By Scout Nelson
The Nebraska Soil Health School will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 4 at Fort Robinson State Park, located at Soldier Creek Road and U.S. Highway 20. Hosted by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), the school aims to enhance soil-related knowledge and practices for growers, crop consultants, ag professionals, and others.
The program will focus on integrated crop and livestock system goals and objectives that affect soil health management. Presentations include:
"How to radically transform High Plains agriculture into a system that makes money and restores ecological function" by Dale Strickler.
"Soil health measurements and carbon market" by Bijesh Maharjan, UNL associate professor, with Jessica Groskopf, UNL extension educator.
"Cattle grazing and soil health on rangeland" by Mitchell Stephenson, UNL associate professor.
NRCS soil health demonstrations and live rainfall simulator by Nathan Mueller, USDA NRCS state soil health specialist, and Riley Hackbart, USDA-NRCS soil scientist.
“Grain farming in the High Plains is becoming less and less profitable over time,” Strickler said. “Record-high prices for fuel, machinery, fertilizer, and multiple applications of chemical cocktails to control herbicide-resistant weeds have made dryland grain farming in the High Plains a financially marginal enterprise.”
Event attendees will have the opportunity for interactive discussions with the presenters and Nathan Mueller, USDA NRCS state soil health specialist, as well as to network with fellow participants.
“The UNL institution has a great wealth of knowledge when it comes to soil conservation and soil health, and our stakeholders can take advantage of it through events like this,” Maharjan said. “I am very grateful to all the UNL faculty and invited speakers who make these events happen.”
Photo Credit:gettyimages-sasiistock
Categories: Nebraska, Education, General