This story was sponsored by the South Dakota Soil Health Coalition.

The South Dakota Soil Health Coalition (SDSHC) will be holding its 2019 Soil Health Conference Jan. 22 and Jan. 23, free to all current SDSU students looking to learn about improving soil health.

Keith Berns is the featured speaker for the evening preview event on Tuesday, Jan. 22. His talk will discuss rebuilding the nation’s soil utilizing the right leaders, workers and tools. Berns is a no-till producer from Bladen, Nebraska with more than 20 years of experience.

The Tuesday evening event begins at 6:30 p.m. and ends at 9 p.m. at the Brookings Days Inn, 2500 6th Street Following will be a meet and greet with Berns, the SDSHC board and other voices for soil health. This will give attendees an opportunity to network with industry professionals.

Then, all three keynote speakers will be featured the following day beginning at 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Club 71, in the Dana J. Dykhouse football stadium.

Berns’ second session, on Wednesday, Jan. 23, will focus on “Carbonomics.” He takes a new approach to explain soil health by relating carbon to the economy, the role of carbon as a currency that facilitates interactions between plants, soil, and biology in this system.

Allen Williams will discuss how applying “adaptive stewardship” to farming improves soil health. Williams is a sixth-generation family farmer and founding partner of Grass Fed Beef, LLC, Grass Fed Insights, LLC and a partner in Joyce Farms, Inc.

Also, on Wednesday Dwayne Beck will speak on Making Management Decisions at the Ecosystem Level. Beck is the Research Manager a Dakota Lakes Research Farm.

This event is free to all current SDSU students and 2019 SDSHC members. Nonmember costs are $25 which includes a 2019 membership to the SDSHC. Membership includes information and news about agriculture, soil health, the environment and conversations relevant to viewers and readers alike.

Some highlights of the event are the following:

Tuesday, Jan. 22:

Speakers:

Keith Berns – “Rebuilding Our Soils”

Meet and Greet with Speakers, SDSHC board, and Voices for soil health.

Wednesday, Jan. 23:

Speakers:

Allen Williams “Adaptive Stewardship: How to Use the Powers Of Observation & Intuition Synchrony With Nature”

Keith Berns – “Carbonomics”

Dwayne Beck – “Making Management Decisions At The Ecosystem Level: Stopping The Bleeding

More Information email [email protected] or call (605) 280 – 4190. Or visit: www.sdsoilhealthcoalition.org/annual-meeting/