LUCINDA, Pa. — Learn how to profit by improving the health of your soil and crops at the Soil Health Workshop May 23.
The workshop will highlight sound ecological farming practices such as the use of cover crops and no-till techniques. Nationally recognized experts will bring you up to date on the use of cover crops, soil analysis, and will demonstrate no-till planter features and adjustment.
Location
The workshop will be held at Griebel’s Dairy Farm, 290 Dairy Lane, Lucinda, Pa. This is just off of state Route 66, 8 miles north of Shippenville exit 60 on Interstate 80.
Soil scientist. Ray Archuleta, a 23-year veteran soil scientist with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, will talk about healthy soil as the foundation of healthy agricultural systems. He is a certified professional soil scientist with the Soil Science Society of America and is a conservation agronomist at the USDA-NRCS East National Technology Center in Greensboro, N.C.
Archuleta is well known for his dynamic and entertaining presentations, and some of his past presentations can be seen on YouTube.
Cover crops
Jim Hoorman is an assistant professor and water quality extension specialist in Mercer County, Ohio. Hoorman will talk about the benefits of cover crops and no till, including how they impact a farm’s economics while improving water quality.
Hoorman and Archuleta are proponents of “ECO” Farming — a concept they formulated along with the Ohio No Till Council — which stands for Eternal no-till, Continuous living cover, and Other best management practices.
No-till
Joel Myers is a Centre County farmer and retired state agronomist for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Pennsylvania. He has promoted no-till through field days, no-till workshops and other programs in Pennsylvania.
Myers will demonstrate how to properly set up no-till equipment based on his personal farm experience.
Details
There is no charge for the field day, however Headwater’s RC&D is taking registrations to make certain a lunch will be available. Walk-ins are welcome but lunch may not be available without pre-registering.
The registration can be made by contacting Brittany Dittemore at Headwaters RC&D Council bdittemore@headwatersrcd.net or by calling 814-503-8653.
