Healthy Soils, Healthy Region Workshop – Agenda

 

Registration & Networking

Welcome & Conference Overview – Georgine Yorgey, Washington State University & Leslie Michel, Okanogan Conservation District

Soil Health Seminars

 

Refreshment Break

 

Intro to NRCS Soil Health Assessment & Test Comparisons – Cory Owens, USDA-NRCS & Shannon Cappellazzi, Soil Health Institute

Intro to the Columbia Basin Agricultural Research Center Long-Term Research Plots – Mary Corp & Stephen Machado, OSU CBARC

Boxed lunches distributed

Small group workshops moved to the Convention Center due to weather
Participants will learn about the NRCS In-Field Assessment, and sampling Protocol For Soil Health Tests, as well as pre-selected workshop tracks:

• Using Web Soil Survey in the Field- Jennifer Moffitt (USDA-NRCS) & Jericho Winter (USDA-NRCS)
• Soil Pit- Jodi Johnson-Maynard (UI), Markus Kleber (OSU), Don Wysocki (OSU)
• Engaging Producers- Garrett Duyck (USDA-NRCS) & Robert Hathorne (USDA-NRCS)

NRCS In-Field Assessment: Cory Owens (USDA-NRCS), Doug Finkelnburg (UI), Jennifer Moore-Kucera (American Farmland Trust), Dave Myrold (OSU), Allen Casey (USDA-NRCS), Aaron Roth (USDA-NRCS)

Protocol for Soil Health Testing: Shannon Cappellazzi (Soil Health Institute), Leslie Michel (Okanogan CD), Deirdre Griffin (WSU), Doug Collins (WSU)

 

Doors Open: Networking Social & Cash Bar

Welcome Dinner – Gabrielle Roesch-McNally, USDA Northwest Climate HUB

 

Networking Coffee Hour

Welcome Address – Chad Kruger, Washington State University Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources

Keynote Address – Taking Action on Soil Health: Aligning science, economics and policies for adoption. Pipa Elias, Soil Health Strategy Manager, The Nature Conservancy.

Soil Health Success: Introduction to Regional Planning Session – Molly Stenovic & Amanda Murphy, Ruckelshaus Center

 

Refreshment Break

Envisioning Regional Soil Health Discussion – Session Facilitators: Molly Stenovec & Amanda Murphy – William D. Ruckelshaus Center; Georgine Yorgey, Laura Lewis, Sonia Hall, Karen Hills, & Nicole Witham – Washington State University Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources Gabrielle Roesch-McNally – USDA Northwest Climate HUB

 

Networking Lunch

Soil Health Priorities and Focus Discussion – Session Facilitators: Molly Stenovec & Amanda Murphy – William D. Ruckelshaus Center; Georgine Yorgey, Laura Lewis, Sonia Hall, Karen Hills, & Nicole Witham – Washington State University Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources; Gabrielle Roesch-McNally – USDA Northwest Climate HUB

 

Refreshment Break

Developing a Regional Soil Health Framework – Molly Stenovec & Amanda Murphy, William D. Ruckelshaus Center

 

Closing Remarks and Announcements – Chad Kruger, Washington State University Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources

Adjourn

Networking social with heavy appetizers and cash bar featuring poster session, lightning presentations, and tools café.

 

Networking Coffee Hour

Soil Health Test Interpretation – Shannon Cappellazzi, Soil Health Institute

Soil Health Seminars

 

Welcome & Conference Facilitation Wrap Up/Regional Plan Discussion

Molly Stenovec & Amanda Murphy, William D. Ruckelshaus Center & Gabrielle Roesch-McNally, USDA Northwest Climate HUB

 

Lunch with Panel: Grower Perspectives on Soil Health

Panelists:

Russ Zenner, Zenner Family Farms, Genesee, ID

Eric Williamson, Williamson Farms, Quincy, WA

April Thatcher, April Joy Farm, Ridgefield, WA

Mike Omeg, Omeg Family Orchard, The Dalles, OR

Closing & Next Steps – Doug Finkenburg, University of Idaho, Gabrielle Roesch-McNally, USDA Northwest Climate HUB

Adjourn