Aberdeen, Idaho - The South Bingham Soil Conservation District will host a workshop on soil building with green manures on Tuesday, Dec.11. The meeting will start at 9 a.m. and conclude with a free lunch.
The workshop will be a chance for growers to learn about green manure crop management methods and the multiple benefits of adding green manures to their crop rotation.
Andy McGuire from Washington State University Extension will speak about his on-farm evaluation of mustard for use in potato crop systems on irrigated Columbia Basin farms.
"The use of mustard green manures can provide many benefits, including improving water infiltration, reducing wind erosion and suppressing some pests," says McGuire. "But to see these benefits, it is really important to manage the crop carefully."
"I just planted my first crop of a mustard green manure this fall," says Chris Wride, Chairman of the South Bingham Soil Conservation District. "It takes management, just like any other crop. I look forward to hearing other growers' experiences."
A grower panel will highlight methods of planting, growing and incorporating the green manure crops.
Roy Fowler, NRCS District Conservationist, will speak about EQIP funding to help growers try this practice.
This workshop is sponsored by South Bingham Soil Conservation District, Three Rivers RC&D and the Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides with funding from American Farmland Trust and the U.S. EPA.
Participants should RSVP with the South Bingham SCD office at 208-397-4917. The meeting will be held at the Fairview Inn at 2998 Fairview Lane, a half mile east of Hwy 39 approximately halfway between American Falls and Aberdeen.