Registration open for Soil Health Symposium

The Montana Association of Conservation Districts and the Natural Resources Conservation Service will host the 2024 Montana Soil Health Symposium Feb. 6-8 at the Billings Hotel and Convention Center.

The symposium will feature Kelsey Scott of the DX Ranch on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation; Anne Bikle who wrote “What Your Food Ate: How to Heal the Land and Reclaim our Health”; and Dr. Jon Lundgren of the ECDYSIS Foundation and CEO for Blue Dasher Farm. The additional pre-conference workshop on Feb. 6 brings Joshua and Tara Dukart of First Seek Ranch near Bismark to Montana to present Holistic Management.

The Soil Health Symposium provides an opportunity for farmers, ranchers, gardeners and technical specialists from all different landscapes, generations, and levels of experience to network and share their stories, successes, and lessons learned in the pursuit of soil management. Topics will range from virtual fencing for pasture management and winter grazing to making your own compost for large-scale acreages and geothermal greenhouses and community agriculture.

 Adding to these speakers are eight Montana producers covering topics relevant to farmers, ranchers and gardeners of all sizes working to produce healthy, nutritious foods using soil health principles.

The Holistic Management session on Feb. 6 provides a framework for decision-making that is rooted in the fundamentals of ecosystem processes. It also provides a suite of planning procedures that includes planned grazing, land planning, financial planning and ecological monitoring. This registration is separate from the symposium and space is limited.

Early-bird registration for the symposium ends Nov. 30; special pricing is also available for students and interns enrolled in educational agriculture programs.

Learn more, get the agenda, and register at mtsoilhealth.org.