TOLEDO – Join Tama Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) for its upcoming event, “Roots to Rivers: Exploring the Connection Between Soil Health and Water Quality.” It will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 25 at the Reinig Toledo Civic Center, 1007 S. Prospect Drive in Toledo, Iowa, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Roots to Rivers will feature several speakers focusing on soil health and edge-of-field conservation practices which impact water quality.

This free event is open to the public, and a complimentary lunch will be provided by Tama SWCD. Morning refreshments will be available at 8:30 a.m. An RSVP is required by Feb. 14 by phoning 641-484-2702, ext. 305 or by emailing melody.bro@ia.nacdnet.net .

Featured speaker Lance Gunderson founded Regen Ag Lab in Pleasanton, Neb. in 2019 after spending 17 years in soil health testing. He will share how the Haney Test helps producers gain a deeper understanding of their soil’s health in response to their on-farm management. Haney Test components and why each is important in monitoring progress on your farm will be explored. Lance will highlight the economic benefits related to soil fertility management and application when employing the Haney Test as part of your soil testing program. A renowned expert on the Haney Test and PLFA fungal and bacterial test, Lance’s experience gives him unique insight into how soil health results relate to management in regenerative agriculture systems.

Ruth McCabe and Tanner Puls will share information on edge-of-field conservation practices to partner with in-field soil health management to further improve the quality of subsurface drainage leaving a farm field. Ruth McCabe leads Heartland Cooperative’s Conservation Team. She is a passionate advocate for sustainable farming practices on the Midwest landscape and has devoted her career to working with farmers who want to adopt conservation into their management plans. Ruth specializes in cover crops, prairie management and edge-of-field structures. Tanner is the Statewide Edge-of-Field Coordinator for the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS). He works with watershed and IDALS staff across Iowa to increase adoption of edge of field practices, both through traditional methods and the batch-and-build model.

Tama SWCD Assistant Commissioner Adam Nechanicky of rural Buckingham will lead a farmer panel soil health discussion. With an engineering background, a diversity of on-farm enterprises and a strong desire to improve the health of his soil resources and the quality of water flowing from his farm, Adam has created a reputation for developing a systems-approach to solving resource problems by crafting innovative techniques to accomplish goals and solve problems. Adam and his family have been mentors of peers and professionals alike in water quality and soil health throughout East-Central Iowa and the state’s Benton/Tama Nutrient Reduction Demonstration Project, which focused on water quality.

Please join Tama SWCD for this event and RSVP by Feb. 14.