Update: Two names were spelled incorrectly in a previous version.

Regenerative soil health in organic/sustainable agriculture is the focus of a tour being held during the North Dakota State University Carrington Research Extension Center’s (CREC) annual field day on July 18.

The organic/sustainable agriculture tour is one of several tours offered during the field day. The morning organic/sustainable agriculture tour’s theme is regenerative soils and the afternoon tour’s theme is local foods. Additional tours offered are agronomy, northern hardy fruit and beef production.

The center's 64th annual field day begins at 9 a.m. with registration, coffee and a welcome. The morning organic/sustainable agriculture tour will depart at 9:30 a.m. and continue until noon with lunch provided.

Topics and speakers for this year’s organic/sustainable agriculture program are:

Morning tour:

• Welcome – Lindy Berg and Jeff Gale, NDSU Extension agents and Sustainable Agriculture Research Education co-coordinators
• Protecting the Soil Surface – Paul DuBourt, Sheyenne River Conservation Delivery Unit supervisor, U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service
• Where does plant diversity fit in organic crop rotations? – Clair Keene, Extension agronomist, Department of Plant Science, NDSU
• Value of Continuous Roots – Gale
• Integrating Livestock (Manure) – Ezra Aberle, cropping systems research specialist, CREC
• Minimize Soil Disturbance – Martin Goter, organic farmer, Woodworth, North Dakota, and president, Northern Plains Sustainable Ag Society

Afternoon tour:

• Northern Hardy Fruits – Kathy Wiederholt, fruit project manager, CREC
• Cider Making – Gretchen Merryweather, Sweetland Orchard, Webster, Minnesota
• Local Foods and the North Dakota Department of Agriculture – Angie Oberg, local foods marketing specialist, North Dakota Department of Agriculture, Bismarck
• North Plains Sustainable Agriculture Society Update – Krysti Mikkonen, executive director, Frederick, South Dakota

The CREC is 3.5 miles north of Carrington on U.S. Highway 281.

For more information about the organic/sustainable agriculture program, visit ndsu.ag/crec-field-day. Direct any further questions to Hoppe, Lindy Berg or Jeff Gale at 701-652-2951 or email at karl.hoppe@ndsu.edu, lindy.berg@ndsu.edu or jeff.gale@ndsu.edu

NDSU Agriculture Communication – June 29, 2023

Source: Karl Hoppe, 701-652-2951, karl.hoppe@ndsu.edu

Editor: Elizabeth Cronin, 701-231-7881, elizabeth.cronin@ndsu.edu