Roots, microbes, nutrient cycling, organic matter, and mycorrhizal fungi will be among the topics discussed at a soil health workshop on Sept. 18, hosted by North Dakota State University’s Dickinson Research Extension Center (DREC).

The workshop begins at 8 a.m. and concludes at 2 p.m., MDT.

The morning session, held from 8 a.m. to 10:45 a.m., will be located at the Biesiot Activities Center (DSU Football Stadium), 398 State Avenue, Dickinson, North Dakota.

The morning topics and presenters are:

• Welcome-Douglas Landblom, DREC beef cattle and integrated systems specialist
• Soil is the foundation of civilizations: What is soil health and why are civilizations dependent on quality soils? - Susan Liebig, USDA-NRCS, soil quality specialist
• What are the five principles of the soil health and why are they important to agriculture sustainability? - Darrell Oswald, Burleigh County Soil Conservation District
• Why is soil organic matter one of the most important soil components? - Naeem Kalwar, NDSU Extension soil health specialist
• How does minimizing soil disturbance combined with a multi-crop rotation improve soil quality and nutrient cycling? - Hunter Ripplinger, USDA-NRCS agronomist

Lunch will be provided by Bravera Bank and Trust Grill Team, and then participants will caravan to the afternoon sessions at DREC Section 19, Integrated Systems Research Area, Manning, North Dakota. To drive to the site from Highway 22, turn west onto 15^th St. SW and travel 5.2 miles to the field site.

The afternoon session will begin at 11:30 a.m. and conclude at 2 p.m.  Topics and presenters are:

• Water movement through soil: The influence of roots, biopores and soil structure - John Kempenich, UDSA-NRCS soil scientist and Krista Bryan, USDA-NRCS, soil scientist, Dickinson, MLRA office
• The effect of a diverse multi-crop rotation on soil pH balance - Larry Cihacek, NDSU School of Natural Resource Sciences soil scientist

Concurrent rotating field sessions will be available every 20 minutes. The stations and presenters are:

• The value of alfalfa for nutrient recycling in a diverse crop rotation - Doug Landblom, DREC beef cattle and integrated systems specialist
• Soil texture, multi-specie cover crops, and water infiltration rate - Krishna Katuwal, DREC research agronomist
• Fungi: Why are mycorrhizal fungi associations with plant roots a valuable asset? – Danielle Harper, Dickinson State University assistant professor of agriculture
• Crop rotation sequence using low and high water-use crops in the semi-arid region - Brent Gustafson, USDA-NRCS soil health specialist.

Continuing education units (CEUs) are available.

For meal planning purposes, please RSVP to Sheryl Schneider at 701-456-1120 or email sheryl.schneider@ndsu.edu

For more information on the workshop and a link to register, visit ndsu.ag/drecsoilhealth.

North Dakota Soil and Water Conservation Society Annual Meeting - Sept. 19

On Sept. 19, the North Dakota Soil and Water Conservation Society will host their annual meeting.

Practices that enhance carbon storage, drought and precipitation on soil microbiology, low soil pH on plant nutrient, and the value of alfalfa will be the topics discussed. 

The meeting begins at 7:45 a.m. and concludes at 2:15 p.m. MDT, and will be held at Dickinson State University-Agriculture Auditorium, RM 102, 400 State Avenue, Dickinson, North Dakota.

Annual meeting agenda, topics and speakers include:

• Farming and ranching practices that enhance carbon storage - Mike Gerbig, USDA-NRCS
• The effects of drought and precipitation on soil pH microbiology, Douglas Landblom, DREC
• Break and poster session
• Ways North Dakota farmers are applying precision agriculture techniques on their farms: What are the efficiencies? - Jessica Kuntz and Andrina Turnquist, Gooseneck Equipment agronomists
• DSU Student Talk
• Effect of low soil pH on plant nutrient availability and aluminum toxicity - Chris Augustin, DREC director
• How is soil organic matter like money in the bank? - Carlos Pires, NDSU Extension soil health specialist
• Break and poster session
• DSU Student Talk
• What is the value of alfalfa in a diverse multi-crop rotation? - Marisol Berti, NDSU Department of Plant Sciences professor
• Lunch and awards presentation
• Chapter business meeting
• Meeting adjourn

NDSU Agriculture Communication – Sept. 6, 2024

Source: Douglas Landblom, 701-690-8245, douglas.landblom@ndsu.edu

Editor: Kelli Anderson, 701-231-6136, kelli.c.anderson@ndsu.edu