By Scout Nelson
North Dakota's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) leaders took a tour of McKenzie County farms to learn about sustainable agriculture techniques. The McKenzie County Soil Conservation District organized the event.
Farmers showed the NRCS leaders different conservation practices on their land. They saw grazing systems, special irrigation systems funded by the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), and fields planted with native grasses.
The tour also included tree planting projects and a discussion about collaboration between farmers, the Forest Service, and grazing associations.
NRCS State Conservationist Dan Hovland praised the farmers' commitment to sustainable practices. He said the tour was a great chance to see these methods firsthand.
One memorable stop was the "Soil Your Undies" challenge. This experiment shows soil health by burying clothes and observing how quickly they decompose. The group dug up clothes buried last fall and put in fresh ones to compare the breakdown rate.
"This challenge is a fun way to teach about healthy soil," said Nicole Darrington, a local conservationist. Healthy soil is essential for good crop yields.
Throughout the day, NRCS leaders and farmers discussed the benefits and challenges of different conservation practices. They agreed on the importance of working together to improve agriculture's sustainability.
The successful tour strengthened the partnership between NRCS, the McKenzie County Soil Conservation District, and local farmers. Everyone involved is committed to sustainable land management in McKenzie County.
Photo Credit: north-dakota-state-seal
Categories: North Dakota, Sustainable Agriculture