(Chelsea Update would like to thank Megan DeLeeuw for the information in this story.)
The Washtenaw County Conservation District (WCCD) and the Farmer-Led Conservation Group will host a free virtual Shoptalk on Building Soil Biology for Resilient Crops on Wednesday, March 10, at 3 p.m., via Zoom with an option to call into the event if streaming is not an option.
The event will feature a virtual round table discussion on conservation practice successes and challenges throughout our region. This discussion will present an opportunity to interact with and connect with neighboring farmers throughout our region and troubleshoot challenges that farmers have faced with implementing new conservation practices.
The talk will also feature a short presentation and discussion led by Joe Scrimger of Bio-Systems, a Battle Creek based soil consulting company focusing on ways to improve crop growth through soil biology.
He focuses on building soil organic matter as a route to better management. “If we build beneficial soil fungal organisms, we not only get better phosphate utilization, for early growth, late season maturity and quality, while getting drought and disease suppression, [which is a] dynamic soil processes working for the farmer,” says Scrimger in a press release.
“The key is in managing the beneficial organisms [and] using today’s ‘biological’ science and technology, not just ‘chemical’ technology based on outdated science, to truly become a high-tech farmer. While having faith in investing in and protecting your soil organic matter and biology, it truly pays,” he says.
Participants must first register at: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_i2p7hXjlSMa7NdbeOUx1gQ by contacting Megan DeLeeuw, Executive Director with the WCCD at (734)-302-8710 or [email protected].
The Farmer Led Conservation Group works with fellow farmers throughout the Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB) to generate conversation and action regarding conservation. The group partners with Local Conservation Districts to encourage participation in the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP), encourage farmers to adapt conservation practices, and facilitate lively events to create and maintain conversation about conservation throughout the WLEB.
For more information on The WCCD visit www.washtenawcd.org. For more information on the Farmer-Led Conservation Group, visit www.waterqualityfarming.org.
