The Clinton and Boone County Soil and Water Conservation Districts’ will host a workshop focusing on building soil resiliency in a changing climate. The half day workshop is being held at Mohler Farms located at 7015 N. Caldwell Rd., Lebanon, on Thursday, June 24. Registration begins at 7:45 a.m. and includes coffee and doughnuts. The program will begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at noon.
Changes in our climate patterns are predicted to include: warmer winters with low snow packs and early peak stream flows. Warmer, drier summers will result in summer stream flows decreasing. As our climate trends towards these newer patterns we may begin to experience the effects which may include longer growing seasons with decreased summer water resources; possible yield reductions; crops viable to the region may change; possible yield reductions in forage crops and lower growth rates and milk production in livestock. At this workshop, growers will look at ways to mitigate the impacts of these trends by building the health and resiliency into our soils and learn ways to adapt to a changing climate.
The workshop will be facilitated by Jeffrey Dukes, Professor of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University and Director of the Purdue Climate Change Research Center, Stephanie McLain, Soil Health Specialist, USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service and William Tripp, Soil Scientist, USDA, Natural Resource Conservation Services. The event will conclude with a panel of local growers who will speak on their experiences and strategies for improving soil health.
Reservations are required prior to June 22. Please contact the Clinton County Soil and Water Conservation District at 765-659-1223 extension 3, email [email protected] or visit Eventbrite at https://tinyurl.com/4a75skw to register.
This program is sponsored by the Browns Wonder Sugar Creek Watershed Stewardship Initiative. Information on potential cost-share availability for soil-health practices will be included in the program discussion.