Damage from soil compaction has significant impact on water infiltration, root development, nutrient uptake by crops and ultimately grain yield the following season. Research estimates that yield loss caused by soil compaction from machine traffic can be 10% to 20%. So as we move into the winter months and start prepping for spring field operations, it is important to evaluate if compaction exists within individual fields. There are four stages to soil compaction which include 1) identifying compacted areas, 2) evaluating these compacted areas to determine cause and severity, 3) preventative management to minimize future compaction, and 4) outlining strategies to manage existing compaction.