OWATONNA, Minn. — Farmers, landowners, and anglers can learn how to buck the damage caused by extreme weather to soil and water during a program on Saturday, Jan. 25, being hosted by the Izaak Walton League’s (Ikes) Owatonna chapter and the Upper Mississippi River Initiative (UMRI). The workshop begins with registration at 9 a.m. at the Albert F. Reding Environmental Education Center (1546 58th St. SW, Owatonna) and runs until 1:30 p.m. Please RSVP for lunch to Gary Schwartz, presike1@live.com. A $5 donation will help offset the cost of the meal.

Confirmed speakers include Minnesota cover crop farmer-experts Tom Cotter and Myron Sylling, and George Boody of the Land Stewardship Project (LSP), also a co-sponsor.

“This whole thing is about improving soil and cutting back on erosion,” said Randy Schroht, an Ikes member and area farmer. Speakers will address why no-till fields need cover crops to battle erosion, how to strike a better deal for conservation in rental agreements, the role of livestock, 260-bushel corn, and how soil health pays the bills.

Additional co-sponsors include University of Minnesota Extension, League of Women Voters/Upper Mississippi River Region Region-Interleague Organization, and the Cannon River Watershed Partnership.

For more information on the UMRI, please see http://umrinitiative.org/about.

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