2024 Soil Health Workshop

Dickinson Research Extension Center Soil Health Workshop set for Sept. 18

In addition to soil health presentations, multiple field stations will be available for viewing.

Roots, microbes, nutrient cycling, organic matter, and mycorrhizal fungi will be among the soil health 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 & why are civilizations dependent on quality soils? - Susan Liebig, ND State Soil Quality Specialist, USDA-NRCS
• What are the 5 principles of the soil health and why are they important to agriculture sustainability? - Darrell Oswald, Burleigh County SCD
• Why is soil organic matter one of the most important soil components? - Naeem Kalwar, Soil Scientist, NDSU Extension Soil Health Specialist
• How does minimizing soil disturbance combined with a multi-crop rotation improve soil quality and nutrient cycling? -Hunter Ripplinger, Agronomist, USDA-NRCS

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, Soil scientist, UDSA-NRCS and Krista Bryan, Soil Scientist, USDA-NRCS, Dickinson, MLRA Office
• The effect of a diverse multi-crop rotation on soil pH balance-Larry Cihacek, Soil Scientist, NDSU Natural Resource Sciences

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 & Integrated Systems Specialist
• Soil texture, multi-specie cover crop, and water infiltration rate-Krishna Katuwal, DREC Research Agronomist
• Fungi: Why are mycorrhizal fungi associations with plant roots a valuable asset? – Danielle Harper, Asst. Prof. of Agriculture, DSU Agriculture and Technical Studies
• Crop rotation sequence using low and high water-use crops in the semi-arid region-Brent Gustafson, ND State Soil Health Specialist, USDA-NRCS

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, visit https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/ag-hub/research-extension-centers-recs/dickinson-rec/events/2024-soil-health-workshop