Completed Project Report


Improved Soil Health for Regenerative Agriculture and Water Quality Protection

  • Award Amount: $46,064
  • Regional Center: North Central Extension Risk Management Education Center
  • Grant Program: 2018 Education Projects
  • Project Director: Mary Howell
  • Email: kfu.mary@gmail.com
  • Organization: Kansas Alliance for Wetlands and Streams

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Project Overview

This project provided pro-active educational/networking activities to encourage and assist producers in adopting and implementing soil health practices resulting in improved water quality in Kansas watersheds, as promoted by the KS Dept. of Health and Environment. Target audiences included producers in Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy teams charged with implementing improved soil health practices to achieve water quality protection TMDL goals. Three hundred and three producers participated in 80 hours of programming with 10 full day workshops including hands-on program learning.  Three hundred and three producers better understand how improved soil health contributes to financial stability and farm resilience by mediating effects of climate change, flooding and drought, while reducing loss of sediment and nutrients through reduced runoff. Three hundred and three producers better understand grazing systems and crop soil health in pasture/cover crop settings delivered by national specialists and early adopter producers. Topics included soil science, how to build soil, plant physiology, benefits of cover crops/forage diversity, grazing systems and managing costs. Healthy soil produces healthier plants, animals and humans. All producers evaluated their farms for opportunities for improvement and 150+ participants will implement a strategy relating to achieving better farm resilience leading to improved conditions for regenerative agriculture. 

Number of Participants: 303

Outcomes

Project Steps

PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS

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EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS

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REPORTS & EVALUATIONS

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DELIVERY AREA

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