MINNEAPOLIS — The Sustainable Farming Association (SFA) is pleased to announce the eighth annual Midwest Soil Health Summit, to be held virtually on the evenings of March 9-11 from 7-9 PM. The slate of speakers will cover various facets of soil health of interest to farmers, ranchers, growers, eaters, and ag professionals. In addition to these experts’ presentations, each session will include time for interactive Q&A. Stay on the cutting edge of soil health and join SFA for three expert- and farmer-led sessions:
Gabe Brown of Brown’s Ranch kicks off the Summit on March 9. A rancher, a partner in Understanding Ag, a Soil Health Academy Educator, and recipient of the 2020 Eco-Ag Achievement Award from Acres U.S.A. magazine, Gabe Brown is on a mission to “regenerate landscapes for a sustainable future.” His practices positively impact the ecosystem from crop fields to pastures to orchards and vegetable growing – and he will talk about them all. There is also a full hour hour set aside for burning questions and comments from the audience.
Nutrient-dense foods and the connections between soil health and human health are getting increasing attention, and on March 10, Sara Keough MS, CNS, LDN will dive into these rich topics. Keough is an Integrative Eco-Nutritionist specializing in clinical nutrition and regenerative agriculture to restore human and ecological health. She also serves as a Technical Advisor with Understanding Ag.
Wrapping up the Summit on March 11, four members of the SFA Soil Health Team will share practical applications for soil health on the farm: the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification program, incorporating pollinator habitat with soil health practices, and integrating small ruminants into cropping systems. Jared Luhman, Sarah Lindblom, Kent Solberg, and Doug Voss will take attendees through each of these applications that growers might consider applying to their own operations.
The full schedule and registration is available here. Registration is free for SFA members and emerging farmers, and $40 for nonmembers.
The Midwest Soil Health Summit is sponsored by the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program, North Central SARE, Compeer Financial, Albert Lea Seed, and Applied Ecological Services. The NRCS and Ag Resource, Inc. will exhibit.
— Sustainable Farming Association
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