Soil Classification

 On June 11, 2010 Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen signed into law the "Soil Scientists Licensing Act of 2009."  Specifically, the bill creates licensure for the practice of soil science which is defined (in the bill) as, "[the] investigation, inspection, collection, or evaluation of soil as a means to classify soil pursuant to the use and application of the USDA soil taxonomy standard, as revised, or the interpretation,inventory, planning, or mapping resulting from classifying soils."   The passage of this legislation is monumental for the profession of soil science in Tennessee.  

Version 2 of STATSGO (General Soils Map of the USA) is available for viewing in Google Earth.  Download the kml file from:

http://www.gelib.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/us-soils_nl.kml

With appropriate additional resources this might be used as an educational tool.

 Changes between Field Indicators 7.0 and 6.0  with reference to USACOE Regional Supplements.

Version 7.0 of the Field Indicators of Hydric Soils is now available online.

USGS will likely hire 12 individuals to do this work. Most of them will be summer employees, but for those who graduated in December 09, they could start sooner. This summer position would be a great fit for those who have soil morphology and classification and/or have soil judging experience. Via Tom Hallmark, TX

The 11th edition of Keys to Soil Taxonomy, as well as a summary of all changes for this new version of the Keys is available at: http://soils.usda.gov/technical/classification/tax_keys/

(via Randall Fowler, President, Soil Science Society of South Carolina)

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources is proposing to transfer the SC Soil Classifier’s Program to the SC Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation Agency (LRR). This is a good fit as most of the professional organizations in SC are regulated by LLR. However, this presents potential significant impacts to our profession.

Prior to the Civil War, native soil fertility was so high it was a "problem" for early Illinois farmers.

How? Several ways, but especially important is that accumulated charcoal, a product of millenia of prairie fires, had stimulated nitrogen fixation. A ready supply of fixed nitrogen supported organic matter accumulation. Released by tillage, organic matter declined and nutrient availability spiked to levels not experienced since.

Raymond B. Daniels, 84, retired USDA-NRCS and NCSU soil scientist died June 21, 2009 in Richmond, VA. Ray was born and raised on an Iowa farm and educated at Iowa State University, receiving his Ph.D. in 1957. He initiated his career with NRCS in Iowa and moved to NC in 1960. It was on the Atlantic Coastal Plain where Ray distinguished himself as an outstanding soil geomorphologist.

Donald D. Patterson is being buried today in the North Dakota land that was his home for more than half a century. Don, 82, was one of my mentors and a professor at North Dakota State University, Fargo, in the Soil Science Department. Originially from northern Iowa, in the 1950's he was a member of the rugged survey crew that criss-crossed the state producing general soil survey area maps for the Agricultural College. Don was a meticulous soil scientist, and willing to share his in-depth knowledge of the State's soils. He was deeply involved with the professional soil classifiers association of North Dakota, and was instrumental in obtaining the soil classifier registration law in the state. In addition to field research in soil classification, Don's interests turned to land valuation and related important uses of soils information. He will be missed by those whom he selflessly helped and advised.

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) is seeking proposals to provide technical assistance pertaining to soil science, hydrology, engineering, fluvial and hillslope geomorphology, wetland science, and botany. Those selected would be contracted through a 2 year master services agreement, from which task orders would be issued on an as needed basis.

A draft site specific soil survey standard is progressing in commitee towards consideration by the Western Conference of the National Cooperative Soil Survey. The sponsoring OSU Soils Committee is seeking feedback from private sector soil scientists. Deadline is April 15, 2009. Contact information is on the cover.

TO: All Cooperators of the National Cooperative Soil Survey

Mirrored from the NSCSS Job Opportunities page.

Job Opportunities

These are in the private sector and make specific mention related to soil science. They are current in that they get pulled when the job closes or the link disappears.

Evolution isn’t just for living organisms.