All gardeners and farmers want healthy soil. One of the best ways to achieve this is through practices that improve soil organic matter. Regrettably, we have been degrading our soils for too long and need to adjust our behavior. Fortunately, doing so may lead to a win-win outcome: healthy soil and crops, and we may reduce greenhouse gases from the atmosphere – leading to a healthier planet for all life. Because we all tend to be more comfortable doing what we currently do than making a change to unknown territory, encouraging improved techniques is not always easy and requires incentives.
The catch is finding funds to incentivize this change in behavior. Because of financial resources made available through the United States Department of Agriculture Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities opportunity, there may be a solution. Oregon’s Department of Agriculture (ODA) is developing an application for funds from this pool to support farmers who want to enhance their soil health and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
At our next SOCAN Monthly General Meeting on April 26th, Dr. Mike Badzmierowski, Soil Health Specialist with ODA will explain the effort underway and discuss how it might work. There is no charge for joining the meeting which will run from 6:00 – 7:00 via ZOOM, but participants must register. Farmers interested in learning more should consider attending this program.
Presentation by Mike Badzmierowski, Ph.D., Oregon Department of Agriculture, Soil Health Specialist
Registration Required: https://bit.ly/SOCAN-April
