I sort of decided I had pretty good soil health in a couple of fields..when I found puffballs growing in the middle of them..LOL. You can't get much more healthy and biologically active than forest/woods soil...so if those puffballs can survive out in the middle of a 60 acre field I must be doing something right....

Dan I if you really are looking a measuring stick look at your Morgan soil test the Humus and formazone will help in the walk, the next issue would be the breakdown of your trash, the healthier the soil the quicker the breakdown, the next visual would be the microorganisms, like a more specific selection of organic compounds, and others have the ability to find a source of energy and food value for their metabolic survival with large quantities of carbon compounds, combined with humification. Complexed polymers are broken down into simple segments. The simple segments are remanufactured by microorganisms into altogether different sequences, thus forming a complete series of new and different complex polymers and eventually forming humic acid molecules. In general, four major types of microorganisms can be found in soil: 1. Algae 2. Bacteria 3. Fungi 4. Actinomycetes In balanced soils we can see very high levels of every one of these examples, 1 gram of soil may contain 300,000 algae, 4 billion bacteria, 1 million fungi and 20 million actinomycetes. All these microorganisms are of significant value in the decomposition of organic materials. This process releases elements of nutrient value and captures Nitrogen from the atmosphere. Algae: This microscopic plant’s primary function is decomposition of organic residues and thereby making nutrients available for plant growth. Bacteria: There are many families of bacteria, the most predominant can be either aerobic, requiring air or free oxygen for life, or anaerobic, capable of growing or existing in the absence of free oxygen. Bacteria are so versatile that they can survive under extreme environmental conditions including variations of solemnities, pH conditions, temperatures of barometric pressures. Bacteria are second only to fungi in their digestive ability, and they will attack and break down almost any organic compound for use as food. They not only digest proteins and sugars, but fats, oils, cellulose and many other carbonaceous compounds. Fungi: are extensively distributed throughout our environment. All fungi are aerobic, needing free oxygen for life, and are heterotrophic, capable of utilizing only organic materials as food. Fungi are very tolerant of pH variation, living in environments ranging from acidic to alkaline. However, they seem to do best in an acidic environment. Fungi adapt well to complex food systems, specifically the polymeric compounds that are not easily decomposed by bacteria and actinomycetes. Actinomycetes: are numerous and their distribution is extensive. They are found in oceans, lakes, ponds, sediments and soils. Their abundance is second only to bacteria, and they exist in a very wide array of distinctly different family groups. In soil, they may range from 1 million to 1 billion per gram of soil. These microorganisms are efficient in breaking down the resistant compounds of both plants and animals. Jeff Littrell

Check with your local NRCS office. They should have (or be able to get) a soil quality test kit. These kits have materials and supplies that allow you to perform several different procedures that give some indication of soil quality - infiltration, respiration, bulk density, and others. The manual that comes with it details each procedure, and also offers suggestions for ameliorating poor conditions.

Better print these out and hang them on the office wall! I think about soil health everytime I walk a field and even more often than that. I have never NOT improved a field I farmed, some times to my disadvantage so long term leases and ownership are key to soil improvement. Notill was the first key. For more success, lime and drainage made it work. Balancing the soil nutrients really makes it work. Yield is the proof. Profit is the payoff. Keeping the soil covered is taking my soils to a new level of soil health resulting in increased production. NRCS was impressed with my soils today. I hope the Canadian farmers will be tomorrow, also. Any of you are welcome to our farm like Daniel and Jeff and Keith and many others have, though right now and this summer has been a great time to see what is happening in our soils. Everytime I repair a tile or dig a soil pit I am amazed and happy.

Checking for soil health status using lab procedures, try Cornell's soils dept for some upgraded active carbon tests and more. http://cnal.cals.cornell.edu/ Otherwise I get impressed and persuaded that soil health is advancing when plants are unsuccessfully attacked by pathogens and pests. Will never forget seeing the 98 day 2nd year corn standing like phone poles on September 27th that had no evidence of firing all the way to the ground with grain 1-2 days from black-layer throughout. Planted May 6th, 100# N all from springtime surface applied slurry (5% solids)dairy manure. Yielded close to 200. Another acid test for soil health is the degradation rate of glyphosate. Unfortunately we have no standards yet but we should be generating them. Lastly, soil health is reflected in toxin-free grain and forage crops.