First of two workshops, field days held in St. Jacob on farming practices

In less than an hour, all of the soil in the middle tube had fallen to the bottom. Left to right: soil from along a fence line, tilled soil, and no-till regenerative soil. (Photo by Stephanie Malench)

Stephanie Malench • The Soil Health Academy made its first trip of the summer to the area with a full day workshop in St. Jacob on July 9. The workshop was divided into two pieces: a classroom style lecture at the St. Jacob Activity Center and a field experience on farmland owned by Dave and Dianne Wells at the northeast corner of Illinois Route 4 and US Highway 40 in the afternoon made possible through Southern Illinois Farmers for Soil Health, founded by Leah Windsor. This was a three-day seminar condensed into a one-day event led by Doug Voss and Kent Solberg, regenerative farmers from Minnesota that have a combined 50+ years of experience.

Approximately 20 farmers from southern Illinois with a wide variety of experience up to 40 years were in attendance to learn how regenerative practices can improve soil health, build resilience, and enhance profitability.

Topics covered included regenerative farming topics such as soil types, topography of where the farm is located, what is being farmed or raised and history of the land use.

Regenerative agriculture follows six principles:

•Keep soil covered

•Keep a living root in the soil

•Minimize disturbance

•Increase plant diversity

•Integrate livestock

•Each of the above done in the context of the farm

By following these regenerative farming practices, farmers will get more outputs from their row crops using less diesel and fewer chemical inputs.

One of the demonstrations that took place during the classroom part of the seminar demonstrated slack management. Three types of soil were placed in tubes of water: soil from a fence edge, tilled oils and no till/regenerative row crop soil. The soil that was tilled began disintegrating the moment the mesh bag of soil was placed in the water. The tilled soil in the middle tube began disintegrating immediately because it was missing the biological “glue” needed to keep it intact, meaning it will wash away in heavy rains.

Unfortunately, best management practices over the last 50 years have not moved the needle on soil health and crop production. How you work the land is more important than what you use on the land. Allowing a healthy, diverse insect population keeps the land moving towards health and balance which produces heavier, more nutrient dense produce.

The next Soil Academy will focus on livestock and be held on Aug. 14 in St. Rose with sign up on the Soil Academy website www.soilfarmers.us.

Twenty farmers from across the area attended the July 9 workshop at the St. Jacob Activity Center. (Photo by Stephanie Malench)