soil health News
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A Growing Culture of Soil Health
On the latest episode of our Dirt Rich podcast series, Theresa Keaveny calls up Troy Daniell, NRCS State Conservationist. Personally, I really enjoyed listening to their conversation unfold on soil health work in Minnesota, the role livestock play, and land healing and resilience. An ecologist by training and passion, he says “we’ve always got to be in a healing mode, because ...
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Midwest Soil Health Summit Nearly Sold Out
The Midwest Soil Health Summit, set for 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday, March 12, in St. Peter, is nearly sold out. Despite the message sent in SFA Connect on Wednesday, we will NOT have walk-up registration available for this conference. There are a few spaces left for online preregistration, which will close when the capacity is reached. If you wish to attend and are not currently registered, you ...
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Network Directly With Leading Soil Health Experts at Midwest Soil Health Summit; Scholarships Still Available
Leading the program will be soil scientist and MacArthur Fellow Dr. David Montgomery (right), author of books like “Growing a Revolution” which makes the case for agriculture that is profitable and productive that cools the planet and restores life to the land. His interests lie at the intersection of the solid earth – the rocky crust beneath our feet – and the ...
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Soil Health for Fruit & Vegetable Producer Training Coming to Red Lake, Mahnomen
SFA’s Soil Health for Fruit and Vegetable Producers training program, which teaches soil health principles, how to measure soil health, tools and techniques and more, is coming to two locations in northwest Minnesota. First, farmers Zachary Paige and Jim Chamberlin will speak from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Tues., April 30, at Adaawe-Wigamgig Business Center, 23750 Highway 1 E, Red Lake. Free; light ...
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Soil Health from Local Farmers & Experts On Tap at Free SFA Cafe Chats
The Sustainable Farming Association is again hosting its series of popular Cafe Chats, free events featuring area farmers who are practicing soil health principles like cover crops, more diverse species, reduction in soil disturbance and adding livestock. At each Cafe Chat, area farmers share their soil health experience, followed by open questions and discussion. SFA Livestock & Grazing ...
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View Cattle, Soil Building & More at Drive-Through Farm Tour May 31
SFA and Voss Farms are hosting a drive-through farm tour from 2 to 4 p.m. Sun., May 31, at 27725 Business 23, Paynesville. Participants will drive through Voss Farms (above) to learn about animals and animal health, food from the farm and soil health. An audio recording will be available for download to listen to as you visit each station along the tour. As soon as it is available, a notice will ...
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Soil Health Films Document Conservation Work of Southwestern Farmers and Conservationists
The Soil and Water Conservation Society (SWCS) has released two short films that showcase the efforts of farmers and conservationists in the San Luis Valley of Colorado to address agricultural challenges through improved soil health. “There are a lot of resources regarding soil health in the midwestern and eastern regions, but we identified an opportunity to share the unique challenges ...
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Healthy Soil Can Become Your Farm’s Biggest Asset. Learn How at SFA’s ‘Dirt Rich’
Understanding how to measure and build soil health requires a hands-on approach, and SFA’s upcoming “Dirt Rich: Building Soil Health Experts” workshops offer farmers and ag professionals a chance to do just that while digging deeper into soil health opportunities, challenges and monitoring. In 2018, two separate “Dirt Rich” events are scheduled: Aug. 28 in Red Lake ...
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Registration Open for Midwest Soil Health Summit; Silvopasture Track Option New for 2020 Event
Registration is now open for the 2020 SFA Midwest Soil Health Summit, set for Thurs., March 5, at Oliver Kelley Farm in Elk River. This year’s Summit features our usual highly informative soil health-focused programming with farmers and experts as well as a new, separate track focused entirely on silvopasture. This new educational piece on managed woodlot grazing will be led by U. of M. ...
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Workshop: Grazing Management in Northern Climate, July 27 in Duluth
Join SFA Livestock & Grazing Specialist Kent Solberg for a discussion on soil health in a northern climate as SFA Lake Superior Chapter hosts a Grazing Management Field Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sat., July 27, at Canosia Grove Farm & Cidery, 5508 Martin Rd, Duluth. Solberg will discuss grazing and soil health at Canosia Grove, which grazes Icelandic sheep and also boasts an established ...
