Workshops

Practical Conservation Planning in the Field

August 22-23, 2017
Stuttgart Public Library
Stuttgard, Arkansas
Ph: 870-673-1966

 
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

Professional ag consultants will learn what they need to provide one more service to the farmers they advise. Recognizing where a conservation practice would be a good fit, and charting a course for putting it into use, is a real value to their clients. Not every CCA or retail agronomist is interested in writing elaborate conservation plans, but these are the people farmers turn to first for advice. They’re the right group to show farmers how they can benefit from conservation.

Mike Smith, CTIC project director.

Workshop Agenda

Tuesday August 22, 2017

1:00 to 4:30 PM - Stuttgart Public Library

Topics of discussion

  • Identify symptoms suggesting need for conservation - Mike Taylor, Farmer (30 min)
  • Selecting right practices - John Lee, NRCS (90 min)
  • Resources for technical support - Keith Scoggins, NRCS
  • Selecting a contractor - Keith Scoggins, NRCS
  • Arkansas’ nutrient reduction strategy and how practices covered by this training protect water quality - Ken Brazil, Arkansas Natural Resources Commission (15-30 min)

Wednesday August 23

8:00 AM - Check-in, coffee and donuts at Stuttgart Public Library

8:30 AM—Bus departs for Terry Dabbs’ farm

Outdoors on the farm

  • Discovery Farms: Water quality monitoring as a driver of voluntary conservation adoption - Mike Daniels, Arkansas Discovery Farms (30 mins.)
  • Dabbs Farm: Conservation practices used on the farm including a tail water recovery system and conservation tillage, experience with adopting them, and on-farm benefits - Terry Dabbs, Farmer & Michele Reba, ARS (75-90 min)

12:00 PM ~ (boxed lunch provided @ the farm)

Return to Stuttgart Public Library around noon
 

Topics of discussion

  • The Stevens Farm: Precision irrigation and its place in a practical system. Impacts on productivity and water quality, including results of on-farm water quality monitoring - Steve Stevens, Farmer & Mike Daniels, Arkansas Discovery Farms (75-90 min)
  • Lunch (45 min)
  • Tailwater recover systems and surface reservoirs - Michele Reba, ARS (60-90 min)
  • Making changes to improve the land: Challenges and benefits of a systems approach. AR Soil Health Alliance - Mike Taylor (30-45 min)

4:30 PM—Conclude

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