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Free soil-health workshops in person and online are planned for February to cover no-till, reduced tillage, cover crops in corn, grazing cattle and more. 

In Stewartville, the Olmsted Soil & Water Conservation District is hosting a “Benefits of No-Till” free workshop from 3-7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 6, as part of an I-90 soil-health tour. Attendees will be offered a free dinner at the event in the Civic Center, 105 1st St. E. 

Local farmers will learn about no-till farming techniques that enhance soil health, boost crop productivity and improve livestock management. 

“As agriculture continues to evolve, it’s important to showcase the innovative approaches our local farmers are using to foster both economic and environmental benefits,” said Skip Langer, Olmsted SWCD manager. “We encourage everyone in the agricultural community to attend our event and explore practices that could benefit their own operations.”

Experts who have successfully integrated reduced tillage into their farm operations will speak, including:

• Dr. Dwayne Beck– a retired research manager in the Plant Science Department at South Dakota State University. He will talk about developing no-till systems for irrigated and dryland areas in central South Dakota. 
• Jon Stevens – a fifth-generation farmer who has made the transition from conventional farming practices to no-till, cover crops and grazing cattle. He will talk about reducing fertilizer expenses and improving water infiltration and resilience to drought conditions through his journey to regenerative practices. 
• Local farmer panel: Jason Welter, Martin Larsen and Ben Storm will lead a panel discussion on how their reduced tillage practices have improved their farming in southeastern Minnesota.  

To register, go online at:  arcg.is/0WCGC8

On Feb. 13, a free, one-hour “Making Cover Crops Work in Corn” webinar will start at noon. Farmers and agronomists will discuss myths and share practical tips on integrating cover crops with corn. 

Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) is hosting the session as part of the CTIC/Farmers for Soil Health webinar series. 

Webinar speakers will include:

• Joe Ailts (Deer Park, Wis.) – a consultant and cover crop coach will discuss nutrient cycling and carbon: nitrogen balance in cover crop systems.
• A.J. Krusemark (Trimont, Minn.), a farmer who integrates cover crops across his family’s farm will share experiences with corn following rye and grazing cattle on cover crops.
• Dan Smith (University of Wisconsin-Madison) will provide agronomic insights on optimizing corn yields after cover crops in northern climates. 

CTIC’s Dan Coffman and Teagan Duffy also will update participants on the Farmers for Soil Health incentive program that offers up to $50 per acre to encourage the adoption of cover crops. 

Registration is free by going online at:  bit.ly/CornCoversWebinar