Soil Health Workshop set for Feb. 22 in Lamar

A Soil Health Workshop will be held Wednesday, Feb. 22, in the United Methodist Church, Lamar, 900 Poplar Street.

The workshop will focus primarily on soil health on annual cropland. The main speaker, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Conservationist Jay Fuhrer, and area producers will share their ideas, observations and experiences on how to improve soil health for sustainable production.

Jay is from North Dakota and has many years of experience and extensive knowledge about soil health. He grew up on a small grain and livestock farm and Jay’s interests have always centered on agriculture. Jay emphasizes soil health as a foundation for cropping systems, grazing systems, cover crops, soil biology, pollinators, insects, wildlife, and quality of life.

Four area producers will also participate in a farmer’s panel. Each have utilized many of the principles for building high quality soils. They will share their experiences with cover crops, reduced tillage and integrating livestock.

The workshop will be from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The cost will be $10 per person at the door and include lunch. Register for the event by Feb. 17 by contacting the Barton County Soil and Water Conservation District at 417/682-3571 ext.3. An RSVP is requested to ensure an adequate number of meals are available. The event is being sponsored by several southwest Missouri Soil and Water Conservation Districts and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.