News & Events

Save the Date!
March 23, 2019
Soil Health Clinic
Brownsville Community Center
11a.m.

Featuring

Liz Stahl - University of MN Extension Educator in Agronomy.
Liz will discuss herbicide timing while integrating cover crops into a row crop system.

A question and answer session will follow: Find out how cover crops can fit into your current
program to benefit soil health.

Also hear about various conservation programs and planning from local SWCD and Pheasants Forever conservation staff.

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.

Conservation Highlights Newsletter - Fall 2018

Invasive Weed Seminar

NEW Tree Order Pick Up Dates Set