and Land Resource Workshop – Texas
Soil Survey and Land Resource Workshop – Texas
Wednesday, February 5 – Thursday, February 6
College Station, TX (In-Person Workshop)
Texas A&M University and Texas A&M AgriLife
The Soil Survey and Land Resource Workshop (SSLRW) will be an in-person event this year. You are invited to present and participate in the discussions of this informal interactive workshop. We encourage oral and poster presentations about ongoing research in soil sciences in general, soil surveys and land resource activities. This includes new initiatives, plans, educational/informational efforts, research findings, consultancies, and new methods and materials. Other topics that further the development, use, and understanding of soil surveys and closely related information are also strongly encouraged.
(PSSAT meeting will likely proceed as usual but on Tuesday instead of Wednesday night.)
Registration
A separate email will be sent with registration information. Registration includes lunch, dinner, and light snacks during the meeting.
- Professional: $150 before or on January 20 and $175 after January 20
Student registration: $35 before or on January 20 and $45 after January 20
Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
The Soil Survey and Land Resource Workshop is considered a professional development activity and can be used as a source of PDH for the Texas Board of Professional Geosciences licensure and CEUs for Certified Nutrient Management Planners.
Thank You for your Support
Thank you for your continued interest and support of the Texas Soil Survey program, a State/Federal partnership of Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension, the National Cooperative Soil Survey Program, and the Professional Soil Scientists Association of Texas.
Past Programs
2024 Program
The 2024 workshop was held February 7-8, 2024 at the Best Western Premier in Bryan, TX.
2023 Program
The 2023 workshop was held February 8-9, 2023 at the Best Western Premier in Bryan, TX.
2022 Program
The 2022 workshop was held virtually February 9-10, 2022.
2021 Program
The 2021 workshop was held virtually February 4-5, 2021.
2020 Program
The 2020 workshop was held February 6-7, 2020 at Rudder Tower on the Texas A&M University campus in College Station.
Surface Mine Reclamation Workshop
The Surface Mine Reclamation Workshop was created in the late 1970s in response to the federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977. It is intended to draw coal mining and reclamation stakeholders together to discuss advantages and disadantages of reclamation process.
The workshop is held annually in early October. In addition to industry speakers, there is a research poster competition for graduate and undergraduate students, and commercial displays. The workshop also provides scholarships for students in related fields of study.
The Surface Mine Reclamation Workshop is led by Jake Mowrer, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension Associate Professor in Soil Nutrient & Water Resource Management.
Lone Star Healthy Streams Program
The goal of the Lone Star Healthy Streams (LSHS) program is the protection of Texas waterways from bacterial contamination originating from livestock operations and feral hogs that may pose a serious health risk to Texas citizens. To achieve this important goal, the program’s objective is the education of Texas farmers, ranchers, and landowners about proper grazing, feral hog management, and riparian area protection to reduce the levels of bacterial contamination in streams and rivers.
While some water pollution is often easy to detect, bacteria pollution is not. A water body choked with algae, a muddy river loaded with sediment, or a lake covered with an oily sheen all exhibit clearly noticeable impairments. Bacteria in water, on the other hand, are not at all noticeable to the naked eye. Did you know that bacteria is the number one cause of water pollution in Texas and that more than half of the water bodies evaluated in the state are impaired because of excess bacteria levels?
Bacteria in water can pose a significant health risk to humans. While not all bacteria are harmful to human health, some can be pathogenic, meaning they can cause disease. Waterborne diseases such as hepatitis, cholera, and salmonella can all result from elevated bacteria levels. There have actually been documented cases of illness due to E. coli in Texas water bodies. Furthermore, high levels of bacteria can indicate that water quality is impaired and that the water is probably unsuitable for drinking and other domestic uses.
Sources of bacteria across the landscape are numerous and it is the responsibility of everyone to do their part in helping minimize bacteria and other pollutants from entering our valuable waterways. The agricultural industry can play an important role in helping improve water quality across the state. Simple changes in how livestock and feral hogs are managed can result in significant impacts and can help reduce the amount of bacteria entering Texas streams and rivers, thus protecting the well-being of all Texans.
The framework for the LSHS program is five resource manuals that focus on bacterial runoff management for beef cattle, dairy cattle, horses, poultry, and feral hogs. As part of this educational program, current best management practices (BMPs) and novel BMPs are being evaluated to provide important information to citizens regarding BMP effectiveness relative to implementation costs and load reduction. Through enhanced education regarding riparian protection and vegetation management on grazing lands, LSHS will further protect Texas waterways from sediment, nutrient, and pesticide runoff with the concomitant loss of water and topsoil. It is important to note that the BMPs outlined in this website and in the manuals are not mandatory at this time and participation in the LSHS program is voluntary.
Funding for this project is provided through a Clean Water Act Section 319 Nonpoint Source Grant from the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board and the U.S Environmental Protection Agency.
For more information or to bring Lone Star Healthy Streams to your area, contact:
Leanne Wiley
Extension Program Specialist
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
Cell: 979.318.2617 Office: 979.862.8072
E-mail: [email protected]
Larry Redmon
Professor and Forage Specialist
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
Office: 979.845.4826
Email: [email protected]