The good life starts with good soil. If, like Paul and Lisa Jasa, you’re passionate about soil health, then you’ll be pleased to learn about the Jasa Soil Health Education Fund. Paul and Lisa Jasa devoted their careers at Nebraska Extension to helping producers make informed management decisions. In 2022, two years after Lisa’s passing, Paul set up a fund to continue this work, with an emphasis on soil health and environmental sustainability. The fund offers annual grants to Nebraska Extension professionals across the state who help producers improve profitability, build soil health and reduce risks to the environment. Grant money can be used for: • startup funding for work in soil health; • distributing information related to soil health; and • developing and conducting educational programs and activities, especially those that would otherwise not happen due to lack of funding. The grant is designed to support projects led by Nebraska Extension faculty working in crop production who have direct contact with Nebraska producers. Grant amounts will vary but will likely range from $500 to $1,500. If you have an idea or project that matches the aims of the fund, please contact: Dave Varner Associate Dean/Associate Director Nebraska Extension 402-720-2275 [email protected] ANNOUNCING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE JASA SOIL HEALTH EDUCATION FUND ABOUT PAUL AND LISA JASA Paul is an educator and researcher, helping producers improve productivity, build soil health and reduce risks to the environment. He stresses a systems approach and the long-term benefits of continuous no-till to conserve soil and water and to improve soil health. Paul has presented to groups across Nebraska, the United States and several foreign countries, speaking on no-till planting equipment and system management, crop residue management, soil and water conservation, soil structure and compaction, cover crops and soil health. Lisa was a well-respected communicator with a long career at UNL’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Among her other accomplishments, she was most known for developing CropWatch, a production and crop scouting newsletter sharing research-based information and recommendations. CropWatch eventually moved online and became the portal to most of Nebraska Extension’s web-based crop production information. Through her work, many more farmers had access to valuable data that was clearly presented and scientifically rigorous. “Healthy soils, healthy crops, healthy food, healthy people and healthy communities. It all starts with the soil.” Paul Jasa