As the Soil Health Partnership (SHP) heads into its fourth year of long-term data collection on working farms, the National Corn Growers Association initiative (NCGA) continues to grow and change.

Nick Goeser, who has served as the project’s director since its launch in 2014, has been promoted to the position of Vice President of Production and Sustainability for the National Corn Growers Association, and while he will still be involved to some degree, SHP will be seeking a new director.

“The Soil Health Partnership is a project I have poured my heart and soul into for the last four years,” Goeser said. “My hope is that this change will bring additional opportunity and support to the partnership.” Goeser will serve as a member of the SHP Steering Committee and remain engaged with the Science Advisory Council.

In other SHP staff changes, former Eastern Iowa Field Manager Elyssa McFarland has accepted a promotion to a new position as Key Relationships Director to identify key contacts at new and existing stakeholder organizations to establish and foster relationships.

Jack Cornell has been promoted to Field Team Director from his former position of Operations Manager to oversee the SHP Field Team and work to add new levels of support in areas like farmer relationship management, data collection and management, special collaborative projects and network expansion efforts.

Former Program Coordinator Anne Dietz has been promoted to SHP Project Manager and will take a more active role in overseeing management of essential projects across SHP such as assistance in grant management, website development, and technology integration efforts.

In addition to a new director, the organization plans to hire a Business Development Director, a Lead Scientist and additional field managers as expansion continues. Several positions are posted on the Soil Health Partnership careers page.