NEW HAVEN, Ind. – This year’s Going Green for Ag conference has information for farmers with experience using cover crops and other conservation practices, and for those who don’t, an organizer said.

The event is March 24 at The Orchid, 11508 Lincoln Highway East in New Haven. The conference is free and begins at 8 a.m. Registration is not required, but appreciated, said Greg Lake, district director for the Allen County (Ind.) Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD). Organizers would like a head count by March 13 to ensure they have enough food to provide a light breakfast and lunch to all the attendees.

The Maumee Watershed Alliance is partnering with Allen SWCD to present the conference. Keynote speakers include Barry Fisher, an agronomist who retired in 2020 after 39 years with the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Indiana, and Eileen Kladivko, a professor of agronomy at Purdue University, where she has worked for 40 years. Joe Nester, owner of Nester Ag, which he started in 1993, is also a keynote speaker.

“As we were putting the program together, we came to the conclusion that in looking at soil health practices, including cover crops, growers have different levels of experience,” Lake explained. “With that in mind, we’re going to take the first 20-30 minutes of the conference to set the foundation (for the rest of the event), and talk about such things as available resources. Barry and Eileen will work in tandem on that presentation.

“Afterward, we’re going to break the group into Cover Crops 101 and Cover Crops 201. For farmers who are in the early stage of adoption, we’d suggest they go into Cover Crops 101, where Eileen will lead the discussion. For those who have been using cover crops for a few years, they’ve already heard the basics. Cover Crops 201 will allow them the opportunity to hear more advanced information. Barry will be the presenter.”

Fisher and Kladivko will be joined by Matt Burkholder, an Ohio farmer and soil health advocate, and Mike Werling, a former conservation programs specialist with Allen SWCD and current Adams County, Ind., surveyor.

Later in the morning, Nester will discuss recommended nutrient levels for potash, Lake said. Nester has samples that show the current recommendations do not allow soil nutrient levels to be maintained, Lake added.

In the afternoon, Alex Stivers, vice president of agronomy for Ag Plus, will “look into his crystal ball regarding pricing and availability of potash and potassium, not just over the next 12-24 months, but longer term,” Lake said.

The conference will offer free credits for PARP (Private Applicator Recertification Program) and certified crop advisers. The Indiana Corn Growers Association and Indiana Soybean Alliance will cover the cost of the PARP fee.

Lake said the conference is geared toward farmers and retailers. SWCD and other agencies need to work more closely with agricultural retailers to promote soil health, he said. A retailer or adviser may tell farmers they shouldn’t try a new practice or change nutrient levels. “Sometimes the last person farmers talk to may be the person they’re going to listen to,” Lake pointed out.

He said farmers appear to be taking a more serious look at the value in cover crops and other conservation practices.

“Sort of like a bell curve, (participation) was rather slow at the beginning, but as we started to get some larger, well-respected operations taking this whole cover crops, soil health situation into consideration, other producers started gaining more confidence this was something they should be taking a look at,” he noted.

To RSVP, visit www.maumeewatershedalliance.org, email mcook.swcd@gmail.com, or call Allen SWCD at 260-484-5848, ext. 3.