Producers, conservationists, and agricultural experts gathered near Thompson, North Dakota, for the Grand Forks Soil Conservation District (SCD) Field Day at the Dan Olson farm Aug. 20 showcasing innovative farming practices focused on soil health and sustainability.
The event, sponsored by the Grand Forks SCD with support from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and other partners, offered attendees an opportunity to see firsthand how modern farming techniques can benefit both the land and the producer.
“These events are always about partnerships,” said Justin Parks, Watershed Coordinator with the Grand Forks SCD. “Throughout the planning process, the SCD staff along with NRCS both played roles that make these events work.”
The day began with a presentation by Dan Olson, the 2024 Conservation District Award Winner, who shared his journey into farming for soil health, which began in 2010. Olson, a fifth-generation farmer, discussed his transition to a nearly full no-till operation and the methods he employs to make it successful.
Participants visited four sites on Olson’s farm, observing a range of practices in action: cover crops integrated into stripper-harvested wheat, corn planted into standing flax from the previous year, soybeans in last year’s corn field (which has seen no tillage in six years), and a field dedicated to a full-season cover crop currently being grazed by cattle. Olson emphasized that incorporating livestock was the “missing link” in his approach to the soil health principles he now follows.
The field day also included discussions on how to measure soil health, both in the field and in the shop. Organizers took the opportunity to inform attendees about available technical and financial assistance to help them adopt similar practices.
Source : usda.gov