De GRAFF, Minn. — What is your soil telling you? Answers to that question are the focus of a special on-farm workshop Tuesday, July 18, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., on the Gerald Swenson Farm near De Graff (1140 60th Ave SE). This event, which is sponsored by the Swift County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Chippewa River Watershed Project and the Land Stewardship Project, is free and open to the public; lunch will be provided. For more information, contact Jennifer Hoffman at 320-321-1718 or jennifer.hoffman@chippewariver.org.

Soil scientists Sharon Weyers and Don Reicosky will be on-hand to share soil health basics and talk about the importance of going beyond basic N, P and K tests. Participants will have an opportunity to compare side-by-side the Haney Soil Health Test scores for land in perennial pasture, corn in a deep rotation including cover crops and alfalfa, and corn in a corn and soybean rotation.

Participants and soil scientist will also be going out into the field with shovels, soil samplers and penetrometers to learn more about how to look at soil, see what it’s telling us, and share ideas on different options for protecting and improving soil.

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