The SDSU Extension Regional Centers in Watertown, Winner and Sioux Falls will host a live broadcast of the National Conference on Cover Crops and Soil Health, beginning at 9 a.m. CST on Feb. 18, 2014.
The National Conference on Cover Crops and Soil Health in Omaha, Neb. will focus on prospects for cover crops and soil health improvements and features:
- Howard G. Buffett, Howard G. Buffett Foundation - a private family foundation working to improve the standard of living and quality of life for the world's most impoverished and marginalized populations;
- Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture (invited);
- Ray Gaesser, American Soybean Association President; and
- A panel of expert producer conservationists: Dave Brandt (Ohio), Gabe Brown (North Dakota), Dan DeSutter (Indiana), and Clay Mitchell (Iowa).
"This will be a great opportunity for farmers interested in cover crops and soil health to meet up with like-minded individuals from their local area to discuss both local and national issues related to cover crops," said Rob Myers, conference chairman and regional director of Extension programs for the North Central Region SARE. "We hope that farmers will come prepared with questions and ideas that they can feed back to the U.S. Department of Agriculture about programs and assistance needed for cover crops and soil health."
Attending the nationwide broadcast is free of charge and open to anyone who is interested in hearing about and discussing the prospects for cover crops and soil health improvements on American farms and ranches. Following the broadcast, discuss with local experts how cover cropping can build soil health, improve yields, curb erosion, manage pests and build resilience into your farming system.
SDSU Extension Featured Speakers
After the national broadcast is complete SDSU Extension staff will feature local ag producers who will briefly share some of their experiences with cover crops and how they have affected their farm and ranch operations, including tips and opportunities for improving soil health.
The SDSU Extension Regional Center in Watertown will feature, "A Producer's Focus on Conservation" presented by Jim Kopriva, a Raymond rancher and the 2012 South Dakota Aldo Leopold Conservation Award Winner. Kopriva is a conservation-minded cattleman who has incorporated practices such as rotational grazing, no-till farming and cover cropping for 15 years.
At all locations, SDSU Extension staff will welcome producers from the audience to share their experiences with cover crops in an interactive conversation.
Source : SDSU