The Bath County Extension service and the Bath County Natural Resources Conservation Service conducted a joint field day on September 13th.  The field day focused on 3 main topics - profitable forages, small fruit production in high tunnels and soil health.  Even though various topics were presented, all of the speakers emphasized the importance of soil and nutrient management in their presentations.  Soils  and nutrient management are the basis of all of our crop production systems.  The 148 participants at the field day learned how managing the soil to improve microbial activity increased crop yields, how proper fertilizer management can maximize crop yields and returns and they learned the main parts of a soil profile.  The information received should encourage participants to take annual soil samples, institute cover crops into their operation and consider practices that will improve soil organic matter and microbial health.  Producers who adopt some of these practices, should be beneficiaries of higher yields and eventually lower fertilizer requirements overall which leads to higher profitability on the farm.