Soil Health Topic Offered For Wheat Show

During last year's Wheat Show, many crop producers came just to learn more about soil health and how it can impact productivity of the land and profits on the farm. Since then many of the attendees urged members of the Wheat Show planning committee to include more information on soil health during the February, 2013 event.

So this year's Wheat Show will feature two speakers who will address the components of soil quality and how certain farming practices specific to western and eastern Montana can make soils in these areas more productive and profitable. In addition, one of the speakers, Chris Augustin, area NDSU Extension Soil Health Specialist, is offering to test producer's soil for salinity during the Wheat Show. To accomplish this, Augustin suggests sampling the soil from a handful of spots in a field, mix the soil and place it in a small dish on a sunny windowsill for a few days to allow the sample to melt and dry. Then place the sample in a zip-lock plastic bag and bring it to the Wheat Show. The test will only take a few minutes. There will be no charge for the test.

Salts are native to North Dakota's glaciated mineology. They affect soil health and this quick test gives farmers an idea of how bad it is and what can be done to fix the problem.

Rick Bieber, a Trail City, SD farmer, has offered to share how he has improved soil health and productivity of his farm located north of Pierre, SD. Rick works closely with the researchers of South Dakota State University. He believes yields of annual crops can be substantially increased through the implementation of farming practices that mimic Mother Nature. He tries to accomplish this through specific crop rotations and the maintenance of live root systems.

Rick brings with him a long time experience with no-till farming practices, speaking engagements around the world and as a consultant to farmers in the Dakotas and Montana.