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Midwest Soil Health Summit to Explore ‘Farm as Reflection of Farmer’ & Includes Bonus Silvopasture Focus
Stay on the leading edge of regenerative agriculture by attending the Sustainable Farming Association’s annual Midwest Soil Health Summit, set for 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thurs., March 5, at Oliver Kelley Farm, 15788 Kelley Farm Rd NW, Elk River. The seventh version of this dynamic event, titled “Farm as Reflection of Farmer,” features a bevy of expert farmer speakers, including ...
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SFA Soil Health Cafe Chat is April 1 in Amboy
As part of our popular event series, SFA is hosting a final spring Soil Health Cafe Chat from 3 to 6 p.m. Mon., April 1, at Amboy Cottage Cafe, 100 E Main St, Amboy. This free event features area farmer Scott Haase (above), who is practicing soil health principles like cover crops, more diverse species, reduction in soil disturbance and adding livestock. SFA Livestock & Grazing Specialist ...
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Critical Issues in Global Soil Health
Soil health is rarely equated into discussions of climate change, environmental protection, and sustainable development. However, soils play such a vital role in the planet’s survival that life cannot exist without them. They provide the basis for food and fiber production; support a diversity of plant, animal, and microbial life; and regulate nutrient cycles and gas exchange with the ...
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SFA Celebrates World Soil Day as Timely Events Approach
Today, Dec. 5, is World Soil Day, which the United Nations has marked to “celebrate the importance of soil as a critical component of the natural system and as a vital contributor to human wellbeing.” At SFA, soil health is the linchpin to our work. It affects us all, farmer and eater alike. A focus on soil health has the potential to move agriculture toward a sustainable future, ...
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From the Executive Director: Dirt Rich Shows Northwest Minnesota Farmers Eager to Adopt Soil Health Principles
“As to methods, there may be a million and then some, but principles are few. The person who grasps principles can successfully select their own methods. The person who tries methods, ignoring principles, is sure to have trouble.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson Justin Morris, NRCS Regional Soil Health Specialist, shared this quote last week at SFA’s “Dirt Rich” ...
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Arizona Company Bolsters Expertise In Soil Health
“We have spent the last 10 years at Heliae, working on solutions in microalgae, providing food to the bacteria in the soil, stimulating the microbiome. This relentless focus on researching soil microbiology has uniquely positioned Heliae capable of detecting and addressing soil concerns for the next 50 years. A feat only possible through the expertise and dedication of our people.” ...
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Dirt Rich Hits the Airwaves
We’re excited to announce the debut of SFA’s new podcast series: Dirt Rich. Each episode will bring you a seasonal conversation on food and farming, and highlight the regenerative agriculture work in Minnesota. As you know, there’s a wealth of knowledge in the farmer-to-farmer network, and plenty of people willing to share their experiences. Farmers, homesteaders, gardeners, and ...
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Free Webinar: Optimizing Soil Health by Managing Nutrients
With today's challenges, it's becoming increasingly important to practice land stewardship, protect water quality, and ensure food security. Maintaining soil health is crucial for increased crop productivity, preventing nutrient runoff, and decreasing costs of crop inputs. One of the first steps in managing soil health is knowing current nutrient levels in the soil. During this free webinar, ...
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New PED Talks Video Series Digs into Soil Health
A series of 10-to-15-minute, science-centered “PED Talks” on soil health has been posted on YouTube. Soil peds are aggregated particles of sand, silt, clay, and organic matter. Like their namesake, PED Talks combine soil-related topics including explanations of soil health, how we can improve it, and the progress that’s being made to ensure we have the healthy soils necessary to ...
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General Mills announces three year initiative for regenerative agriculture
General Mills is teaming up with Kansas farmers for a three year regenerative agriculture program. This program will focus on using carbon from the air and using it in the soil as well as making the farming land more resilient during extreme weather events. This program includes 24 wheat growers within a 650,000 acre Cheney Reservoir watershed that provides water to more than 400,000 Wichita ...
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