BROOKINGS, S.D. — SDSU Extension, NRCS and industry experts invite landowners to attend the Mitchell Soil Health Event held February 16, 2017 at the Highland Conference Center (2000 Highland Way).
“This event is designed to cover several soil health topics, providing landowners with research-based information they can take home and apply to improve their land’s soil health,” explained Ruth Beck, SDSU Extension Agronomy Field Specialist.
Registration deadline is Feb. 13
The event begins at 9 and runs until 4:00 PM. There is no charge to attend this event, but pre-registration is required. Lunch will be served. To register call the Davison County Conservation District offices on or before Feb. 13, 2017 605-996-1564 ext. 3.
The event is sponsored by The South Dakota No Till Association, the USDA-NRCS, SDSU Extension, local conservation districts and private industry.
Event details
9 a.m. Registration
9:30 a.m. What On Your Landscape?: Presented by Jay Fuhrer, Soil Health Specialist, NRCS, North Dakota. During this presentation, Fuhrer will draw on his long history of livestock integration and utilizing cover crops to extend grazing and promote soil health and no-till.
10:30 a.m. Break and Exhibits
11 a.m. Understanding Your Haney Test Results: Presented by Lance Gunderson, Ward Labs. Ward Labs, Kearney, Nebraska has been a leader at performing and utilizing the new Haney Soil test and other nontraditional soil tests. Gunderson will discuss some of the new tests like the Haney, PLFA and Solvita and how they fit with routine soil testing procedures.
Noon Lunch provided by sponsors
1 p.m. Cover Crops: Old Tools for New Systems: Presented by John Pike, Pike Ag LLC, Marion, Illinois. Pike is an agronomist with Pike Ag from Illinois. He will focus his presentation on cover crop integration into cropping systems.
Pike has a long history of work within extension and research in the Illinois University system. Pike now works primarily with private industry as a cover crop specialist, as well as coordinating nitrogen management research for the Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association.
2 p.m. Cover Crop Establishment and Grazing: Presented by Dwayne Beck, manager of the SDSU Dakota Lakes Research Farm near Pierre, Beck will discuss findings from numerous cover crop research studies he has coordinated across South Dakota that looked at seeding and establishment of cover crop species with different coatings. His current work also includes livestock grazing.
2:45 p.m. Break
3 p.m. Farm Panel: This panel will feature area producers, who will share their experiences with cover crops, nutrient management, no till and livestock integration.
3:45 p.m. Wrap Up
Certified crop consultant educational credits will be available at the workshop.
More information and a full agenda for the soil health workshop can be viewed online at iGrow.org/events or at www.sdnotill.com.
— SDSU Extension
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