Summer 2018 Field Day| Dr. Christine Jones | 6.5.18

Dr. Christine Jones talks about Soil Health.

[@robertgrissom256]

You need to add fertilizer, you have water retention issues? If so look to your soil organic carbon content as key driver to these, to soil health, and to profitability. Loss of Carbon in what were those rich dark mollisoils, built by the rich grasslands, has now by tillage and monocropping changed the nature of those soils and created distresses in the soil. Loss of diversity of plants has brought decline of soil carbon, and accompanying soil hydration and plant health. Multispecies forages is key to how the whole functions and restores soil organic carbon, and with it, fertility and water cycle. Thanks, Christine, for the heads up unifying the picture to using green plants, from our industry tendancy to reduce to "fixing" varied bits and losing the bottom line!

[@David-fd9cr]

The prairies were managed for 1000's of years by the native people. There practices built the soils rather than building it. This was not a wild ecosystem, it was managed landscape of wood plants and animals.

[@James-ol2fr]

Would love to know more about how to manage forage with flowers considering many have to grow to the point of going to seed but what's usually recommended is keeping grasses within a window where they grow quickly.

[@inigomontoya8943]

She has mentioned in other videos about letting flowering plants go to seed every two years or so

[@MarciaKarasek]

Not only compelling information but your work brings real joy and hope to all who encounter the stunning results. Keep going strong. ❤

[@markyoder5590]

“Next one thanks Keith”😃

[@forgoodnessache5399]

Excellent!

[@jcjensenllc]

How do we get (force) our land stewards to implement these concepts? XR needs to pay attention. Too many rancher/farmers have stubborn attitude, "No one can tell me what to do." "My family has been doing it this way for 3 generations".

[@kerrygawalt4395]

Agreed, the climate justice movement needs more eco-literate farmers to advocate for soil.

[@NWTejas]

@@kerrygawalt4395 How many acres do you farm? How many hours a year do you manage the soil and put these things in practice? So why don't you start there. Take your useless liberal arts degree and flush it. Go get a doctorate in Biology or Soil Management and spread the word. Every person in that room is a farmer. They are there because they want to learn. They in turn will educate their communities. And you are talking about a movement to force them to do your will? You are a Marxist; and a Fascist. Congratulations. Why don't you read up on some Russian history to see what your line of thinking did to 10 million good people when Stalin followed your advice.

[@andrzejleszczynski4487]

@@kerrygawalt4395 just buy food from farmers that you agree with they practice.

[@400brian]

You do not FORCE anyone to do anything without a fight, and that is not how a reasonable person does it. Education will help, but you lead by example. If you have a better way of doing things, DEMONSTRATE IT, and others will follow.