Location: Oklahoma and Central Plains Agricultural Research Center
Project Number: 3070-12610-001-023-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Sep 25, 2026
End Date: Aug 1, 2027
Objective:
Conduct a regional synthesis on available science regarding the applicability, benefits, and risks of regenerative conservation practices that support soil health and sustainable agricultural production. Conduct translational soil health research as part of a collaborative team of researchers at the USDA ARS Oklahoma, Central Plains Agricultural Research Center (OCPARC) in El Reno, Oklahoma and Texas A&M University (TAMU), and with active involvement of USDA NRCS specialists. Share findings with NRCS leadership and broadly to USDA ARS stakeholder network.
Approach:
The Cooperator and project PI will select a suitable postdoctoral research candidate who will be responsible for leading the project under the mentorship and guidance of the cooperator and ARS PI. The fellow will be housed at the USDA ARS OCPARC lab in El Reno, Oklahoma and will collaborate with OCPARC and TAMU scientists to identify regenerative conservation practices that are credited with promoting soil health and agricultural sustainability in farmland and rangeland of the southern Great Plains. The fellow will conduct science syntheses and applied on-site field research in grazed tallgrass prairie pastures that are periodically burned and in pastures planted with annual cool and warm season forages. All field research activities will be conducted in collaboration with El Reno ARS research staff. The fellow will also be responsible for coordinating communication with state and local NRCS staff to ensure that research questions are informed by stakeholder needs.