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SSSA hosts Congressional Soils Caucus briefing

September 4, 2026
From l to r: Reps. Brad Finstad (MN) and Jim Costa (CA), co-chairs of the Congressional Soils Caucus, along with Dr. Aaron Daigh (SSSA President), Dr. Cristine Morgan (Chief Scientific Officer of the Soil Health Institute), and Dr. Newell Kitchen (owner and founder of AGES).
From l to r: Reps. Brad Finstad (MN) and Jim Costa (CA), co-chairs of the Congressional Soils Caucus, along with Dr. Aaron Daigh (SSSA President), Dr. Cristine Morgan (Chief Scientific Officer of the Soil Health Institute), and Dr. Newell Kitchen (owner and founder of AGES).

SSSA hosted a Congressional Soils Caucus briefing on September 2 to help educate congressional members and staff about soil health's role in human health and national security. Are your representatives members of the caucus?


SSSA hosted the second Congressional Soils Caucus briefing this week (September 2) in the House Agriculture Committee conference room at the Longworth House Office Building in Washington, DC. The focus was soil health and human health. Our speakers were Dr. Aaron Daigh (SSSA President), Dr. Cristine Morgan (Chief Scientific Officer of the Soil Health Institute), and Dr. Newell Kitchen (owner and founder of AGES). They were joined by Reps. Jim Costa (CA) and Brad Finstad (MN), co-chairs of the caucus. The representatives shared their connections to their family farms and the importance of soils and soil health to national security. The audience included Rep. Celeste Malloy ( UT), House staff, and staff from agricultural ag and natural resource associations. They engaged in probing questions and discussions, displaying a deep interest in the subject. The next caucus briefing will be held in December.
 

Are your representatives members of the caucus?

The purpose of the Congressional Soils Caucus is to enhance the understanding of the role that soil and soil science play through educational briefings for members of Congress and their staff. We need your help to get more congressional members to join. 
 
Representatives and their staff prioritize the voices of their own constituents. By reaching out personally, you demonstrate that soil is vital for the people they represent. Soils don't speak for themselves, but they are not without a voice. Contact your representative and ask them to consider being a member. 

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