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Soil Health Workshop with Dr. Jill Clapperton

Event Details

August 13, 2016 10:00 AM — August 13, 2016 2:30 PM
Location: Norman Borlaug Boyhood Home
19518 200th Street
Cresco, IA 52136
Website: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/fayette/news/world-renowned-scientist-give-soil-health-workshop

Event Description

World renowned soil ecologist Dr. Jill Clapperton will visit Northeast Iowa and speak to area farmers. The Principal Scientist and Co-founder of Rhizoterra Inc., Dr. Clapperton is a well-known researcher, international lecturer and advocate of farm practices that promote soil health.

Dr. Clapperton believes that healthy soil grows healthy food, and that makes healthy people and livestock. Her message is timely for Iowa farmers as they seek to improve the quality and quantity of their products while conserving and regenerating their soil and natural resources.

“When we use a balanced approach to agriculture that includes soil health, the results are great yields of nutrient dense food, clean air and water, more ecosystem services, and health for people and their animals,” says Clapperton. “Your lender and landlord would care too, because they know that increased soil health means a more profitable farm. There are plenty of farmers in the world with proof.”

Clapperton has conducted research and consulted with farmers around the globe, and Rhizoterra’s research farm in eastern Washington is a proving ground for new dryland crops, rotations, technology, and products that help create healthy, productive soils.  In 2013, she was the Syngenta No-Till Innovator for Research and Education.

The Norman Borlaug Heritage Foundation is honored to host Dr. Clapperton for a day-long soil health workshop at the Norman Borlaug boyhood farm near Cresco on Saturday, August 13 from 10:00-2:30.  The day will include a tour of the Borlaug farm, in-depth presentations, and hands-on activities to demonstrate the effects of different production practices on soil, including cover crops, relay crops, and companion planting. Dr. Clapperton will share insights on her work to develop new technology to help farmers make real time decisions about soil fertility, plant nutrition, and soil microbial activity. Workshop sponsors include Iowa Corn, ISU Extension and Outreach Region 4, and Practical Farmers of Iowa.

Farmers, technical advisers, and anyone wishing to learn more about the soil food web should plan to attend. Cost is $25 per person, or $40 for partners from the same farm business, and includes lunch off-site in Protivin. Youth 18 and under are encouraged to attend for free- please consider a small donation to cover lunch.  To register, visitwww.extension.iastate.edu/fayette or contact Kayla Koether at (563)-382-2949 or koether@iastate.edu.

Dr. Clapperton will also be leading “Digging into Soil Science,” a youth-focused, hands-on field day at the Growing Greener 4-H Greenhouse near West Union at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, August 14. Regional youth are encouraged to take this rare opportunity to learn from a distinguished scientist in a fun, interactive setting, and see state-of-the-art scientific equipment. For more information, contact Kayla Koether.