Event information
Date
Time
Central time
Location
Contact
Meeker County Extension
mnext-meeker@umn.edu or 320-693-5275
Ann Steinhaus, Meeker County SWCD
annsteinhaus.swcd@gmail.com or 320-693-7287 ext. 3
Soil health field day
Meeker and Kandiyohi County Soil and Water Conservation Districts, University of Minnesota Extension, and the Minnesota Soil Health Coalition are hosting a soil health field day which will include a complimentary cookout dinner.
53825 CSAH 16
Grove City, MN 56243
Join us to see how Jay incorporates no-till, interseeding of cover crops, incorporation of livestock, and small grains into his crop production operation. We will look at how different tillage implements impact soil disturbance and seedbed preparation. A comparison of infiltration rate and soil erosion using a rainfall simulator will also show differences between Jay’s soil health production system with a conventional system. Over time, reduced tillage and use of cover crops increases organic matter and improves soil aggregation and structure. Evidence has shown that every 1% increase in soil organic matter in a silt loam soil results in an increase of 0.4 inches of water holding capacity, meaning corn could go another 2 days before needing a rain event in a system with increased soil organic matter. Reducing soil erosion also keeps valuable topsoil and nutrients in our fields.
We will focus on how to incorporate soil health practices with a practical agronomic lens and will feature local farmer expertise, UMN Extension Educators, SWCD, and Minnesota Soil Health Coalition staff.
Cost
Free to attend.
Accessibility
University of Minnesota Extension is committed to providing equal opportunity for participation in all programs, services, and activities. To request accommodations for persons with disabilities, contact Meeker County Extension two weeks before the start of the event. Requests received after this date will be honored whenever possible.
Registration
RSVP is requested.