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Conservation Tillage Conference brings unique speakers, networking to Fargo

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Written by Jonathan Eisenthal

Steve Groff, the Maryland farmer who worked with soils expert Dr. Ray Weil to develop the tillage radish, will be the keynote speaker at this year’s Conservation Tillage Conference, held in Fargo, N.D, on Dec. 18-19.

With its ability to improve soil porosity, soil structure and water-holding capacity, the tillage radish is an emerging cover crop that has brought new excitement to the soil health and soil conservation movement in the Upper Midwest. Groff will bookend the conference with keynotes entitled, “What got you here, won’t get you there,” and “Where do we go from here?”

Goff will join more than 30 presenters and 30 vendors in Fargo, but speakers and exhibitors aren’t the only draw for the nearly 250 farmers already registered. It’s also the networking.

Farmers will have many opportunities to discuss practices with a geographically diverse group of growers, said conference organizer Jodi DeJong-Hughes, a soil conservation specialist with University of Minnesota Extension.

“We draw from a broad geographic reach, from Canada and the Dakotas, across Minnesota to Wisconsin. We even have two farmers from Europe who are traveling in the U.S. and timing their trip so they can [attend the conference],” said DeJong-Hughes. “These are folks who are willing to share their experiences, so in the networking sessions farmers can always find others working in similar soils and landscapes and talk to them about what they have tried, what’s worked and what hasn’t.”

Equipment companies specializing in conservation tillage will be well-represented, along with a variety of vendors of cover crop seed and providers of services. If retooling the fleet of iron in the shed isn’t an option for every farmer, the variety of exhibitors offer a number of ways to get involved with the latest soil health techniques.

The second day of the conference will feature visual demonstrations of the effects of wind and water erosion, in addition to how nitrogen is lost in the depths of the soil profile or out to water sources and the atmosphere. For learning about means to protect the investment in fertility, this conference has a lot of offer, DeJong-Hughes said.

The Conservation Tillage Conference is supported by the Minnesota Corn Growers Association as part of its effort to promote sustainable farming practices with Minnesota farmers. Learn more about Minnesota corn farmers commitment to conservation and research investments at MNcorn.org/research.

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