Healthy, living soils provide the foundation for successful and profitable organic farming and ranching. Nowhere is soil health more vital than in the South, where organic producers face intense pressure from weeds, insect pests, parasitic nematodes, and plant-pathogens; extremes of summer heat, drought, and flood; and soil types with inherent fertility limitations. In addition, long growing seasons can make it harder to rebuild soil organic matter, especially during intensive crop production.