BIG SOIL HEALTH EVENT
Liz Haney
Soil Regen, a soil health consulting and education company, and Continuum Ag, a soil health data intelligence company from Washington, IA, are proud to announce the 2nd annual BIG SOIL HEALTH EVENT. The BIG SOIL HEALTH EVENT will be held on December 5-6, 2022, at the Bien Venu Event Center in Cedar Falls, IA. The BIG SOIL HEALTH EVENT provides producers, landowners, consumers and food and ag industry members with a ground-up educational experience. While many conferences inspire and teach, THE BIG SOIL HEALTH EVENT encourages and illuminates soil health practice adoption, and highlights the benefits to the land, ROI, water quality and human health. Participants will share in a conversation about how regenerative agriculture is imperative for healthy food, clean water, and happy communities. This year's event features a systems approach to soil and human health, including diverse speakers ranging from farmers, soil health advocates, scientists, and health care professionals.
The BIG SOIL HEALTH EVENT features farmers, scientists and soil health advocates Rick Haney, Adam Chappell, Adam Daugherty, Jerry Hatfield, Brian Doughtery, Russell Hedrick, Lance Gunderson, Erin Meyer.
The BIG SOIL HEALTH EVENT begins at 8:30 am with an opening address by Brian Dougherty, ag engineer and Nuffield farming scholar from Iowa State University. Brian will take a big picture look at production ag and explore strategies that help us transition to a more resilient food system, revitalizing farms and rural communities. Adam Daugherty, NRCS district conservationist in Coffee County, TN, will take us deeper into transitional ag systems with a discussion about cover crop use management and production.
Following Adam, Soil Regen is proud to host the announcement of the inaugural Iowa Leopold Conservation Award. Sand County Foundation and national sponsor American Farmland Trust annually present the Leopold Conservation Award to farmers, ranchers and forestland owners in 24 states for extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation. In Iowa, the award is presented with state partners: Conservation Districts of Iowa, Farmers National Company, and Practical Farmers of Iowa.
After lunch participants will enjoy a conversation with Adam Chappell, entomologist and farmer from Cotton Plant, AR. Adam will share his journey reducing herbicide and pesticide inputs using soil health practices in corn, soy, rice, and cotton production. Next, Russell Hedrick, first generation farmer from North Carolina, where he will share his experience in regenerative farming, soil testing, nutrient management, and diversifying his operations. Mitchell Hora, Iowa farmer and founder of Continuum Ag, will then host a farmer panel featuring Wayne Volkl (IA), Ryan Gibbs (IA), Jay Lane (NC), Schaffer Ridgeway (IA) and the Leopold Conservation Award Winner (IA).
This year we are introducing our Farm to Brew Challenge brought to you by Soil Regen and AGI Digital. Craft brewers will use Regenerative VerifiedTM malted barley to brew an award-winning beer. A panel of judges will pick their favorite beer and the winner will receive $1000. Breweries will also be available for taste testing during the event. Winners will be announced at the end of Day 1, just before happy hour!
Day two will begin with a talk from Rick Haney, developer of the Haney Test, former USDA-ARS researcher, and Chief Scientific Officer of Regen Ag Lab. Rick will discuss the process of developing the Haney test, its use and implications for production and reducing input costs. Producers will then gain first-hand knowledge of soil testing for soil health and fertility from Lance Gunderson, owner of Regen Ag Lab. Lance will discuss in depth soil and plant analyses methods that can be used to increase ROI and manage production in regenerative systems. Lunch on Day 2 is sponsored by the Soil Carbon Initiative / Green American. Following lunch, join Dr. Jerry Hatfield, former director of the USDA Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment, to talk about food security, soils, climate and population. We are pleased to hear from Erin Meyer, founder of Basil’s Harvest, food business entrepreneur, register dietician, and sustainable foods chef. Erin will then host a regenerative food nexus featuring experts in regenerative food and food as medicine.
Event Details: BIG SOIL HEALTH EVENT
- Dates: December 5 - 8:00 am to 6:30 pm, December 6 - 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
- Location: Bien Venu Event Center, Cedar Falls, IA
Tickets: Registration through Oct. 31 $100, $150 starting Nov. 1
Registration: https://www.agsoilregen.com/bigsoilhealth
Sponsorships are available at varying levels for booths, meal sponsorships, and farmer scholarships.
For inquiries and sponsorships contact: Liz Haney, liz....@agsoilregen.com, 979-229-7538
