Virtual Soil Management Summit set for Dec. 15-16
Formerly the Conservation Tillage Conference, the Soil Management Summit returns Dec. 15-16 in a virtual format due to COVID-19. The conference will continue to provide the latest in soil health practices based on farmer experiences and applied science with a packed agenda.
University of Minnesota Extension Educator Jodi Dejong-Hughes said the virtual summit brings together experts from Minnesota and neighboring states to share new insight on conservation tillage, cover crops, soil moisture and microbes, and the economics behind soil health practices. This year’s keynote will feature J. Gordon Arbuckle from Iowa State University discussing the reasons farmers adopt (or don’t adopt) soil health-promoting practices—a new topic for the Summit, according to Dejong-Hughes.
“We have surveyed farmers and showed them all the numbers about why people are [adopting these practices], and we have learned it is not always about the science. Many have a personal connection to how they farm,” Dejong-Hughes said.
Like in past years, Dejong-Hughes said both soil health veterans and those new to the practices will take away key insights from this year’s agenda. And while the in-person networking will be on hold until next year, attendees can meet in breakout sessions following each day’s speakers. Breakout sessions will focus on a specific topic, and participants will be able to choose which they attend.
While this year’s Soil Management Summit will be unlike any other, Dejong-Hughes hopes farmers walk away energized to do what it takes to protect the land for future generations.
“We have the best soil in the world, and we want to give this land to our grandkids. We can either keep mining it, or we can do what it takes so it doesn’t wash away,” she said. “Our soils have the capacity to continue to feed the world, and we don’t want to ruin that.
Through farmers’ investment in the Minnesota Corn check-off, Minnesota Corn supports the Soil Management Summit to promote the best practices that increase sustainability on the farm. For more information and to register, visit z.umn.edu/SMS2020.
The Minnesota Corn Podcast recently spoke with Dejong-Hughes about evolving soil health practices. Listen below and subscribe by clicking here. You can also find it on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
