Natural Resources Conservation Service

Soils

United States Department of Agriculture

The U.S. produces a variety of crops on diverse soils in different climates. How can we divide the U.S. into regions for resource conservation and water quality improvement? In the early 20^th Century, large map units with similar land, water, and biological resources were created.

Thumbnail of the Map of the Month for December.

World Soil Day -- Soil Professionals at the Center

Meet four people who are making a difference in the world of soil science. People who contribute to important outcomes that result in healthy soils. Watch the videos ...

Dave Hoover, Linda Greene, and Buz Kloot from the video series, "Soils at the Center."

Soil Colors - A Mosaic of Stories Told in Color

What do you get when you combine 26,000 official soil series descriptions (OSD), a handful of NRCS employees, and an idea? An evolving soil color map of the continental U.S., that’s what! See more ...

Soil colors at varying depths for the United States.

Updated Tools Page

The Tools web page has been re-designed to serve as a one-stop source for new, leading-edge tools and technologies to help farmers, ranchers, and other land users understand, evaluate, and conserve soils. (See the News Release.)

Soil Data Refresh

The entire official soil survey database was refreshed September 25th. The updated official data is now available for use in implementing national programs affecting landowners and managers. Eight new national interpretations and four new regional interpretations have been added.