Deep Talks: Soil health and agriculture in the Northern Great Plains

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A rainfall simulator will show a demonstration on how land management decisions impact rainwater infiltration, retention, and runoff, regardless of land use. The presentation will compare and contrast various crop and range land management scenarios.  It's different types of soil that you can pour water on to show runoff.

SURF's Deep Talks for spring 2024 will feature Tanse Herrmann, the state grazing lands soil health specialist for South Dakota NRCS.

Tanse Herrmann, the state grazinglands soil health specialist with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), will show a demonstration on how land management decisions impact rainwater infiltration, retention, and runoff, regardless of land use. The presentation will compare and contrast various crop and range land management scenarios, viewed through the five principles of soil health utilizing a rainfall simulator. Properly managed grassland and cropland captures more carbon, retains more water, provides drought resilience, and improves outcomes for ag producers, land managers, wildlife, and the general public. This presentation will give insight to how agriculture and small-scale food production in South Dakota and the Northern Great Plains can adapt to manage extremes while remaining productive and profitable by leveraging the power of microbial life in our soils.  

Deep Talks begin each month with a social hour from 5-6:00 p.m. and includes free food and beverages.  The talk runs from 6-7:00 p.m. and takes place at the Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center in Lead.
 
The Deep Talks lecture series is sponsored by Crow Peak Brewing Company, Edward Jones Financial Advisor – Chris Mitchell, and Charles & Jolene Lichtenwalner.