Missouri Ag Connection - Annual SW Missouri Soil Health Workshop Sept. 24

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Annual SW Missouri Soil Health Workshop Sept. 24
Missouri Ag Connection - 09/19/2019

Make plans to attend the 4th Annual Southwest Missouri Soil Health Workshop, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sept. 24 at the Sac River Cowboy Church Event Center, 6448 W. St. Hwy EE, Springfield. The cost to attend is $20 per person, includes lunch, and snacks.

Topics covered will include how to select cover crop species, carbon sequestration in the soil, applying soil health principles, and integrating livestock into cover crops.

To register, call the Greene County Soil and Water Conservation District at 417-831-5246, extension 3.

No other factor can affect plant health like healthy soil can according to Kelly McGowan, horticulture field specialist with University of Missouri Extension.

"Healthy plants need healthy soil much like humans need good nutrition," said McGowan.

Healthy soil can be achieved by a few simple actions.

The first is to keep soil covered. Soil exposed to the elements is more prone to compaction, erosion, die-off of soil microbes, has less water retention capabilities, and is more susceptible to weeds. Soil can be kept covered with mulch, cover crops, or plants with a living root system throughout the year.

If soil is poor, consider adding some type of organic matter, such as compost. Compost can be purchased in bags, by the truckload or made in your own yard.

McGowan notes that crop rotation is also very important in disease and insect management.

"Many diseases and insects over-winter in the soil. If the same plants or plants in the same family are planted in the same spot year after year, pest levels can build up and infest plants each growing season," said McGowan.

For more information, contact one of MU Extension's field specialists in horticulture serving southwest Missouri: Patrick Byers in Webster County at (417) 859-2044, Kelly McGowan in Greene County at (417) 881-8909 or Robert Balek in Jasper County at (417) 358-2158. Or, call the gardening hotline operated by the Master Gardeners of Greene County at 417-874-2963.

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