Soil Health Workshop

Monday, May 6, 2019, through Monday, May 6, 2019, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

University Farm Pavilion, 311 Nicholas C Schouten Lane Chico, CA 95928

$50

$Nicole Masters demonstrates how to use a Brix Refractometer.$

Nicole Masters demonstrates how to use a Brix Refractometer.

Participants observe nitrogen-fixing root nodules.

The participants at the Soil Health Workshop watching Nicole Masters showing how to gauge soil health in the field.

Participants watching Nicole Masters gauge soil health.

$Nicole Masters demonstrates how to use a refractometer.$

Nicole Masters demonstrates how to use a refractometer.

Co-Founder of The Center For Regenerative Agriculture, Tim LaSalle, examines the health of a plant used to determine the quality of the soil it grows in.

Center For Regenerative Agriculture Co-Founder, Tim LaSalle, examines plant health.

$Close-up of a Brix Refractometer$

Close-up of a Brix Refractometer.

Nicole Masters leading a Soil Health Workshop at the Chico State Farm.

Nicole Masters at the Chico State Farm.

Nicole Masters is a New Zealand based soil expert focusing on the biological aspects of soil regarding carbon sequestration and regenerative farming. She will be talking with us about biological diversity in production systems, and how you can shift and improve your management to include a healthy soils focus.

The afternoon workshop includes on-farm evaluations of various management systems (orchards; row crops; pasture) using Ward Laboratory Analysis of soil and plant tissue. Nicole will get into the "weeds" on how to interpret these results and what it all means. Attendees will get their hands dirty, so come dressed for field work.

NRCS will also be joining us to discuss their Farm Demonstration Network project, and other topics in what NRCS is doing to help farmers implement healthy soils practices.

May 6th – Monday

8:00–8:30am: Registration and Continental Breakfast

8:30am: Welcome - Dr. Cindy Daley, Director Center for Regenerative Agriculture CSU Chico

8:45–10:15am: Part 1:What Does Regeneration Look Like, Nicole Masters, Soil Scientist/Ecologist

10:15-10:30am: Break

10:30-12:00pm: Part 2: The Major Microbial Players and their Roles, Nicole Masters, Soil Scientist/Ecologist

12:00–1:00pm: Lunch

1:00–2:00pm: Part 3: Regeneration in Action, Nicole Masters, Soil Scientist/Ecologist

2:00–5:00pm: NRCS State Specialists and Farm Demonstration Network

Tony Rolfes, NRCS State Soil Scientist - NRCS Soil Health Initiative and California Farm Demonstration Network
Hudson Minshew, NRCS State Agronomist - NRCS soil health practices and programs that benefit farms and ranches
Dr. Margaret Smither- Kopperl, NRCS PMC Manager - Plant Materials Center and Cover Crop Trials for California
Dr. Zahangir Kabir, NRCS Western Regional Soil Health Specialist – Holistic Approach of Nutrient Management for Soil Health
Aggregate stability and rainfall simulator demonstration.

May 7th – Tuesday

8:00–8:30am: Registration and Continental Breakfast

8:45–10:15am: Exploring soil microbial analyses and plant tissue testing, reading the Earthfort tests. We will look over the results gathered and discuss drivers for results. Nicole Masters, Soil Scientist/Ecologist.

10:15-10:30am: Break

10:30–12:00pm: Field workshop - Matching fields with data analysis, Nicole Masters, Soil Scientist/Ecologist, and Dr. Cindy Daley, Director of the Center for Regenerative Agriculture.

12:30-1:00pm: Lunch

1:00–2:30pm: Farmer Q & A with Nicole

2:30 – 4:30 pm: Guest lecture in ANSC 374 Organic Dairy Production & Management

This event is hosted by the Center for Regenerative Agriculture and Butte Co RCD

Refunds up to 7 days before event.

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