"Upcoming soil health workshops"

The following is a press release sent to me by Dr. Ron Bolze, professor at Chadron State College. I think this is one of the most important meetings that everyone involved in production agriculture needs to attend.

I've known Gabe Brown for several years and have visited his farm to see for myself what Gabe has done to improve the soil on his farm and the profitability of his operation. Gabe's message to the audience about how to improve the health of the soil on your farm to increase productivity is for everyone in production agriculture, not just for those with livestock. The concepts Gabe is using can be adapted to our operations here in western Nebraska and around the state.

I really encourage everyone to attend one of these meetings to learn the concepts in improving soil health. I guarantee attending this meeting will change the way we look at production agriculture. I really feel Gabe and other producers who have adopted these concepts are paving the way for production agriculture into the future.

Increasing Profits While Regenerating Resources

Chadron, Neb. - The Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition (NGLC) and UNL Extension are hosting Gabe Brown, noted soil health advocate, on a four day, eight stop traveling road show across Nebraska. Gabe is one of the pioneers of the current soil health movement which focuses on regenerating our resources. Gabe, along with his wife Shelly and son Paul, own and operate a diversified farm and ranch near Bismarck, ND. The Browns holistically integrate their grazing and no-till cropping system, which includes multi-species cover crops, with all natural grass fed beef, poultry and sheep. This diversity and integration has regenerated the natural resources on the ranch without the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and fungicides. Wildlife populations thrive in this ecosystem. Whitetail deer, sharptail grouse, pheasants, partridge, turkey, raptors, coyotes, fox and too many non-game species to count make their home on the 5,000 acre ranch which is located only two miles from the city of Bismarck. Over 2,000 people visit the Brown's Ranch annually to see this unique operation. They have had visitors from all 50 states and 15 foreign countries.

Gabe has been an invited speaker across the US and beyond. He was honored with the NRDC's 2012 Growing Green Awards winner in the Food Producer category. For over 15 years, Gabe has merged back-to-basics agrarian practices with innovative science-based sustainable farming techniques. For Gabe, healthy soil is the renewable resource that sustains all. By making use of a 100 percent zero-till cropping system, mob grazing, and polyculture cover crop and polyculture cash crop rotations, he has successfully transformed conventional grazing and cropping operations into models of regenerative agriculture. Brown's Ranch also integrates its cow-calf and grass finished livestock operations with a highly diverse cropping rotation, which includes over 25 different cash and cover crops resulting in high yields and strong net profits. Gabe's trailblazing work has made him a leader in regenerative ranch management.

Gabe will share his experience with:

Decreasing inputs while increasing yields

Livestock – The missed income opportunity

Producing corn for only 1.42/bu.

Regenerating your soil resource.

Opportunities to bring the next generation into the operation.

Lowering your cow wintering costs

8 NEBRASKA LOCATIONS IN 4 DAYS

Monday, November 18, 2013

9:30 AM – 1:30 PM (MT time) Cheyenne Co. 4-H Building, Sidney, NE

Contact Aaron Berger, UNL Extension Office in Banner, Kimball and Cheyenne Counties 308-235-3122

5 PM – 9 PM Nebraska Ag Industry Education Center, NCTA, Curtis, NE

Contact Barb Scharf, UNL Extension Office in Frontier County 308-367-4424 or 888-367-4424

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

10 AM – 2 PM Adams County Fairgrounds, Hastings, NE

Contact Ron Seymour, UNL Extension Office in Adams County 402-461-7209

5 PM – 9 PM Nemaha County Hospital, Auburn, NE

Contact Gary Lesoing, UNL Extension Office in Nemaha County 402-274-4755

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

10 AM – 2 PM Time Square Event Center, Norfolk, NE

Contact Wayne Ohnesorg, UNL Extension Office in Madison County 402-370-4040

5 PM – 9 PM Scotia Community Center, Scotia, NE

Contact Heather DePra, UNL Extension in the Central IV Counties 308-728-5071

Thursday, November 21, 2013

10 AM – 2 PM Ainsworth Conference Center, Ainsworth, NE

Contact Dennis Bauer, UNL Extension in Brown, Keya Paha and Rock Counties

800 634 8951

5 PM – 9 PM (MT time) Chadron State College, Student Center, Chadron, NE

Contact Scott Cotton, UNL Extension Office in Dawes Co 308-432-3373

Cost $15 which covers the cost of the meal. NGLC will pick up the cost of all student registrations. Must preregister by November 11 to reserve a meal by calling the UNL Extension office indicated. Registrations will be taken until full.

For more information, contact Ron Bolze, Coordinator, Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition Coordinator, 402-321-0067 (cell) or [email protected].