Barry Fisher recently retired after 39 years with the USDA-Natural Recourses Conservation Service. Most recently he was with the Soil Health Division where he served as Central Region Leader providing training, leadership and technical exchange on Soil Health Management Systems for NRCS, farmers, stakeholders and partners throughout the Corn Belt and Northern Plains.
The Greencastle resident says he discovered a passion for all things conservation through 4-H and FFA. When he graduated from Western Kentucky University, Fisher began work with the Soil Conservation Service, which became the Natural Resources Conservation Service. He recently retired from the agency, and now, he’s President of Fisher Soil Health.
Years ago, as district conservationist in Putnam County , Fisher started the Conservation Tillage Initiative, which morphed into the Conservation Cropping Systems Initiative. These programs, along with the efforts of Indiana farmers, has made Indiana one of the ‘go to’ states as a model for using cover crops and no-till in combination to improve soil health.
Fisher served on the National Soil Health Training Cadre for NRCS and represented NRCS on the NC SARE Administrative Council. Former positions with NRCS include: State Soil Health Specialist, State Agronomist, State Conservation Tillage Coordinator, Area Agronomist and District Conservationist.
Fisher remains active with state and national training and initiatives which advance technologies and adoption of regenerative farming and improving soil health. He was recently named the 2022 Certified Crop Advisor- Conservationist of the Year though the American Society of Agronomy where he has held his certification since its inception in 1992 (accumulating over 600 CEUs).
He serves on the Board of Directors of the Midwest Cover Crops Council, and a 40-year member of the Hoosier Chapter of SWCS.
Fisher was recognized as one of the 25 Living Legends of No-till at the National No-till Conference. He was given the Hugh Hammond Bennett Conservation Legacy Award from NRCS for his contribution to the “Unlock the Secrets in the Soil” campaign to improve soil health.
Additional honors and recognitions include: Spirit of Extension Award from Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service, Indiana Certified Crop Advisor of the year, Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts Presidents Award, and delivered the 2021 S.H. Phillips Distinguished Lecture in No-Till Agriculture-University of Kentucky.
Fisher and his wife, Michael, practice soil health on their cash grain and livestock farm in west central Indiana. He has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture from Western Kentucky University and is a native of French Lick.
Since retirement, he has launched Fisher Soil Health LLC- Consulting as a next step on this soil health and regenerative farming journey.
