News & Events
Mark your calendars for
December 5th and take a few moments to consider all the benefits of
healthy soil and its impacts on the world. We all know the role
that soil plays in the production of food, at least on an elementary
level, but do we know about other potential benefits of healthy soil and
how it can impact our world in a positive manner?
Did you know that the organic portion of soil can
play a role in the climate change equation? Soil organic matter
(SOM) is an important component in the carbon cycle. In simple
terms, increasing SOM can have a direct benefit in reducing atmospheric
carbon by sequestering that carbon within the soil and holding it there.
On a farm scale, any practice that can increase the organic matter
content of soil from a depleted level will sequester carbon into the
soil that would otherwise end up in the atmosphere. Practices such
as no-till and cover crops as well as livestock integration are
excellent practices with which to increase a soil’s organic matter
content.
For those interested, programs are available
through Root River SWCD and NRCS to producers who convert from
conventional practices such as moldboard plowing and corn/soybean
rotations to practices such as no-till and/or cover crops. In
addition, there are programs that provide technical and financial
assistance to producers who transition to integrating grazing livestock
onto the landscape through a managed grazing system.
Many local producers are already implementing
practices that are elevating their soil organic matter. These
producers are seeing the benefits of healthy soil on their fields. Water
infiltration into their soils has improved. They also have better
nutrient cycling and less compaction issues during wet field operations.
In addition, through increased organic matter within their soils, these
producers are doing their part to reduce atmospheric carbon and its
effect on the climate change equation.
For more information on soil health, call Bob
Scanlan, Root River SWCD at 724-5261 ext.3.
Living Soil: A Documentary for All of Us. Our
soils support 95 percent of all food production, and by 2060, our soils
will be asked to give us as much food as we have consumed in the last
500 years.
Living Soil Film from Soil Health Institute on Vimeo.
Invasive Weed Seminar
NEW Tree Order Pick Up Dates Set
Soil Health Field Day
Two Houston County residents place in national photo
contest
Excellent photography, as we know, can communicate volumes. Two Houston
County individuals recently participated in the National Association of
Conservation Districts (NACD) & NACD Auxiliary Photo Contest. The annual
contest is open to all amateur photographers residing in the U.S. or its
territories. Each contestant is given the opportunity to enter up to
five photos per year that fall within one of four categories:
Conservation Practices, Close-up Conservation, Conservation in Action,
or Agriculture and Conservation Across America.
Joni Mehus of rural Spring Grove, MN submitted an entry in the adult
division of the Ag/Conservation Across America category. Karalee
Christensen, an 8th grader, from rural Houston, MN submitted her photo
in the youth division of the Conservation in Action category.
Joni and Karalee’s photos were judged on technical merit
(sharpness/clarity, properly exposed, and whether the photo is
well-framed) and composition (imagination and creativity).
Cash prizes were awarded to the top two winners of each category and age
division. Karalee Christensen, daughter of Al & Karen Christensen,
placed second in the youth division of the Conservation in Action
category. Joni Mehus placed second in the adult division of the
Ag/Conservation Across America category.
Joni Mehus, Spring Grove, MN 2nd Place Adult Division, Ag/Conservation
Across America category.
Karaleen Christensen, Houston, MN 2nd Place Youth
Division, Conservation in Action.
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