Farmers have more soil testing and data available than ever before. So?
Online — March 1stcent, 2024 – Farmers will have access to more soil testing and data than ever before. This can be empowering, but it can also be confusing. New information about soil chemistry, biology, and physics can be difficult to translate into action. Speakers in the Making Soil Data Actionable webinar series will highlight projects across Washington that are using soil data to inform real-world farm management decisions.
overview:
- what: Webinar series that makes soil data actionable
- Who: Farmers, agricultural advisors, extension workers, decision makers
- when: March 13th, 20th, and 27th from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM PST. Special topics for R users on April 3rd
- where: Anywhere online
Webinar schedule:
March 13th from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM PST – Chemical indicators
Adam Peterson, Senior GIS and Science Specialist, Thurston Conservancy
Learn how technical service providers can demystify soil test results and translate them into accessible, actionable recommendations for on-farm nutrient management. Using Thurston Conservation District's soil testing program as an example, Adam shares efficient strategies for interpreting high-volume tests while considering farm size, fertilizer preferences, and crop-specific needs.
March 20th from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM PST – Biological indicators
Lindsay Du Toit, Professor and Chair of the Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University
Lindsay will share 20 years of research and extensions to minimize spinach seed loss due to soil-borne fungi. Learn from the director of the WSU Plant Pathology Department about the important role growers have played in doubling spinach seed production capacity in the Pacific Northwest.
March 27th from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM PST – physical indicators
Troy Peters, Professor, Department of Biosystems Engineering, Washington State University
In this producer-focused webinar, Troy discusses the importance of soil moisture data and the pros and cons of different types of soil moisture sensors. Troy details how to interpret and use soil moisture sensor data to maximize profitable irrigation water management.
April 3rd, 12:00pm to 1:00pm PST – Special topics for R users: soil health report generator
Jadey Ryan, Washington State Department of Agriculture Data Scientist
Join us for a webinar for a demonstration of the {soils} R package designed for comprehensive soil health data visualization and reporting. Learn how to use R and Quarto to create customized, interactive reports to help each participant in a soil condition assessment explore and understand soil data. {soils} will be available to the public in March.
Registration:
To register and participate in this informative series, visit wasoilhealth.org.
Don't miss this opportunity to turn overwhelming soil data into actionable insights! For more information, contact Molly McIlquham at molly.mcilquham@wsu.edu.
About the Washington Soil Health Initiative:
The Washington Soil Health Initiative is a partnership of the Washington State Conservation Commission, the Washington State Department of Agriculture, and Washington State University, working together to establish a collaborative approach to healthy soils in Washington state. This webinar series is part of our ongoing commitment to providing science-based soil health information to land managers and technical assistance providers.
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–Washington Soil Health Initiative