Tim Baker, Northwest Region Horticulture Specialist
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One of my many duties as an Extension Horticulture Specialist is to serve on the board of three Soil and Water Conservation Districts. The SWCDs of Missouri oversee the implementation of soil and water conservation practices, usually through cost-share funding.
Our work with farmers and other landowners is an important mission, which I take seriously. History has many examples of civilizations which fared poorly or even dissolved due to erosion and loss of topsoil and other poor agricultural management practices.
My work with SWCDs exposes me to a lot of interesting meetings as well. For the past two years, for example, I heard several excellent presentations on cover crops and soil health at the state SWCD meeting.
I have also attended several Extension trainings that discussed the use of cover crops. Several Extension Specialists in eastern Missouri, for example, are busy researching and planting demonstration cover crops on farms in their areas. Among other positive benefits, they tell us, is a good increase in organic matter when cover crops are used consistently through the years.
If you have an interest in this area, there will be two opportunities to hear from some outstanding speakers. Both meetings will be the same, and are being billed as Cover Crop/Soil Health Workshops. Both workshops run from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.
The first will be on Jan. 13, at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Salisbury, Mo. The second workshop is the next day, at the Blue Springs Elks building in Blue Springs, Mo.
There will be two nationally recognized speakers, both presenting at each workshop.
Gabe Brown is a farmer/rancher and County Conservation District Supervisor from Bismarck, N.D. He has years of experience with cover crops, mixtures, soil health, and other methods which improve productivity. He incorporates grazing into his cropping system, and has a highly diversified zero-tillage cropping system. His farm has attracted visitors from all 50 states and 15 foreign countries.
The other speaker will be Ray Archuleta, a Conservation Agronomist at the NRCS East National Technology Center in Greensboro, N.C. Ray has 24 years of experience with the NRCS in several states, including Missouri, New Mexico, Oregon, and North Carolina. I’ve heard Ray at the state SWCD meeting, and he gives a fascinating presentation, using demonstrations to teach soil quality and the importance of soil health.
If you would like to learn more about these meetings, call the Chariton County SWCD at 660-288-3279 Ext. 3. Or, call the Jackson County SWCD at 816-228-1161 Ext. 3.