Professional Activities: Research program and goals are to develop technologies and strategies for managing soils to increase adoption of conservation production systems that reduce economic risks; improve farm profitability; improve soil quality and productivity; reduce economic risk from short-term droughts; and enhance carbon storage. These goals are accomplished by planning and conducting basic and applied research that focuses on complex interactions between crop and soil management systems with emphasis on cropping intensity/diversity, high residue conservation systems, cover crops, soil fertility and fertilizer practices, and soil compaction management. In addition, collaboration and cooperation with ARS research scientists at other locations in the Southeastern USA, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the Cooperative Extension Service, and with researchers and technology transfer specialists at Auburn University, Alabama A&M University, and other Land Grant institutions is essential to the success of these goals.