This proposal is for the development of the 14th Annual SWCS-SSSA Joint Symposium, which would be held at the 2013 SWCS and SSSA annual meetings. Past joint symposia have been very successful. We are proposing for 2013 a joint symposium with the title of, “Mitigating Drought and Other Impacts of Climate Change Through Management to Improve Soil Health and Productivity”. This is a topic of great importance and interest to both societies. It is clear from recent publications that climate change, especially extreme events, can significantly impact food security. It is also clear from these publications that improving soil health and quality will be essential for drought-resilient systems, which will be critical in efforts to achieve sustainable food security. NRCS is starting a new initiative on soil health, and this will be important for climate change adaptation. This symposium will also cover limited irrigation, since drought and lower precipitation can decrease water availability. This joint symposium will continue the tradition of cooperation between the two societies and will help to create opportunities to disseminate cutting-edge information to members of both societies. It will also help to “jumpstart” a conversation about the importance of the soil health initiative, especially in current times of extreme events and a changing climate. This is an important topic to cover within the context of the current farm bill, which is still in development. The SWCS and SSSA have always been at the forefront of conservation and soil science, and the topic of this symposium connects with the theme of this year’s ASA/CSSA/SSSA meeting: Water, Food, Energy & Innovation for a Sustainable World. Speakers will submit manuscripts about their presentations to the peer review system of the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation.