Workshop to increase awareness of soil health, conservation
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Agronomists, farmers and landowners can receive information on hot topics in soil health and conservation at the Bi-County Soil Conservation Workshop.
The Feb. 23 event, presented by Purdue Extension and the Soil and Water Conservation District offices in White and Carroll counties, will include sessions on maintaining soil health and productivity, managing cover crops to prevent nutrient leaching, and developing subsurface drainage plans.
Session topics were chosen after considering the needs and requests of local farmers and other industry professionals, said Greg Bossaer, Purdue Extension educator for agriculture and natural resources in White County.
"The issue of soil health fits well into the work that we do with our producers," he said. "It is important to make the soil healthy and try to maintain our nutrients, while maintaining productivity; and our soil is vital. We cannot - we must not - diminish the value and health of our soil."
There will be three speakers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service. They are Barry Fisher, state agronomist; Beth Clarizia, agricultural engineer; and Mike Cox, state conservation engineer. Also speaking will be Purdue agronomy professor Eileen Kladivko.
The workshop will be held from 9:00 a.m. to noon at the White County 4-H Community Building in Reynolds. There is no charge to attend, but participants should register before Feb. 20 to ensure adequate space and materials.
Participants can register by emailing Bossaer at gbossaer@purdue.edu or by calling 219-984-5115. They also can contact the Extension or Soil and Water Conservation District offices in White and Carroll counties.
Certified Crop Advisers attending the entire workshop can receive three Certified Education Units (CEUs) in the area of soil and water conservation.
Writer: Jessica Merzdorf, 765-494-8402, jmerzdor@purdue.edu
Source: Greg Bossaer, 219-984-5115, gbossaer@purdue.edu
Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Keith Robinson, robins89@purdue.edu
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