Edmunds County Tribune -

The Edmunds and McPherson County Conservation District along with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service are planning a special Soil Health Clinic to be held Monday, January 27, 2020 starting at 2 p.m. at the Bowdle Legion Hall.

The agenda includes Dan Forgey, who has been an active member of the SD Soil Health Coalition Board for several years. Forgey is the Farm Manager for Cronin Family Farm and Ranch on which he helps run a cow/calf livestock operation as well as 100% low disturbance/no-till management of crop ground since 1993. Additional soil health practices utilized include diversified cropping rotations and cover crops.

Forgey has also been a member of the Dakota Lakes Research Farm board for the past eight years. Forgey’s vision for the future of soil health is “to see more interest in soil health so that one day it is as common in farmers conversations as no-till.”

Additionally, Brian Johnson is a fourth-generation farmer who runs a diversified no-till crop and cow/calf operation near Frankfort with his children and wife, Jamie. The Johnsons manage a diverse crop rotation consisting of corn, soybeans, wheat, oats, barley, millet and cover crops. With their diverse crop rotation and cattle integration onto cropland, they are discovering the increasing value of implementing soil health management practices.

This will be a fun and informational event where fellow farmers will have the opportunity to share their experiences and successes implementing soil health practices and how these practices have increased their overall profitability.

Snacks and beverages will be provided by Tilly’s Catering in Hosmer.

Contact the Edmunds County Conservation District/USDA-NRCS at 605-426-6701 ext. 3 or District Manager at 909-241-6537 or [email protected] to RSVP or for more information. Admission is free for anyone interested in attending.